scholarly journals Demographic Variables Are Associated with Differing Perceptions of a Broad Range of Public Library Benefits

2016 ◽  
Vol 11 (2) ◽  
pp. 180
Author(s):  
Sara Sharun
Keyword(s):  
Ethnic Minorities ◽  
Public Libraries ◽  
Program Planning ◽  
Age Groups ◽  
Public Library ◽  
Demographic Variables ◽  
Demographic Differences ◽  
Demographic Groups ◽  
Everyday Activities ◽  
Perceived Outcomes

Objective – To determine the frequency and nature of perceived beneficial outcomes of public libraries on individuals, and to identify demographic differences in these perceived outcomes. Design – Self-administered, online questionnaire asking respondents to rate the frequency of benefits they received from public libraries in 22 areas of life including education, work, and business; everyday activities; and leisure activities. Setting – United States of America. Subjects – 1010 respondents from 49 states: 50% female, 76% white, 55% urban or suburban. Methods – Correspondence analysis was used to visualize relationships between demographic variables and perceived outcomes. Exploratory factor analysis was used to identify structures among the outcomes and summarize data into three core dimensions: everyday activities and interests; reading and self-education; and work and formal education. Multiway ANOVAs were used to test the significance of demographic differences on perceived outcomes. Main Results – The most highly ranked areas of perceived benefits were reading fiction and non-fiction, self-education during leisure time, interest in history or society, and health. Outdoor activities, exercise, and sport ranked the lowest. Respondents in younger age groups reported benefits in “education and work,” as did ethnic minorities and people with lower household incomes. “Everyday life” benefits were reported by male, suburban, White, middle-income respondents. “Reading and self-education” benefits were reported by high-income, older age groups, White, and female respondents. Two demographic groups did not correspond to any benefit categories: those who did not graduate high school and those over age 65. Conclusion – There are significant differences among demographic groups in how the benefits of public libraries are perceived, and these demographic differences have implications for program planning, marketing, and outreach in public libraries. Specifically, libraries should work to increase and improve service to less-advantaged groups, including low-income earners and ethnic minorities, and make available more services and resources relevant to older people.

Models explaining the perceived outcomes of public libraries

2014 ◽  
Vol 70 (4) ◽  
pp. 640-657 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pertti Vakkari
Keyword(s):  
Public Libraries ◽  
Linear Regression Analysis ◽  
Explanatory Power ◽  
Age Groups ◽  
Public Library ◽  
Multivariate Techniques ◽  
Content Type ◽  
The Public ◽  
Everyday Activities ◽  
Source Of Information

Purpose – The benefits of public libraries as perceived by adults in everyday activities, in cultural activities and in career are modeled by multivariate techniques. The paper aims to discuss these issues. Design/methodology/approach – The survey data are based on a representative sample of 1,000 Finnish adults ranging from 15 to 79 years. The perceived benefits were modeled by linear regression analysis and by path analysis. Findings – The models explain 27-32 percent of the variation in the three benefit types observed. The role and the explanatory power of the factors included in the models vary to a certain extent between the benefit types. Research limitations/implications – The results are generalizable at least to small, wealthy welfare states with a well-developed public library system. Practical implications – It seems that the public library functions relatively more as a source of information for everyday activities in older age groups, whereas more as a source of information for career in younger age groups. The public library should profile its services accordingly. Originality/value – This is first study to model the factors associated with the benefits adults derive by using the public library in the major areas of life.

scholarly journals Storytime in a Box: The Cooperative Approach to Preschool Storytime Planning

2018 ◽  
Vol 16 (1) ◽  
pp. 23
Author(s):  
Katie Bowers ◽  
Vivian Howard ◽  
Alison Brown
Keyword(s):  
Public Libraries ◽  
Program Planning ◽  
Public Library ◽  
Read Aloud ◽  
Youth Services ◽  
Staff Time ◽  
Single Model ◽  
Cooperative Approach ◽  
Age Appropriate ◽  
Unique Program

Preschool storytimes have been a standard public library offering for more than one hundred years.1 Most public libraries offer preschool storytimes several times per week and follow a familiar pattern of read-aloud stories intermixed with sing-alongs, action songs, and finger plays, frequently connected to a weekly theme. Planning for these weekly story-time sessions can take a significant amount of staff time, as staff choose a theme and then select relevant, age-appropriate, and appealing stories, songs, and activities to fill the time slot.In multibranch library systems, this planning is often replicated at each branch, as each youth services team prepares its own unique program offerings. In search of greater efficiency, some public library systems have experimented with other models of program planning, with planning being done centrally for the entire system or by several branches partnering to work together. Is there a single model of program planning that works best and that staff prefer?

