Makerspace at Singapore Polytechnic
By: Fang Sin Guek, pp. 1-10
Abstract:
Singapore Polytechnic Library embarked on a transformation journey in 2011 to revitalise spaces and services in support of the Polytechnic’s vision. The idea for creating a maker space for engineering students in the library to foster activity-based learning was conceived as part of this journey. The Makerspace@SP Library (Makerspace) was launched in October 2013 and has achieved success beyond expectations.
This article outlines the design and development of the Makerspace from concept to implementation, including the engagements necessary to ensure it meets the needs of students and staff.
Assessing the Enduring Impact of Research Workshops for Biological Sciences Undergraduates
By: Er Bee Eng, pp. 11-19
Abstract:
This paper describes a review of a regular library instruction seminar at Nanyang Technological University utilising a delayed survey approach in order to assess its usefulness, both in terms of student perception and actual use of resources taught during the workshops. Results of the survey revealed actual use patterns that can be used to further improve the workshops and ensure that they continue to meet the needs of participants.
Linked Data @NLB
By: Hanna Hussein, pp. 20-34
Abstract:
In early 2014, the National Library Board Singapore (NLB) started a Linked Data project with the aim of increasing the utilisation of NLB and its partners’ resources through connecting related data, locally and with other datasets on the Internet. The project deliverables include the implementation of a Linked Data Management System (LDMS), developing a core Data Model and extended service vocabulary, transforming approximately 260,000 records (authorities, vocabularies and bibliographic data) from NLB, National Archives of Singapore (NAS) and National Heritage Board (NHB) into RDF, and developing a Linked Data service consisting of a web feature and a widget for the delivery of the transformed data sets, which has since been launched internally to staff and is currently under review.
This paper will provide an overview of the main project deliverables, with a detailed focus on the Linked Data service.
Information Seeking Behavior of Expats in Asia on Facebook Open Groups
By: Priyanka Sharma & Sumita Govindan pp. 35-57
Abstract:
With the rise of the global economy and an increasingly mobile global workforce, expat communities are commonplace the world over. Information Communication Technologies (ICTs) play an increasingly important role in keeping people connected, facilitating the formation of virtual communities based on interest, stage of life, profession and other commonalities. These virtual communities, much in the same way as traditional communities, feature social transactions of different kinds, including information-seeking. Using content analysis, our study seeks to delineate patterns of information seeking on three Facebook groups for expats in terms of the categories of information sought and shared, the speed of responses and group participation using the Facebook metrics for stakeholder engagement as proposed by Bonson and Ratkai (2015). We found that certain themes of information seeking/sharing were popular across the three groups. We also found that for all the groups, the most engaged members were those that responded the most to other’s posts.
This study can shed some light in viewing social media as an important and alternative source of information for expatriates – a less explored yet sizable user group. By understanding the process of information sharing between the expatriates in social media groups, our study can provide insights that may be of interest to group administrators and others.