The Experiences of Public Library Staff Developing Programs with Physical Activities: An Exploratory Study in North Carolina

2018 ◽  
Vol 88 (2) ◽  
pp. 142-159 ◽  
Author(s):  
Noah Lenstra
Keyword(s):  
North Carolina ◽  
Exploratory Study ◽  
Public Library ◽  
Physical Activities ◽  
Library Staff

Makerspaces and boundary work: the role of librarians as educators in public library makerspaces

2017 ◽  
Vol 51 (3) ◽  
pp. 801-813 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rachel D. Williams ◽  
Rebekah Willett
Keyword(s):  
Teaching And Learning ◽  
Boundary Work ◽  
Public Library ◽  
Social Resources ◽  
Library Staff ◽  
Public Librarians

This article explores public librarians’ performance of boundary work in relation to teaching and learning in library makerspaces. Boundary work occurs when individuals delineate their domain of knowledge. We use interviews with 23 library staff to analyze the forms and characteristics of boundary work connected with the role of libraries and librarians in makerspace programming. Our findings show that public librarians perform boundary work in relation to the roles of (1) libraries as spaces for book-based and maker-based experiences, (2) librarians as information specialists and educators, and (3) libraries as spaces to access individual and social resources for learning. The forms and characteristics of boundary work include coordination, identification, justification, reflection, and change.

scholarly journals Who are Millennials? And what they want from libraries, bookstores, and librarians

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jami L. Jones
Keyword(s):  
North Carolina ◽  
Millennial Generation ◽  
The State ◽  
Library Science ◽  
Science Students ◽  
Graduate Research ◽  
Library Staff ◽  
East Carolina University

Understanding a generation’s “peer personality” provides librarians a unique opportunity to develop services and programs tailored to the needs and unique attributes of a group of individuals. Master of Library Science students enrolled in a graduate research class at East Carolina University in Greenville, North Carolina, surveyed 245 18-to 24-year old members of the Millennial generation at various locations throughout the state to ascertain their use and perception of libraries and bookstores. Most important to Millennials are helpful library staff, good collections, and convenient hours. Least important are bargain items for sale, coffee, and the library or bookstore as a place to be with others.

scholarly journals A Content Analysis of Blog Posts on Angry Library Patrons

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
◽  
Iris Marigold Operario
Keyword(s):  
Content Analysis ◽  
Exploratory Study ◽  
Qualitative Content Analysis ◽  
Research Problem ◽  
Staff Members ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Problem Library ◽  
Library Staff ◽  
Insight Into ◽  
Blog Posts

<p>Research Problem: This exploratory study looks into what is written in blogs regarding angry library patrons. It aims to provide insight on angry library patrons by identifying the themes/issues in the blog posts, the reasons for anger of the library patrons, and to describe the characteristics of the blog post authors. Methodology: A qualitative content analysis was used to analyse the blog posts. The blog search engine Google Blogs was used to search for the relevant blog posts. A sample of 92 individual and organisational blog posts were read and analysed. Results: Three main themes emerged in the analysis of the blog posts: 1) the causes of anger which can either be library-related or due to other patrons; 2) how anger was displayed; and 3) the sentiments of the library staff members towards angry patrons. The blog authors mostly come from North America and have a library background. Implications: Analysing these blog posts provides further insight into angry library patrons which might not otherwise be found in existing anger studies in a library setting and problem library patron research. Uncovering what is said in the blogosphere about angry library patrons will give a picture of a wide range of anger issues which may be relevant for library staff members as they try to better understand angry library patrons. While this study was not able to retrieve as much blog posts from an angry library patron’s perspective as originally planned, a study noting the key difference of opinions between angry library patrons and library staff members could be investigated in the future</p>

scholarly journals Shifting the Sands of Summer Reading

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joanne De Groot
Keyword(s):  
Public Libraries ◽  
Research Question ◽  
Public Library ◽  
Reading Program ◽  
Reading Programs ◽  
Reading Interests ◽  
Staff Members ◽  
Summer Reading ◽  
Library Staff ◽  
Summer Reading Programs

This study investigated ways in which summer reading programs (SRPs) support children’s recreational reading interests and habits and help to promote reading and literacy throughout the summer months. The primary research question was: How do children, parents, and library staff experience their public library summer reading program? This paper will present selected findings from the study related to children’s reading experiences in school and during the summer, reading games and incentives, and designing summer reading programs that emphasize the social aspects of reading. Findings from this study suggest that school and public libraries should consider moving away from traditional summer reading programs that include reading games and rewards and focus instead on providing children, their parents, and library staff members with greater opportunities to interact with books and reading, and one another, throughout the summer.

scholarly journals Opioid overdose in public libraries: Results from a five state survey

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rachel Feuerstein-Simon ◽  
Margaret Lowenstein ◽  
Roxanne Dupuis ◽  
Xochitl Luna Marti ◽  
Abby Dolan ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Substance Use ◽  
Public Libraries ◽  
Public Library ◽  
Opioid Overdose ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Public And Private ◽  
The Past ◽  
Library Staff ◽  
One Year ◽  
The One

