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New York University Abu Dhabi Library has developed new strategies to increase efficiency in technical services processing between units based in New York and Abu Dhabi. This case study discusses the challenges specific to the international context and the methods used to overcome them, increase speed processing, and ultimately improve patron access to materials. A key factor in successful implementation was the strategic decision made by library administration to provide the newly-hired technical services librarian with three months of cross-training in New York before permanently moving to Abu Dhabi. A specific model of communication was put into action leading to the resolution of many problems and inefficiencies. In addition, a broader study of global communication tools was conducted and resulted in best practices for other library units within the university network. This case study outlines the background, communication processes and outcomes.

The age of consent to sexual relations is not firmly established in classical Islamic law like it is in many Muslim and non-Muslim countries today. The appropriate age of sexual relations was set in traditional pre-modern societies by either individual families or local custom, often linked to signs of physical puberty like menarche and pubic hair.[1] The lack of consistency in this area of law is because societies throughout time and place widely vary in their circumstances, resources, concerns, and priorities.There are many instances in history for which the age of consent and marriage is in apparent disagreement with modern norms and laws. The 12th century Decretum Gratiani, for instance, mandates consent at an undefined "age of discretion"[2] and acknowledges that sexual relations and marriage might occur as early as seven years.[3] Some Christian sources state that Mary was to be given in marriage to the ninety year-old St. Joseph when she was only twelve or fourteen. [4] As late as the mid-19th century, the United Kingdom's Offences against the Person Act legally allowed sexual relations with twelve year-olds.[5] Around the same time in the United States, each state determined its own criminal law with age of consent ranging from ten to twelve years of age. It is only at the beginning of the late 19th century, spurred on by the Industrial Revolution's rapid economic growth and technological development, that attitudes shifted toward setting the age higher and higher. [6] Therefore, it should not be surprising that the development of classical Islamic law into centralized state systems followed a similar trajectory as other societies. Why is this issue important today?Sexual relations are religiously unlawful in Islam in the absence of a contract of marriage or concubinage. Concubinage disappeared when the Muslim world martialed Islamic legal

This study describes the process of persona-creation in a liberal-arts university well-integrated within a global network of Geographic Information System researchers. We introduce the concept of personas as an effective user experience research methodology with potential applications to academic library services. We detail the collection of data from high-level researchers as a way to inform the library’s strategic planning and programming. We present the results of the study in the form of three personas: Rachel the Novice, A.J. the Professor, and Jean-Paul the Big-Thinker. These results are specific to our institution, but the method itself can transfer to other contexts. We note the study’s limitations in the final analysis, and make suggestions for maintaining and refining the personas to accurately represent the community of users.