User Information Needs in the Public Libraries in India

2019 ◽  
pp. 25-53
Author(s):  
R. Perumalsamy ◽  
Sri. P. Kannan
Keyword(s):  
Information Seeking ◽  
Information Needs ◽  
Information Dissemination ◽  
Public Libraries ◽  
Age Groups ◽  
Public Library ◽  
Local Center ◽  
Non Profit ◽  
The Public ◽  
Seeking Behavior

The researcher has chosen the topic for the purpose of the study in consultation with research supervisor. The public library is the local center of information, making all kinds of knowledge and information readily available to its users. The services of the public library are provided on the basis of equality of access to all, regardless of age, race, gender, religion, nationality, language, or social status. Public library is a non-profit organization maintained for public use. The thesis comprises of information needs and information seeking behavior of the user of south Tamilnadu, from various angles, the information dissemination services existing in south Tamilnadu and the role played by the district central library in this regard. In public libraries we have the users with different age groups of people right from children to old persons.

The demography of ethnic minorities

1983 ◽  
Vol 15 (S8) ◽  
pp. 43-87 ◽  
Author(s):  
David Coleman
Keyword(s):  
Ethnic Minorities ◽  
Ethnic Differences ◽  
Demographic Variables ◽  
General Analysis ◽  
The Political ◽  
Political Debate ◽  
Demographic Differences ◽  
Cultural Effects ◽  
Comprehensive Theory ◽  
Sufficient Detail

Cultural—‘ethnic’—differences within national populations have recently become the focus of considerable academic and political debate. This paper considers their demographic significance and reviews some facts and theories on the demography of minorities.It cannot present a comprehensive theory of the demography of ethnic minorities. Such a theory must be part of a more general analysis of cultural effects on demographic variables—which so far is lacking in demography. Neither can it review exhaustively the facts of minority demography; they are not collected or made available in sufficient detail from many countries with minority or multiple nationalities. The aims of the paper are accordingly less ambitious: to consider the political and academic import of minority demographic differences, formulate questions that might usefully be asked about them, and present a few examples in detail.

ReVisioning the Public Library as an Oasis of Learning

2012 ◽  
Vol 3 (2) ◽  
pp. 10-22
Author(s):  
Mary A. Cassell ◽  
Jo Ann M. Bamdas ◽  
Valerie C. Bryan
Keyword(s):  
Adult Learners ◽  
Public Libraries ◽  
Age Groups ◽  
Public Library ◽  
Educational Programming ◽  
The Public ◽  
Learning Framework ◽  
Community Volunteers ◽  
Growing Age ◽  
Older Adult Learners

Culturally diverse older adult learners are among the fastest growing age groups for which public libraries promote the needs of lifelong learning today. This article explores the past, present, and future of informal and non-formal public learning environments as safe and welcoming, with supportive educational programming provided by librarians and community volunteers. In light of an advancing 21st century learning framework, the aim of this article is to encourage adult learning practitioners to re-examine the public library to recognize a new world of potentiality in library learning for this population.

Fatality of Suicide Attempts in Amsterdam 1996–2005

Crisis ◽  
2009 ◽  
Vol 30 (4) ◽  
pp. 180-185 ◽  
Author(s):  
Evertjan Jansen ◽  
Marcel C.A. Buster ◽  
Annemarie L. Zuur ◽  
Cees Das
Keyword(s):  
Health Service ◽  
Time Trends ◽  
Suicide Attempts ◽  
Preventive Measures ◽  
Case Fatality ◽  
Absolute Number ◽  
Demographic Differences ◽  
Demographic Groups ◽  
Wish To Die ◽  
Municipal Health

Background: According to recent figures, Amsterdam is the municipality with the highest absolute number of suicides and the second highest suicide rate in the Netherlands. Aims: The aim of the study was to identify time trends and demographic differences in the occurrence of nonfatal suicide attempts versus suicides. Methods: We used registrations of forensic physicians and ambulance services of the Municipal Health Service of Amsterdam to study 1,004 suicides and 6,166 nonfatal attempts occurring in Amsterdam over the period 1996–2005. Results: The number of nonfatal attempts declined from 1996 to 2005, but the number of completed suicides remained relatively stable. Although case fatality was strongly associated with method used, we also found higher case fatalities for men and older people independent of method. Conclusions: The case fatality results suggest differences in motive among different demographic groups: possibly the wish to die is stronger among men and elderly. This finding had implications for the success to be expected from different preventive measures.

