scholarly journals The Public Library Catalogue as a Social Space: A Case Study of Social Discovery Systems in Two Canadian Public Libraries

2013 ◽  
Author(s):  
Louise F. Spiteri ◽  
Laurel Tarulli
Keyword(s):  
Social Space ◽  
Public Libraries ◽  
Public Library ◽  
User Generated Content ◽  
Log Data ◽  
The Public ◽  
Library Users ◽  
Library Catalogue

This paper uses transaction log data to examine how library users interact with two social discovery systems used in two Canadian public library systems. Results indicate that user-generated content is not used extensively or significantly in the two social discovery systems. Format is the predominant facet used to refine searches; the remaining facets are significantly underrepresented.Cette étude utilise les journaux transactionnels pour déterminer comment les usagers des bibliothèques interagissent avec deux systèmes de découverte sociaux en place dans deux réseaux de bibliothèques publiques canadiennes. Les résultats indiquent que le contenu généré par les utilisateurs n’est pas utilisé à grande échelle ou de façon importante dans aucun des deux systèmes de découverte sociaux. Le format est la principale facette utilisée pour raffiner les recherches; les autres facettes étant sous-représentées. 

The e-book war in Denmark

2017 ◽  
Vol 51 (1) ◽  
pp. 95-105
Author(s):  
Lisbeth Worsøe-Schmidt
Keyword(s):  
Public Libraries ◽  
Public Library ◽  
Public Institutions ◽  
Book Market ◽  
The Public ◽  
Library System ◽  
Commercial Market ◽  
Book World ◽  
Traditional Understanding

The aim is to investigate how digitisation and in particular e-books have changed relations between private players and public institutions within the Danish book world through a case study of eReolen, a private-public partnership functioning as common platform for public libraries’ lending of e-books in Denmark. Traditional and new models of the book world are discussed as the basis of understanding relations between the players. A new way of analysing the field outlined by literary sociologist, Professor Johan Svedjedal, is adopted. The main conclusions are that the lending of e-books has disrupted the traditional understanding and interaction between the public library system and the commercial book market. In addition, the Danish library system through the partnership has taken on a new function in relation to the commercial market, namely acting as the engine in building a market for Danish e-books.

scholarly journals Public Libraries in Norway Help Non-Western Immigrant Women to Integrate into Society

2012 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
pp. 114
Author(s):  
Kathryn Oxborrow
Keyword(s):  
Social Capital ◽  
Social Space ◽  
Public Libraries ◽  
Immigrant Women ◽  
Public Library ◽  
Native Languages ◽  
Bonding Social Capital ◽  
Safe Place ◽  
The Public ◽  
Majority Culture

Abstract Objectives – To discover the ways in which the public library was used by immigrant women, with a particular focus on the library as a meeting place. Design – Semi-structured qualitative interviews conducted in the participants’ native languages. Setting – Public libraries in Norway. Participants lived in one of two cities both with a population of approximately 40,000 and a somewhat lower number of immigrants than the national average. Subjects – Nine non-western women who had immigrated to Norway between 8 months and 17 years prior to the study. Three women were from Iran, Kurdistan and Afghanistan respectively. All identified themselves as public library users. Methods – Participants were interviewed in their native languages and the qualitative results were analyzed in accordance with the theoretical framework set out by the authors. The main areas of focus were the role of the library in the generation of social capital, and the library as a high intensive versus low intensive meeting place. Main Results – Participants used public libraries in various ways. In the initial stages of life in a new country they were used to observe and learn about the majority culture and language. They were also used as a safe place to openly grieve and provide comfort among close friends without fear of being seen by other fellow countrymen. Over time, participants came to use the library space in more traditional ways such as for information, social, and professional needs. The study also revealed that using public libraries built trust in the institution of libraries and librarians as employees. Conclusions – The public library plays a key role in the generation of social capital, both in terms of integrating into the majority culture through observation and spontaneous interactions (bridging social capital) and connecting with others from participants’ home cultures (bonding social capital) for example through the provision of social space and other links to home such as native language materials. The public library was used initially by participants as a high intensive meeting place, for meeting with friends and consoling one another. In time, however, the public library became a medium- to low-intensive meeting place, with participants engaging in library programmes or in spontaneous interactions with other library customers. Moreover, the study refutes the Swedish Library Association’s conclusion that library is used more often by immigrants that have lived in the country for long periods of time.

