Showing posts with label University of the Philippines Library. Show all posts
Showing posts with label University of the Philippines Library. Show all posts

Monday, December 12, 2005

Economics of Scale in Academic Libraries of the University of the Philippines Diliman

Researcher: NEVILLE C. CATAYLO

Course: Master in Library and Information Science

School: University of the Philippines, Quezon City

Subject Area: Academic Libraries

Year of Graduation: 2005

Statement of the Problem
The study examines scale economies in the U.P. Diliman academic libraries using two year cross-section pooled data on 26 libraries.

Methodology
The data was fitted into a cost function under a natural log linear model. Two collection outputs, nine service outputs and a dummy variable were included in the cost function. The choice of variables was intended to reflect library operations.

Findings
The study finds that significant economies of scale exist in the UP Diliman libraries with the sum of regression coefficients being equal to 0.64. The regression model explains 80.4 percent of the variation of total cost. The results show that the volumes held and circulation to be very important aspects of the UP library network and essential measures of library performance. The results also show a fairly strong association between total cost and the usage of Filipiniana materials, periodicals, audiovisuals and group presentations. The serials collection, as measured by the number of serial titles, the use of reserve materials, newspapers and the provision of reference services are not found to be significant contributors to the cost of UP Diliman Libraries. The results point to a set of economic factors that could assist in the analysis prediction of future performance of the UP Diliman Libraries. These results of the regression analysis may also be used for library management, operational planning and budget preparation, among others.

Wednesday, December 7, 2005

Archives in the Museum Context: A Case Study on the Application of Archival Principles and Practices in the Jorge B. Vargas Museum and ...

Title: Archives in the Museum Context: A Case Study on the Application of Archival Principles and Practices in the Jorge B. Vargas Museum and Filipiniana Research Center, University of the Philippines, Diliman

Researcher: RICARDO L. PUNZALAN

Course: Master in Library and Information Science

School: University of the Philippines, Quezon City

Subject Area: Archives, Museums

Year of Graduation: 2005

Introduction
Although considered to perform similar and sometimes overlapping functions in society, archives and museums are two distinct institutions that follow different sets of standard principles and practices in managing their respective collections. In fact, the two have managed to survive for centuries without having to rely on each other. In reality, however, museums have been assuming the role of the archives in collecting historical records as evidenced by continued assimilation of archival records into museum collections. This is probably due to the absence of archival programs or facilities in the rural areas and the perennial problem of budget constrainsts for cultural institutions. More and more individuals and families throughout the country are donating their personal archives and private collections to museums. Other would establish their own family museums with their memorabilia and accumulated books and records forming the nucleus of collections on exhibit.

Statement of the Problem
With the main goal of exploring the context of the archival principles and practices in the museum setting, this study has focused on the case of the Jorge B. Vargas Museum and Filippiniana Research Center (UPVM).

The study also attemps to discover a way to situate the role of the archives in the museum by constructing the administrative history of the UPVM using available Museum records.

Historical Background

This museum has a rich collection of the personal archives of its donors, Mr. Vargas, who had served in various key positions in the government starting from the Commonwealth era, continued into the World war II and up to the 1960's. in 1978, the collection was donated to the University of the Philippines and, thus, serves as a University Museum. The UPVM is a site where archives exists within the museum structure and presents an ideal set up for an inquiry that looks into the archival collection of the museum.

Methodology
UPVM's archival collection may be grouped into two fonds or record groups; namely: 1) personal archives of jorge B. Vargas; and 2. institutional archives of the UPVM. these two fonds were appropriately arranged based on the archival principles of provenance and original order. Just like any other institution, the UPVM is also a producer or records as it performs its complex roles as both collector and preserver of material culture. The museum's archival records are its institutional memory.

Results and Discussions
The study illustrated how a particular record and its given recording and documentation processes and procedures perform this function of organizational memory and, at the same time, be an active agent of institutional activity. Foremost among its records is the catalog and documentation worksheet used to provide material description and account for the physical condition of the art collection. The study had emphasized that the UPVM catalog may be considered as an archival record by noting its great influence in musuem management and operations and its function of object representation. If museums are about representation through the display and assemblage of material culture, records that account for these objects must also acquire this level of cultural dimension. Records then become "representations" of objects of representations. Theis situation opens up a range of interesting inquiries for archival theory. As these museum perform their administrative and collection management functions, they naturally become records creators. Conversely, as collectors and repositories of archives and manuscripts, they become sites for records accumulation. Thus, museums assume the role of both records creator and record keeper while maintaining their unique institutional identity as distinct from archives. This phenomenon has a profound impact for archival practice and implies that a new paradigm must be developed to appropriately situate the place of the archives within the museum structure. Finally, a recommended standard was drawn to provide a code of practice with which the museum could refer for appropriate guidance and direction.

Saturday, December 6, 1980

The University of the Philippines Library as Reflected in Three Publications – The Philippine Collegian, the U.P. Newsletter and the Carillon...

Title: The University of the Philippines Library as Reflected in Three Publications – The Philippine Collegian, the U.P. Newsletter and the Carillon: A Content Analysis

Researcher: TERESITA-JACINTA B. REYES

Course: Master of Library Science

School: University of the Philippines, Quezon City

Subject Area: University of the Philippines Library

Year of Graduation: 1980