AbstractIntroductionPublic libraries are increasingly impacted by the overdose crisis. A 2017 survey of public librarians in the state of Pennsylvania revealed that 12% had reported an on-site overdose in the previous year. There are increasing public and private efforts to equip public libraries with the opioid overdose antidote, naloxone.MethodsWe conducted a cross-sectional web-based survey of all public library branches in Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Michigan, and Virginia. Survey questions. We used descriptive statistics to report frequencies of responses and crude odds ratios were calculated to predict the dichotomized variable of endorsement of naloxone uptake.ResultsLibrary staff reported witnessing on-site alcohol (45%) and injection drug (14%) use in the past month. The one-year cumulative incidence (12% overall) of on-site overdose ranged from a low of 10% in MI, to a high of 17% in FL. Among libraries with on-site overdoses, a minority (21%) stocked naloxone, and 12% had administered naloxone. Overall, 11% of libraries stocked naloxone on-site. Although 24% of respondents reported attending at least one training regarding SUD in the past year, 91% wanted more training on the topic.ConclusionsPublic library staff routinely address issues related to substance use and overdose in their institutions. This work highlights the importance of including public libraries as part of a comprehensive public health strategy to address substance use-related morbidity and mortality in the U.S.

Public libraries and public primary school literacy: a Kenyan case study

2020 ◽  
Vol 41 (8/9) ◽  
pp. 689-701
Author(s):  
Peter Mose
Keyword(s):  
Public Schools ◽  
Public Libraries ◽  
Public Library ◽  
School Type ◽  
Content Type ◽  
The Public ◽  
Staff Members ◽  
Library Staff ◽  
Teachers And Parents

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to explain how public libraries have been instrumental in early child school literacy teaching and learning. Most African public schools do not usually afford enough core textbooks and supplementary readers.Design/methodology/approachThis was a qualitative case study in Western Kenya amongst public library staff members, public primary school teachers and parents of library children clients. The following questions were addressed: What is the book situation in public primary schools in the study site? What school-type literacy-related services are offered by the sampled public library? and What are library staff members’, teachers’ and parents’ feelings about the public library services offered? Observations, interviews and document studies were used to collect data. Data were analysed thematically.FindingsPublic schools do not have enough core textbooks and the situation is worse for supplementary readers; the public library branch studied offers critical school-type literacies to school children both at the library building as well as at public schools registered with it; and library staff members, teachers, and parents express positive feelings about the services offered.Research limitations/implicationsThis was a case study whose findings might not apply to the larger situation and the study did not confirm actual literacy benefits of the library services amongst school children by, for instance, conducting literacy tests. The findings are, however, an index to the possible situation in the macro context.Practical implicationsThe relevant stakeholders should find ways of co-opting public libraries as associates of public schools in literacy teaching. This relationship is not straight forward in Kenya.Originality/valueThe findings reported are from original research.

Opportunities for Extracurricular Physical Activity in North Carolina Middle Schools

2011 ◽  
Vol 8 (5) ◽  
pp. 597-605 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael B. Edwards ◽  
Michael A. Kanters ◽  
Jason N. Bocarro
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
North Carolina ◽  
Middle Schools ◽  
Students With Disabilities ◽  
Extracurricular Activities ◽  
Rural Schools ◽  
Rural Areas ◽  
Physical Activities ◽  
Physically Active ◽  
Interscholastic Sports

Background:This study’s purpose was to assess the opportunities for North Carolina adolescents to be physically active in extracurricular middle school environments and to compare opportunities across community types.Methods:Data were analyzed based on the results of an electronic questionnaire distributed to a sample of 431 schools with a response rate of 75.4% (N = 325).Results:Nearly all schools offered interscholastic sports while fewer than half offered intramurals or noncompetitive activities to students. “Open gym” was offered at only 35% of schools, while 24% of schools offered extracurricular activities to students with disabilities. Overall, 43.4% of schools offered special transportation to students who participated in some extracurricular physical activities. Schools in rural areas generally offered fewer programs and had fewer supports than schools located in more urbanized areas. Over two-thirds of rural schools offered no extracurricular programs other than interscholastic sports.Conclusions:Schools can be important settings for physical activity. North Carolina’s middle schools and its rural schools in particular, are falling short in efforts to provide extracurricular physical activity programming recommended by researchers and policy groups.1−6 Lower accessibility to extracurricular physical activities may partially contribute to higher levels of physical inactivity found in the state.

Effectiveness of ICT training for public library staff in the UK: staff views

2006 ◽  
Vol 24 (2) ◽  
pp. 265-276 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sandie King ◽  
David McMenemy ◽  
Alan Poulter
Keyword(s):  
Public Library ◽  
Library Staff ◽  
Ict Training ◽  
The Uk
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