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.

scholarly journals Cataloguing Remains an Important Skill at Public Libraries in the Modern Metadata Landscape of Norway

2020 ◽  
Vol 15 (3) ◽  
pp. 187-188
Author(s):  
Jordan Patterson
Keyword(s):  
Content Analysis ◽  
Public Libraries ◽  
Public Library ◽  
Quantitative Content Analysis ◽  
The Public ◽  
Quantitative Content ◽  
Library Catalogue ◽  
Sample Set ◽  
Current Practices

A Review of: Preminger, M., Rype, I., Ådland, M.K., Massey, D., & Tallerås, K. (2020). The public library metadata landscape, the case of Norway 2017–2018. Cataloging & Classification Quarterly, 58(2), 127–148. https://doi.org/10.1080/01639374.2020.1711836 Abstract Objective – To understand cataloguing practices in Norwegian public libraries through the analysis of a set of MARC records. Design – Quantitative content analysis. Setting – 2 central cataloguing agencies and 49 public libraries in Norway. Subjects – 21,275 cataloguing agency records and 116,029 public library catalogue records. Methods – The researchers derived a sample set of MARC records from the central cataloguing agencies and public libraries. Matching records from each agency (i.e., records for the same manifestation catalogued separately at each agency) were compared. Then, MARC records exported from public libraries were compared to matching records from the central agencies. Main Results – The two central agencies differed in some cataloguing practices while still adhering to the accepted standards. Public libraries made few changes to records imported from central libraries, and among public libraries, larger libraries were more likely to alter agency-derived MARC records. Conclusion – Current practices indicate that despite the prevalence and efficiency of centralized cataloguing, training in cataloguing remains important in public libraries, particularly in larger libraries.

scholarly journals Public Library is….; Mapping Stakeholder Perspectives on the Values and Purposes of the Public Library

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pam McKenzie ◽  
Jacquelyn Burkell ◽  
Janet Allen
Keyword(s):  
Nous Avons ◽  
Public Libraries ◽  
Concept Map ◽  
Public Library ◽  
The Public ◽  
Stakeholder Perspectives ◽  
General Importance ◽  
Library Users ◽  
Public Library Users ◽  
Survey Responses

We used survey responses and statements of library organizations to create a corpus of items describing the value of public libraries.  A sample of public library users and staff from the province of Ontario individually sorted these statements into groups and labelled the groups, and rated each statement with respect to its general importance, its centrality to the mission of the public library, and its uniqueness to the public library.  We used GroupWisdom™ software to analyze individual responses into an overall concept map and to identify differences in patterns across different participant groups. Nous avons utilisé les réponses aux sondages et les déclarations des organisations de bibliothèques pour créer un corpus d'articles décrivant les valeurs des bibliothèques publiques. Un échantillon d'utilisateurs et d'employés des bibliothèques publiques de la province de l'Ontario a trié individuellement ces énoncés en groupes et étiqueté les groupes, et a évalué chaque énoncé en fonction de son importance générale, de son rôle central dans la mission de la bibliothèque publique et de son caractère unique pour le bibliotheque publique. Nous avons utilisé le logiciel GroupWisdom ™ pour analyser les réponses individuelles dans une carte conceptuelle globale et pour identifier les différences dans les modèles entre les différents groupes de participants.

scholarly journals Social responsibility in the global village: What role for public and school libraries?

