How Public Libraries are Keeping Pace with the Times: Core Services of Libraries in Informational World Cities

Libri ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 68 (3) ◽  
pp. 181-203 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christian Born ◽  
Maria Henkel ◽  
Agnes Mainka
Keyword(s):  
Best Practice ◽  
Public Libraries ◽  
Knowledge Society ◽  
Public Library ◽  
Library Services ◽  
World Cities ◽  
Increasing Demand ◽  
The Times ◽  
Changing Role

Abstract In a survey of 31 informational world cities, we investigate the state of the art public library core services. For this study, we applied the core service catalog developed by (Mainka, A., S. Hartmann, L. Orszullok, I. Peters, A. Stallmann, and W. G. Stock. 2013. “Public Libraries in the Knowledge Society: Core Services of Libraries in Informational World Cities.” Libri 63 (4): 295–319. 10.1515/libri-2013-0024), counted the services offered by the libraries and compared findings with the results from 2013, allowing us to calculate a score for each library and rank them accordingly. An overall improvement of the range of services was observed, with North American libraries taking the top three positions in the ranking. To get a clearer picture of the challenges facing libraries today, personal interviews were also conducted with (chief) librarians, especially concerning developments such as maker spaces, increasing demand for information literacy instruction and the changing role of physical library space. The results presented in this paper highlight best practice examples of library services in prototypical cities of the knowledge society.

Role of Public Libraries in Building Knowledge Society

2020 ◽  
pp. 267-283
Author(s):  
N. Nageswari ◽  
R. Natarajan
Keyword(s):  
Public Libraries ◽  
Knowledge Society ◽  
Public Library ◽  
Social Institution ◽  
The Public ◽  
The People ◽  
Rural And Urban ◽  
Gender Status ◽  
Library Resources

The library is a social institution. Libraries form a vital part of the world's social and educational system. They are entrusted with the responsibility of carrying knowledge to the doors of those who require it, so that it can be fruitfully utilized both by the educated and the uneducated. Knowledge is available through books, films, recordings, and other media. People in all walks of life use library resources for their day-to-day life. A public library is a social organization, supported by public funds, which provides for self-education, free information on social, economic, cultural, and recreational needs of all members of rural and urban classes of the society. It serves the public without any discrimination of caste, creed, age or gender, status, and educational attainments. It is, therefore, described as ‘People's University'. It is a democratic institution of the people, by the people, and for the people. The study reveals that the majority of the respondents, 73 (11.62%) belonging to the age group of 56-65 years visited the library to read Tamil newspapers.

scholarly journals The Greatest Good Place: The role of the public library in the development of successful cities, and the relationship between public library contributions and planning policy

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jennifer Kluke
Keyword(s):  
Public Space ◽  
Public Libraries ◽  
Public Library ◽  
The Public ◽  
Library System ◽  
Planning Policy ◽  
Changing Role ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
The City

This paper explores the changing role of the public library, and determines its impacts on communities and cities. It also examines the relationship between libraries and planning policies, and the extend to which they inform the success of public libraries. The analysis centres on the design of modern public libraries, and the community and economic contributions they provide. Through analyses of the Vancouver Public Library, the Seattle Public Library, and the Toronto Public Library, it is evident that public libraries provide significant contributions within the communities they serve. Well-designed library buildings provide an important public space, and provide people with access to information and technology needed to participate in the knowledge economy, in turn producing significant economic gains for the city. This research finds that planning policy alone is unable to ensure the success of a city`s public library system. Support from the public and municipal leaders, combined with strong policy directives, is needed for a city`s public library system to succeed.

Public Libraries as National Libraries – The Caribbean Experience

1997 ◽  
Vol 9 (3) ◽  
pp. 213-238 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cheryl Peltier-Davis
Keyword(s):  
Public Libraries ◽  
Public Library ◽  
Dual Function ◽  
Library Services ◽  
National Library ◽  
National Heritage ◽  
English Speaking ◽  
The Caribbean ◽  
National Libraries

While it is essential that national library functions and services are carried out, within the English-speaking Caribbean these functions can be provided by extending the role of the country's main public library. A questionnaire was administered in 1994 to 14 public libraries and one national library in the region to ascertain if public libraries performed any national library functions and if so to assess how effectively, with a view to formulating proposals as to how best this dual role could be achieved. The survey, in which 13 libraries participated, revealed that a majority of the libraries did in fact act as de facto national libraries, performing many of the functions of traditional national libraries, though there were major deficiencies (e.g. only seven had legal deposit, and only four produced national bibliographies). A structure for a dual-function Public/National Library is proposed, with three functional divisions (Public Library Services, Technical Services, and National Heritage) and a powerful National Library Services Board.