The potential of continuous library and information education within the context of the Model Standard of Public Library

2017 ◽  
pp. 83-93 ◽  
Author(s):  
Galina Kuzichkina ◽  
Alexander Mazuritsky
Keyword(s):  
Professional Education ◽  
Reference Point ◽  
Public Libraries ◽  
Public Library ◽  
Single System ◽  
Library And Information Education

The authors discuss the problems of library and information education. The lack of a single system of life-long education in the library industry is stressed. The Model Standard of Public Libraries as a reference point for education reinvention is analyzed. The main vectors of public libraries activities defined in the Model Standard are considered, along with the desirable professional competences. The ratio of the libraries’ main tasks and functionalities and the professional education is examined.

Influence of Information Literacy Competencies on Users of the Saulsville Public Library, South Africa

Mousaion ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 38 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Rexwhite Tega Enakrire ◽  
Isaac Mpho Mothiba
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Information Literacy ◽  
Information Needs ◽  
Formal Education ◽  
New Technologies ◽  
Public Libraries ◽  
Survey Design ◽  
Public Library ◽  
Information Discovery ◽  
Information Literacy Competencies

Information literacy competencies indicate the ability of an individual to apply a certain search strategy of information discovery, to understand its design, to value judgement, and to use it in various contents and contexts. The influence of information literacy competencies plays an important role in enabling information users to meet their information needs and prepares them for lifelong learning. The purpose of this study was to examine the influence of information literacy competencies of users in the Saulsville public library, South Africa. The rationale was a lack of awareness and the inability of the users to find their information needs based on the task and decision at hand. The descriptive survey design adopted for this study made use of a questionnaire to collect data from 1 120 registered members of the Saulsville library. Of the 1 120 registered users being the population for the study, the authors purposively used 10 per cent (112 members) of the population as sample size. The findings revealed that users of the Saulsville public library had limited awareness and competencies of information literacy. The users were exposed to some form of library orientation and the use of library resources during their visit to the library. The findings further indicated that the users’ information literacy competencies were affirmed through the quality of information obtained and the satisfaction of library services rendered by library staff. The study recommends the acquisition of new technologies that could enhance users’ interactive information literacy training in public libraries and formal education settings.  

Understanding the Roles of Public Libraries in (Inter)National Development: Lessons from India

2013 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ajit K Pyati
Keyword(s):  
Public Libraries ◽  
National Development ◽  
Public Library ◽  
Information Policy ◽  
Library Development ◽  
State Actors

This paper focuses on the roles of public libraries in overall plans and schemes for Indian national development, focusing on issues of power and representation. The roles of state and non-state actors in Indian public library development are explored within the context of larger international information policy and development debates.Cet article porte sur les rôles des bibliothèques publiques dans les plans et les schémas globaux du développement national de l'Inde, et plus précisément sur les enjeux de pouvoir et de représentation. Seront explorés les rôles de l'état et des autres intervenants dans le développement des bibliothèques publiques indiennes dans le contexte de politiques d'information plus vastes et des débats sur le développement. 

Assessment of Demographic Differences Regarding Customer Value in Life Insurance Corporation

2015 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Amit Sharma ◽  
Bodh Raj Sharma
Keyword(s):  
Life Insurance ◽  
Customer Value ◽  
Likert Scale ◽  
Demographic Variables ◽  
Primary Data ◽  
Demographic Differences ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Quota Sampling

Aim of this paper is to assess the empirically demographic differences among the customers regarding customer value in Life Insurance Corporation. It is a fact that life insurance players in J&K have realized that their business advantage depends on customer value. The study is based upon the primary data obtained from customers of LIC belonging to various districts of J&K through quota sampling. A questionnaire was framed containing items of demographics and statements measuring customer value based upon seven point Likert scale. The findings indicate that the demographic variables viz., age, qualification, occupation wise, there is no significant difference regarding customer value in the perception of customers of LIC. However, district wise respondents do differ in their opinion regarding customer value in Life Insurance Corporation.

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