PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to present an emergent conceptual framework for examining virtual communities.Design/methdodology/approachEstablished theories and models of community, social networks, information exchange, and information sharing behaviours are explored with the goal of determining their usefulness in conceptualising virtual communities.FindingsExplored theories and models are inter‐related and expanded to form a tiered conceptual framework for examining virtual communities. This framework also acknowledges the affective contexts in which virtual communities operate.Practical implicationsThe presented conceptual framework may inform information professionals tasked with creating, maintaining, and improving corporate, educational, research, and other information systems. It may also be of use to researchers who seek to build theory that attempts to explain phenomena observable in virtual communities.Originality/valueIn contrast to models and frameworks which focus on analysing individual components and attributes of virtual communities, the presented framework provides a holistic starting point for understanding inter‐related structural, cognitive, behavioural and affective dimensions of online communities

Homeless persons lack economic capital, but it is less clear whether they concomitantly lack important information capital. The basic information needed by the homeless is not available on the Internet as this is information controlled by governmental social services agencies. But does this result in a state of information poverty? This paper examines the issues of how the lack of access. . .

Embezzlement and similar crimes of financial misconduct are a growing area of concern for library managers and trustees. Library budgets have increased dramatically during the past twenty years, but this has not been accompanied by a corresponding increase in financial management techniques. This study investigated a national sample of ten states and an indepth case study of one state (Indiana) using the technique of internal control (a subspecialty of auditing), both to understand how the embezzlements occurred and to suggest areas of improvement in library financial management to deter future cases of embezzlement. Libraries that experienced embezzlement tend to lack internal practices, a condition that may be common to many public libraries. Two general findings emerged from the study: embezzlement is a continuing problem in public libraries, and better training in financial management for librarians and library board members should increase awareness of the risks of embezzlement and significantly deter embezzlement.

Studies of collaborative information use in electronic environments suggest that virtual communities share characteristics with face-to-face communities. The authors expand on an existing model to present an analytic framework for examining online social networks. The framework emphasizes the information sharing behaviors that are critical in building critical relationships in these online communities.Les études sur l’utilisation collaborative de l’information dans les environnements électroniques suggèrent que les communautés virtuelles partagent des caractéristiques communes avec les communautés réelles. Les auteurs développent un modèle existant afin de présenter un cadre analytique pour l’exploration des réseaux sociaux en ligne. Le cadre souligne l’importance des comportements de partage de l’information qui sont essentiels pour la construction de relations indispensables dans ces communautés virtuelles.

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