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
James Henri ◽  
Sandra Lee
Keyword(s):  
Social Responsibility ◽  
Social Space ◽  
Public Libraries ◽  
Public Library ◽  
School Libraries ◽  
Freedom Of Information ◽  
Full Potential ◽  
Global Village ◽  
The Public ◽  
The Impact

In our global village dominated by economic rationalism does the public library have a social conscience? Issues given prominence by Patricia Glass Schuman's Social Responsibilities and Libraries, published in 1976 were revisited. As an area of larger community structure and debates of public good, the perennial topic of interest is fast becoming the current hot topic of librarianship. Literacy and learning have long been critical areas where librarians focus service, skills and programming in public libraries. This research project seeks to examine how librarians perceive other issues that often go hand-in-hand with literacy to help individuals and society achieve full potential. The research in this presentation and paper is part of a coauthored book that primarily examined politics and the public library discussing issues given new flavour in a post 9/11 world, economic rationalism and social responsibility, public Library as Social Space, engaging the poor and those marginalized because of access limitations. Freedom of information and privacy are perennial issues for libraries. It is clear that literacy continues to be a key issue for public libraries. Researchers analyzed responses received from open-ended questions on library professional listservs and present findings that indicate what librarians perceive as the role of public libraries to further socially responsible policy. They provide some insight into the most compelling issues for librarians, and what changes in librarian's/library roles have been perceived since 9/11. The findings from the study are also presented in the context of the impact it bears for school libraries, outlining further studies in that area.

scholarly journals From means to an end to ends in themselves

2020 ◽  
Vol 1 (2) ◽  
pp. 34-52
Author(s):  
Mia Høj Mathiasson
Keyword(s):  
Public Libraries ◽  
Public Library ◽  
Historical Case Study ◽  
Historical Case ◽  
The Public ◽  
Broad Variety ◽  
And Function ◽  
Role And Function ◽  
Source Materials

Offering a variety of activities and events is considered a central part of many public libraries today. Under the term public library programmes, this article presents the findings from an empirical study of the development of publicly available and publicly announced activities and events offered within or in relation to Danish public libraries over a sixty-year period. The aim of the study was to enrich our understanding of these library services from a historical perspective focussing on describing development. Inspired by Historical Case Study (HCS), the study was designed as a diachronic analysis of a broad variety of empirical source materials collected from two case libraries, documenting programmes offered between 1960 and 2020, including interviews with programming librarians. From analysing the source materials, a development is described which shows that while the different types of programmes offered throughout the period have been somewhat consistent, their format and content have expanded in parallel with the expansion of the public library, its collections and services. At the same time, the reasoning behind offering programmes can be described as a development from programmes considered as a means to an end (e.g. education, publicity or community building) to programmes also considered as ends in themselves. By supporting and enriching the knowledge on programmes as services, this study provides an empirical foundation for discussions and debates about the role and function of public library programmes as part of the public library in the future as well as rich empirical examples for further research.

scholarly journals Library as a Social Place

2018 ◽  
Vol 4 (12) ◽  
pp. 48-59
Author(s):  
Wan Hashimah Wan Ismail ◽  
Lily Ting Shu Chi
Keyword(s):  
Public Libraries ◽  
Publishing House ◽  
Public Library ◽  
New Approach ◽  
The Public ◽  
Library Users ◽  
International Publishing ◽  
The One ◽  
Open Access Article

This paper clarifies on the condition of the public libraries, focusing on the one in Alor Gajah town.  The objectives were to search the reasons for the lack of visitors to the library, the perspectives of the locals and library users, as well as the means to assimilate their viewpoints into a new approach in designing a library. The discussions in the findings include the preference of the locals, the location and the users of the public library. The strategies suggested comprise the role of the library to be redefined as a social interactive space for the community. Keywords: public library; social; Interactive space; community eISSN 2514-7528 © 2019. The Authors. Published for AMER ABRAcE-Bs by e-International Publishing House, Ltd., UK. This is an open-access article under the CC BY-NC-ND license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/). Peer–review under responsibility of AMER (Association of Malaysian Environment-Behaviour Researchers), ABRA (Association of Behavioural Researchers on Asians) andcE-Bs (Centre for Environment-Behaviour Studies), Faculty of Architecture, Planning & Surveying, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Malaysia. https://doi.org/10.21834/jabs.v4i12.329

