Volume 19, Issue 2

Small island developing states are often characterized by weak local publishing industries and infrastructure, which leads to the unavailability of locally relevant publications. Given this reality, the vertical file collections are therefore an important source of indigenous information. In view of this, the authors sought to determine to what extent are vertical files existent and prevalent in Jamaican libraries especially in an age of increasing reliance on electronic resources. The authors also examine how Jamaican libraries make these vertical files accessible to the public. To achieve this, both a survey and a comparative study of vertical files in selected library and information service environments in Jamaica were undertaken.
The results indicate that vertical files exist in a variety of environments. However, more can be done in Jamaican libraries to improve the accessibility of vertical file collections to users. There is need for closer attention to be paid to vertical files in Jamaica and their promotion, as these collections are very valuable sources of local information not yet documented by local publishers.

There is no doubt that there have been changes in recent years in academic libraries, their institutions, and the behaviors of their users. The literature in librarianship offers opinions and forecasts on a number of trends in services, resources, and personnel within libraries. Writings outside of librarianship also offer ideas about libraries and scholarship. The trends can be examined in the context of data reported by libraries. Data collected by the U.S. National Center for Education Statistics provide the opportunity for the analysis of a number of academic library service, collection and access, and personnel matters. Since the analysis can take into account changes over time, an integrated and holistic examination can be conducted.

This paper discusses the public library’s role in society as a focal point for local economic development, adapted to the countries in the Southern Common Market (MERCOSUR – composed of Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay). It proposes a re-focussing of public libraries towards the idea of an information centre, to contribute towards local economic development by satisfying the information needs of citizens, small businesses, new entrepreneurs and community institutions. This new vision of the public library as an information centre creates greater links and integration between the public library and its local community. Public libraries and economic development would seem like an unlikely combination, especially in the Latin American context. However, what does seem more realistic is the setting up of an information service in public libraries to provide added value information; this will be of great importance in justifying the existence of the public library within its surroundings.

Library and Information Science (LIS) literature mirrors the development of the LIS profession, which needs to be analyzed for growth of the profession and to overcome its weaknesses. Bibliometric methods have been widely used in LIS research for analysis of literature. This study aims to review use of bibliometrics in LIS research. It concludes that bibliometrics has been found to be very useful in solving diverse issues. However, its application to LIS literature is not very common in Pakistan and this area of research needs attention. It recommends provision of better access to literature, comprehensive bibliographical control and sharing of best practices to enhance the use of bibliometrics in LIS research.