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Investigates what has changed in librarianship in the last decade, challenges the profession has faced, and positions library professionals should take in the rapidly evolving technological environment. Provides information on the demands of the profession, changes library schools have made, and the future outlook. (AEF)

Presents perspectives from a library educator and three library administrators on the core values of librarianship, particularly public librarianship. The four contributors emphasize: cooperation for a shared endeavor, a passion to provide access, connecting information and people, and offering choice to individuals without restriction. (AEF)

Discusses the experiences of four librarians who adopted marketing strategies to improve their practice and their institution's services, and examines the role of marketing in today's information society. (AEF)

Argues that in an age of information overload, the public library role is to promote books and reading and warns that public libraries that focus on technologies and information services will become cogs in the engine of material progress rather than fulfilling their role as sources of knowledge. (19 references) (EJS)

Diversity has been identified as a priority in library and information services for some time. The limited published research on diversity programs in libraries, though, has focused on academic libraries. This article represents the results of a study of leadership diversity in large, urban public libraries. In the study of members of the Urban Libraries Council, data were gathered with regard to programs related to diversity awareness, staffing, collections, and information services. The research results indicate that diversity-related activities and programs have been implemented in a high percentage of the libraries. However, the level of focus on areas such as retention has not been as consistent, as is the case with the provision of library services and collection development, for example. The research results also indicate the relationship between organizational leadership and administrative structure and activities related to operationalizing diversity in public libraries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Information World / Bilgi Dünyası is the property of University & Research Librarians Associations (UNAK) and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Suggests that different groups in the public library's environment adhere to different sets of values, interests and benefits when evaluating the library's effectiveness. Groups surveyed in this research comprised city councilors, community leaders, friends of the library, librarians, library managers, library board members, and library users. Of the 62 indicators potentially defining the library's effectiveness, findings pertaining to 25 of them are discussed. (AEF)

Library services to Native Americans have expanded greatly in the past several decades, but more work still needs to be done to provide for the information needs of Native Americans. Data from the U.S. Current Population Survey were used to compare library use rates of Native American households to rates of Anglo households. Results show that Native Americans still lag behind Anglos in public library use rates. Of households that report library use, Native Americans are more likely to engage in certain types of library use than are Anglos. Socioeconomic and geographic variables are indicated as factors in the lower library use rates of Native American households. Study results could be useful for groups working to improve Native American library and information services. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses the engagement of public libraries in outcomes-based evaluation (OBE) approaches to manifest the value that public libraries to the community they serve and to demonstrate the impact of their services library and resources on the audience. OBE determines how library programs, services and resources change the knowledge, skills or behavior of the library customer. Public libraries are usually funded by their local sources as well as federal funds from the Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA). The LSTA Toolkit was developed by the Florida State Library and Archives and the Information Use Management and Policy Institute at Florida State University which offers to librarians on how to create OBE plans, strategies and methods.

The article discusses the assessed resources, services and infrastructures available in public libraries in Lagos State, Nigeria. Topics covered include the importance of modern public library services, the profile and brief history of Lagos State, Nigeria, and the modern library services available in Lagos State. It discusses the literacy programmes for children, outreach programmes, and information and communications technology (ICT) services available in Lagos State, Nigeria.