Democratizing the Maker Movement: A Case Study of One Public Library System’s Makerspace Program

2019 ◽  
Vol 58 (4) ◽  
pp. 234 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alexandra Lakind ◽  
Rebekah Willett ◽  
Erica Rosenfeld Halverson
Keyword(s):  
Public Libraries ◽  
Public Library ◽  
Maker Movement ◽  
Diverse Range ◽  
Library Users ◽  
Do It Yourself ◽  
Creative Ideation ◽  
Library Profession ◽  
The Maker Movement

The maker movement has found a home in public libraries. Field leaders including public libraries in Chicago, Chattanooga, Houston, Louisville, and Toronto have built robust makerspaces, developed maker programming for a diverse range of patrons, connected community experts with library users for the purpose of sharing information, and fostered communities of practice. Characterized by open exploration, intrinsic interest, and creative ideation, the maker movement can be broadly defined as participation in the creative production of physical and digital artifacts in people’s day-to-day lives. The maker movement employs a do-it-yourself orientation toward a range of disciplines, including robotics, woodworking, textiles, and electronics. But the maker ethos also includes a do-it-with-others approach, valuing collaboration, distributed expertise, and open workspaces. To many in the library profession, the values ingrained in the maker movement seem to be shared with the aims and goals of public libraries. However, critiques of the maker movement raise questions about current iterations of makerspaces across settings. This article highlights critiques and responses regarding the “democratic” nature of the maker movement, and in particular, the article analyzes ways librarians involved in a prominent public library maker program discursively construct making and maker programming in relation to the maker movement more generally.

Implementation of information literacy programmes in public libraries

2016 ◽  
Vol 33 (2) ◽  
pp. 17-22 ◽  
Author(s):  
George Kingori ◽  
Dorothy Njiraine ◽  
Stephen Maina
Keyword(s):  
Information Literacy ◽  
Public Libraries ◽  
Public Library ◽  
Information Resources ◽  
National Library ◽  
Content Type ◽  
The Public ◽  
Qualitative Approaches ◽  
Major Player

Purpose The purpose of this study is to examine the implementation of information literacy programmes in the public libraries in Kenya as demonstrated through a case study of the major public library in the country – Kenya National Library Service (KNLS). Design/methodology/approach The use of a case study research design made it possible to establish in-depth personal views, opinions and attitudes of the various respondents through face-to-face interviews and questionnaires. Both quantitative and qualitative approaches were used to collect data from the respondents. Purposive and random sampling techniques were used, and data were analyzed. Findings Major findings of this study indicated that the majority of users at the KNLS relied heavily on the print information materials, while some users, especially researchers, utilized the Internet for their academic work or research. The findings indicated that information literacy should be embedded in the information literacy programmes in all public libraries. Research limitations/implications The study was confined to the KNLS. A much wider scope could be untenable, necessitating such limitation. Practical implications As KNLS is the national library charged with the responsibility of providing public library services, it is a major player in terms of policies and guidelines. The study will encourage users in public libraries to appreciate the importance of information resources and also sensitize public library administrators to support information literacy programmes. Social implications The study will enable the educational administrators to develop and plan relevant instructional models related to information literacy, critical thinking and independent learning. The challenges and solutions experienced at the KNLS can be applied in other public libraries in Kenya. Originality/value The study identified the various gaps and challenges that exists in implementation of information literacy programmes in public libraries. Major recommendations of this study are: users should be provided with training on use of information resources; library staff should be provided with methodology skills to make them effective trainers; and public libraries should partner with other stakeholders to provide information literacy programmes. In addition, adequate funding for physical, material and human resources should be provided to facilitate the implementation of information literacy programmes in the public libraries in Kenya.

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