This case study demonstrates the application of an unsupervised topic modeling algorithm to 7,773 English-language articles published in the "Library Quarterly" from 1931 to 2015. The analysis of 85 years of the journal's output follows an exploratory data analysis framework to generate novel hypotheses about the history of LIS using…

This article explores whether technical communicator is a useful model for electronic resources (ER) librarians. The fields of ER librarianship and technical communication (TC) originated and continue to develop in relation to evolving technologies. A review of the literature reveals four common themes for ER librarianship and TC. While the…

This monograph was written to answer questions about the essence of librarianship, the meaning of information, and the principles behind a desire for information transfer, preservation of older records, or creation of new ideas. The work is organized into three parts. Part I is titled "In Search of a Discipline: Toward a Science of Library…

Arguing that most writing on library and information service is empirical or devoted to reporting what happened, this paper attempts to promote conversation between the empiricists and the idealists or metaphysicians of library and information studies. The paper includes the following sections: (1) Professor Peter Kien and the Metaphysical Course…

Identifies interacting principles of theory of library service and indicates nature of library policies, activities, and professional values upon which implementation of principles rests. Library users ("worthy" and "needy"), hierarchy of service functions (stimulation, guidance, instruction, information services, access,…

Presents a model of four factors differentiating significant from routine research--behavioral patterns of problem formulation, economic analyses of information seeking, psychological schemes of optimal effort, and basic dilemmas of the theory-practice gap. Within this context, four myths dominating the research process in library and information…

Describes a citation study that examines the extent to which interdisciplinary research in librarianship is restricted by paradigms. The use of library science and sociology journal articles that address the sociological aspect of libraries is explained, and implications for library science are suggested. (14 references) (LRW)

Traces the trends and patterns that characterize library education and librarianship in Israel, including influences of various cultural traditions, the history of Israeli library education, the roles of major Israeli library educators, and the development of graduate curricula. Forty-seven references are listed. (FM)

Examines the literature on the myth of "hard science-soft science" as a means of defining scientific specialties and classifying science literature, and discusses some shortcomings of scholarship in library and information science. Use of Toulmin's categorization of sciences to organize the literature and provide access for scientists is…

Reviews the literature on computer simulation modeling for library management and examines whether simulation is underutilized because the models are too complex and mathematical. Other problems with implementation are considered, including incomplete problem definition, lack of a conceptual framework, system constraints, lack of interaction…

Reviews meaning and theory of library collections and structure and enumerates ways that data on collections can be organized to reveal underlying global structure (links and connections between collections, parts of collections, and users of collections). Definitions of terms applying to eight models described in text are appended. (53…

Analysis of emergence of learning resources concept and interactive education principles as special phenomena in library science highlights a paradigm for librarianship, evolution of standards for school and college libraries as conceptual models, and textbooks in school librarianship, the library college, and for librarianship in higher…