The article reports on an investigation of the provision of gay and lesbian literature and of information services to gays and lesbians in Cape Town's public libraries. Although by definition public libraries serve all members of a community, the international literature suggests that they neglect the reading and information needs and interests of gays and lesbians. The progressive South African Constitution views the rights of gays and lesbians as human rights; yet homophobia is prevalent. Using a questionnaire, the study explored attitudes and practices of 69 senior librarians, responsible for collection development, across all six of Cape Town's library districts. The situation was found to be "spotty" with only 26 respondents believing that their library service is meeting the needs of gays and lesbians. The survey found contradictions between stated beliefs and behaviours. Thus, although most agree that LGBT rights to information and equal services are human rights, only 55% consider LGBT people in their selection procedures and very little material is acquired. Information services are thin with, for example, only 10% of the libraries in the survey providing LGBT related information in their community information files. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Universidad Francisco Manoquín (UFM), a private university, was founded in Guatemala City in 1971. UFM follows a "cautious but decisive" strategy for information services development: a promising and potentially disruptive technology is researched and experimented with on a small scale before campus-wide adoption. The library has provided an ideal testing ground for Ethernet wiring, wireless access, CD-ROMs, multimedia, Internet, and web-based application development. In addition, two spinoff projects have blossomed: UFM's integrated library system is supplied by glifos.com to regional libraries, and the New Media department works with indexed streaming video for web-based learning and local resource archiving. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article reports on global developments in the field of library science. On June 9, 2003, the British Library previewed its new secure electronic delivery service at the Special Libraries Association annual conference in New York City. The secure electronic delivery service is based on Adobe Reader 6.0 software and Relais International scanning and delivery technology. It gives customers fast access to over a billion items. The Library of Congress and the Electronic Journal Library, a consortium of European research libraries, have signed a memorandum of understanding through which the library has become the first non-European member in a growing Electronic Journal Library consortium. Acquisition of V3.Web, the ILL requesting and management system by OCLC PICA on July 1, 2003. The acquisition was made in order to enhance services to public libraries in Great Britain.

Objetivo. Presentar un análisis comparativo de los servicios de información local en línea ofertados por las bibliotecas públicas de la Comunidad de Castilla y León. La finalidad de tal evaluación es resaltar sus fortalezas y mostrar sus debilidades, proponiendo en este último caso una serie de actuaciones de mejora. -- Metodología. Se diseñó un esquema de evaluación a medida, de tal modo que partiendo de lo general a lo particular el análisis se centró en los siguientes puntos: estructura de la página de inicio, en cuanto a diseño y contenidos, y estructura del servicio de información local valorando la selección y descripción de los recursos informativos. -- Resultados. De los resultados obtenidos se destaca el esfuerzo realizado a la hora de hacer visible y enriquecer los contenidos de tal sección para convertirse en punto de referencia como servicio público de información al ciudadano.Objectives. To present a comparative analysis of the online local information services provided by public libraries in the autonomous region of Castilla y León. The aim of this evaluation was to highlight the services' strengths and weaknesses and propose a set of activities to improve them. -- Method. An assessment method was designed for the study, in which the general-to-specific analysis focused on the following points: the structure of the home page in terms of design and contents; and the structure of the local information service, with an evaluation of the selection and description of information resources. -- Results. It was reflected the effort made to enrich the contents of the web page and to make them visible, so that it can become a leading example of a public information service.

Objectiu. Presentar una anàlisi comparativa dels serveis d'informació local en línia que ofereixen les biblioteques públiques de la comunitat de Castella i Lleó. La finalitat d'aquesta avaluació és subratllar les fortaleses d'aquests serveis i mostrar-ne les debilitats, per proposar en aquest darrer cas tota una sèrie d'actuacions de millora. -- Metodologia. S'ha dissenyat un esquema d'avaluació a mida, de manera que -anant de general a particular- l'anàlisi se centra en els punts següents: estructura de la pàgina d'inici -quant a disseny i continguts- i estructura del servei d'informació local, tot valorant la selecció i la descripció dels recursos informatius. -- Resultats. Dels resultats obtinguts, en destaca l'esforç dut a terme a l'hora de fer visible i d'enriquir els continguts d'aquesta secció perquè esdevingui un punt de referència com a servei públic d'informació al ciutadà.Objectives. To present a comparative analysis of the online local information services provided by public libraries in the autonomous region of Castilla y León. The aim of this evaluation was to highlight the services' strengths and weaknesses and propose a set of activities to improve them. -- Method. An assessment method was designed for the study, in which the general-to-specific analysis focused on the following points: the structure of the home page in terms of design and contents; and the structure of the local information service, with an evaluation of the selection and description of information resources. -- Results. It was reflected the effort made to enrich the contents of the web page and to make them visible, so that it can become a leading example of a public information service.