scholarly journals The Greatest Good Place: The role of the public library in the development of successful cities, and the relationship between public library contributions and planning policy

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jennifer Kluke
Keyword(s):  
Public Space ◽  
Public Libraries ◽  
Public Library ◽  
The Public ◽  
Library System ◽  
Planning Policy ◽  
Changing Role ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
The City

This paper explores the changing role of the public library, and determines its impacts on communities and cities. It also examines the relationship between libraries and planning policies, and the extend to which they inform the success of public libraries. The analysis centres on the design of modern public libraries, and the community and economic contributions they provide. Through analyses of the Vancouver Public Library, the Seattle Public Library, and the Toronto Public Library, it is evident that public libraries provide significant contributions within the communities they serve. Well-designed library buildings provide an important public space, and provide people with access to information and technology needed to participate in the knowledge economy, in turn producing significant economic gains for the city. This research finds that planning policy alone is unable to ensure the success of a city`s public library system. Support from the public and municipal leaders, combined with strong policy directives, is needed for a city`s public library system to succeed.

scholarly journals A magyar települési könyvtárakban dolgozó könyvtárosok digitális kompetenciájának állapota: egy országos reprezentatív vizsgálat eredményei

2019 ◽  
Vol 18 (3-4) ◽  
pp. 46
Author(s):  
Mária Eszenyiné Borbély
Keyword(s):  
Information Literacy ◽  
National Survey ◽  
Digital Literacy ◽  
Public Libraries ◽  
Public Library ◽  
Library Services ◽  
Representative Survey ◽  
Digital Competence ◽  
Library Development

A tanulmány a Múzeumi és könyvtári fejlesztések mindenkinek „Az én könyvtáram” EFOP-3.3.3.-VEKOP/16-2016-00001 projekt keretében lefolytatott vizsgálat eredményeit ismerteti. A projekt többek között arra keresi a választ, hogy mi lehet a könyvtárosok szerepe a közkönyvtárakban a tanulást támogató könyvtári szolgáltatások megvalósításában, elsősorban a digitális írástudás, információs műveltség fejlesztésében. Ez a fajta könyvtáros szerepvállalás feltételezi, hogy a könyvtárosok rendelkeznek a feladatellátáshoz kívánatos digitális kompetenciával és egyéb szükséges készségekkel. Ahhoz, hogy reálisan értékelhessük a helyzetet, fel kell térképeznünk a könyvtárosok digitális kompetenciáinak szintjét. A pályázat megteremtette egy országos reprezentatív felmérés lebonyolításnak lehetőségét, melynek eredményeként mélységeiben sikerült megismerni, hogy a magyarországi települési könyvtárakban dolgozó könyvtárosok milyen digitális kompetenciákkal rendelkeznek. --- Digital competence levels of librarians working in Hungarian municipal libraries: Results of a Countrywide Representative Survey The study describes the results of the survey carried out by the Museum and Library Development for Everyone “My Library” EFOP-3.3.3.-VEKOP/16-2016-00001 project. Among other things the aim of the project is to define the role of librarians in public libraries in their implementation of library services, directed towards supporting learning, primarily in developing digital literacy and information literacy. This engagement requires librarians to have digital competences and various skills needed for carrying out their responsibilities. In order to evaluate the situation realistically, we need to map out the level of librarians’ digital literacy. The project created the opportunity for conducting a representative national survey. As a result of this survey, the depth of the digital competence status of librarians working in the Hungarian municipal libraries was assessed. Keywords: digital competence, DigComp, librarians, public library, Hungary, survey

The Changing Role of Libraries: How Social Workers Can Help

2019 ◽  
Vol 101 (1) ◽  
pp. 34-43 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elizabeth A. Wahler ◽  
Mary A. Provence ◽  
John Helling ◽  
Michael A. Williams
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Social Workers ◽  
Social Service ◽  
Public Libraries ◽  
Public Library ◽  
The United States ◽  
Psychosocial Needs ◽  
Library Staff ◽  
Changing Role

Public libraries in the United States are visited daily by vast numbers of people experiencing unmet psychosocial needs including poverty, homelessness, immigration concerns, mental health, substance abuse, and health problems. While some libraries have begun to hire or partner with social service personnel, many library staff are facing patron psychosocial crises without adequate training or resources. Various studies examine different facets of this issue; however, none examine how library staff perceive their role, patron psychosocial needs, library responsibility to address psychosocial needs, and policy and program recommendations. This study addresses that gap and presents needs assessment results from a large metropolitan public library system. Recommendations are included for how social workers can help libraries meet patron psychosocial needs.

