FREE POLICY IN PUBLIC LIBRARY SYSTEM IN CHINA: SUBJECT, CRITERIA AND METHODOLOGY

On the day of 2011, February 10, the ministry of culture and ministry of finance in China jointly issued a public policy document entitled as «on promoting free opening of national art galleries public libraries and cultural center stations». This document clearly declared the basic objective and goal of free policy in these public service domains as: till the end of the year 2011, all public libraries in China should follow the free policy on entrance fee, using of public space and facilities and basic services. This current study traced the theoretical extrapolations of assessment of public library system and its significance to the continuing service improvement and nation building. Following a qualitative research design, this paper focused on the enumeration of three key components of public library assessment system in China, namely subject, criteria and methodology. Western historically influential theories were referred to. However, the contextualization of these theoretical thoughts into a specific (eastern and socialismdominated) national culture, ideology, praxis and social milieu would be high lightened in the theoretical constructs and orientation of this paper. Towards the end this paper draws on conclusion by using a case study of Liu Zhou City Library(LZCL) in adopting the free policy. The objective of this paper is to introduce to librarian practitioners who are facing the same plights a workable model in constructing a nimble and fit assessment system based on its own social scenario.

Tongwei County Library

Through the cooperation with the Evergreen Education Foundation in the United States, the Tongwei rural library network has been set up and a cooperation service alliance between a public library and school libraries has been built; using project funding by Evergreen, it reached out to the local communities, and meanwhile, it carried out small projects to enhance its service capacity. Through participation in the Evergreen-sponsored international conferences, training, and projects, librarians have improved their service capabilities and sharpened their awareness of library services. Based on the local cultural characteristics and user needs, and funded by a grant from Hangzhou Library Foundation, Tongwei County Library has established a reading room as a space where people can read calligraphy and painting materials. In addition, it carried out special collections services, shot the documentary film “Autumn Story,” and held “Tongwei impression.” It is the first county library to achieve management automation, and the national-level library in the fifth national public library assessment.

Making Space for the ‘Irrational’ Practice of Anthropology in Libraries

In this article, I extend the argument for open-ended exploratory, anthropologically informed, qualitative work in libraries that Andrew Asher and I began with “Ethnographish” (2016) and further explore and explain the paucity of open-ended exploration in library assessment and engagement work with the frame of rationality. I argue here that open-ended, exploratory anthropological work could be the kind of irrational work that can help library workers escape the neoliberal cage of rationality. If libraries are to be institutions that do not just mitigate but actively fight marginalization and inequality, we need to deeply interrogate the structures that insist on rational approaches to libraries and library work.

Culture of assessment in academic libraries in Kuwait: investigating the current situation and future prospects

PurposeUsing the Association of Research Libraries' SPEC KIT 303 library assessment framework, this study examines and evaluates academic libraries' efforts toward establishing a culture of assessment.Design/methodology/approachA quantitative questionnaire is employed to collect data. The sample comprises 70 library staff working in eight academic libraries in public and private universities in Kuwait.FindingsThe findings document a readiness to create a culture of assessment in Kuwaiti academic libraries, though this was greater in private universities. Resources to develop this culture, such as assessment and analysis methods and the requisite skills and knowledge, are available, but commitment from academic leaders and plans for a shift toward culture of assessment were not evident. Overall, participating academic library staff acknowledged the value of developing a culture of assessment, but this seems not to be an institutional priorityPractical implicationsThe methodology and findings address gaps in library and information science education and library management on creating a culture of assessment and suggest future research avenues.Originality/valueLibrary assessment is a core function of libraries, but guaranteeing the continuity and consistency of related activities requires an organizational culture that facilitates and supports such assessment. While many articles have focused on the requisites for building a culture of assessment in higher education, few, if any, have assessed academic libraries in the cultural context of the Middle East.