Library services enriching community engagement for dementia care: The Tales & Travels Program at a Canadian Public Library as a case study

2021 ◽  
pp. 096100062110651
Author(s):  
Jiamin Dai ◽  
Joan C. Bartlett ◽  
Karyn Moffatt
Keyword(s):  
Public Libraries ◽  
Public Library ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Dementia Care ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Library Services ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Community Based ◽  
People With Dementia

Growing dementia-friendly library services are contributing to community-based dementia care. Emerging community programs in libraries and museums provide notable opportunities for promoting engagement and inclusivity, but these programs have yet to receive in-depth assessments and analyses to guide future research and practice. This paper presents a case study examining a social and storytelling program for people with dementia run by a Canadian public library. It investigates two research questions: How can public library programs contribute to community-based dementia care? And what are public libraries’ strengths and challenges in running programs for people with dementia? The study involves participant observations of the program and semi-structured interviews with people with dementia, caregivers, and program facilitators (librarians and Alzheimer Society coordinators). Through thematic analysis of fieldnotes and transcripts, the study reveals how this inclusive platform supports engagement, fosters relationships, helps caregivers, and reaches broader communities. This research further uncovers the librarians’ diversified roles as demonstrated through their collaboration with professionals, preparation and research, and facilitation of the sessions. This paper advances librarianship research on enriching community-based dementia care, including furthering inclusivity and engagement and extending accessible library services. By analyzing library programming for the dementia community and assessing its strengths and challenges, the paper highlights librarians’ awareness of the community’s evolving needs and their collaboration with other professionals. It offers practical insights on useful resources and emerging best practices that will hopefully inspire other initiatives in which information professionals can help improve the well-being of vulnerable populations.

The role of libraries in the dissemination of health information in Botswana

2016 ◽  
Vol 65 (4/5) ◽  
pp. 320-349 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tuelo Ntlotlang ◽  
Balulwami Grand
Keyword(s):  
Sample Size ◽  
Health Information ◽  
Information Acquisition ◽  
Information Sources ◽  
Public Libraries ◽  
Public Library ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Library Users ◽  
Health Information Sources

Purpose This paper aims to investigate the role of public libraries in the dissemination of health information in the southern part of Botswana, namely, Kgatleng and Kweneng districts. It also explored how these libraries market health information services to the community they serve. The study also used health information acquisition model to get an understanding on how public library users seek health information. Design/methodology/approach The survey research design was chosen for the study and purposive sampling procedure was used to obtain the sample size of the population. The sample size consisted of 120 respondents and six interviewees. Data were collected from both library staff and users using questionnaires and interviews. Findings The results of the study showed that public libraries are striving to provide accurate and useful health information to members of the community by collecting and availing both print and electronic health information sources. The findings further indicated that public libraries have marketing programmes that they use on raising awareness of health information to their clientele. The marketing programmes include outreach, library brochures/leaflets, newsletters and library exhibitions. The results of the study also showed that there were some challenges that hindered the library users to access and use health information (e.g. lack of appropriateness of information resources and limited number of health information sources). Originality/value For a better dissemination of health information, public libraries should establish working relationships with health agencies and communication organisations or media houses with the objective of cooperative developments of collections, referrals and shared training.

Towards an Assessment of Public Library Value

2010 ◽  
Vol 2 (2) ◽  
pp. 42-51
Author(s):  
Kristine Paberza
Keyword(s):  
Public Libraries ◽  
Public Library ◽  
Development Project ◽  
Free Access ◽  
The Public ◽  
Use Of Resources ◽  
Other Information ◽  
Library Development ◽  
The Impact

This paper presents methodology, early findings, possible applications of results and lessons learnt from the research study “Public libraries: value, trust and satisfaction”. The study was conducted in Latvia as the part of the impact assessment plan within the public library development project “Third Father’s Son”. The project’s goal was to improve people’s quality of life by strengthening the capacities of public libraries to facilitate better and proactive use of resources offered by free access to information technology and the Internet. In this paper, the author introduces practical results from the measurement of use-oriented value of public libraries by using information from the ecology approach and identifying the role of the public library within a context of other information sources used by the public.

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