En alguns països, com ara els Estats Units i el Canadà, el servei d’informació de la biblioteca pública inclou serveis d’informació genealògica; aquest no és el cas de Catalunya ni d’Espanya, on els serveis de suport a la recerca genealògica disten molt d’estar organitzats. El treball és una aproximació als models existents per a la recerca en aquesta àrea. Es presenten les principals fonts d’informació i el catàleg de serveis especialitzats en recerca genealògica dins l’àmbit bibliotecari nord-americà. En la darrera part es fan una sèrie de reflexions sobre la situació al nostre país i es donen unes directrius bàsiques per incorporar aquests serveis en biblioteques públiques.In some countries, such as the United States and Canada, public library reference services cover genealogical information. This is not the case in Catalonia or in Spain, where genealogical services are far from being organised. The present work provides an overview of existing models for research in this area. The main information sources are presented, as well as the catalogue of special services in genealogical research within the North American library system. The last section of the article reflects on the situation in the author s country and provides basic guidelines for incorporating this type of service into public libraries.En algunos países, como Estados Unidos y Canadá, el servicio de información de la biblioteca pública ofrece servicios de información genealógica; este no es el caso ni de Cataluña ni de España, donde los servicios de apoyo a la investigación genealógica distan mucho de estar organizados. El trabajo es una aproximación a los modelos existentes para la investigación sobre el tema. Se presentan las principales fuentes de información y el catálogo de servicios especializados en investigación genealógica en el ámbito bibliotecario norteamericano. En la última parte se ofrecen una serie de reflexiones sobre la situación en nuestro país y se dan unas directrices básicas para incorporar estos servicios en las bibliotecas públicas.

Since the establishment of the first public library in 1818, the South African library and information services landscape has also been a reflection of the socio-political order and developments in the country. This article presents an historical perspective as well as an overview of libraries in South Africa since 1994, the context within which libraries function, library governance and legislative framework, government funding for redress, library technologies, library and information services education and the professional association. The article further highlights the importance of libraries in meeting the goals of the national development agenda towards entrenching a strong democracy and an educated and informed nation. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Young people represent a significant portion of public and school library users, so collection development policies and procedures should involve these constituents, particularly with the advent of technology. Youth information needs can be culled from circulation and demographic statistics, student work, surveys, and interviews. Selection criteria should be reviewed in light of student input. Issues of access vs. ownership highlight ways that youth can help select online resources, and aid in their effective use. Student work itself constitutes an innovative part of the collection. Finally, student advisory boards can systematically help develop and maintain responsive collections. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

In 2010, Libraries ACT created a number of community engagement specialisations to be implemented at the Librarian or Professional Officer Class 1 level. The specialisations spanned existing core library activities, target groups already the focus of library programming, lifelong learning, and specific groups, including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. This paper describes the specialisations initiative from first implementation through a review to implementation of a modified approach. It focuses primarily on engagement with the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities resulting from both implementations. The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Protocols for library archives and information services (‘the ATSILIRN Protocols’ or ‘the Protocols’) have become a key tool to planning that engagement, although ideas for engagement and participation are increasingly being generated by community members themselves. The use of the Protocols is discussed and the relevance of cultural competence in libraries is introduced. The specialisation initiative, and related engagement activities, may provide the basis of formal study, which could address the transferability of the tentative findings of this overview or explore the development of cultural competence through engagement activities. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Purpose - The purpose of this paper is to demonstrate the work undertaken by Vancouver Public Library (VPL) in an effort to convert its website into a true virtual branch, both through the functionality of the website itself and by extending its web presence on to external social networking sites. Design/methodology/approach - VPL worked with its development partners to conduct a thorough community consultation to ensure that the new VPL website would be truly user-focused. Since the site's launch, VPL has made strategic management of both its internal and external web presence a key organisational priority, reflected in its creation of two new professional positions which include co-ordination of VPL's internal and external web presence as part of their job specification. Findings - VPL has demonstrated that it is possible to take a systematic, integrated, thoughtful approach to the adoption of Web 2.0 tools and technologies in order to enhance web services without sacrificing quality or control. Originality/value - As many public libraries consider their options with regard to the integration of Web 2.0 tools and technologies, VPL offers an example of good practice in strategic selection and management of these tools to optimise the delivery of web-based library services. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Describes the information services provided by Shanghai Library for the 2010 World Expo, to be held in Shanghai. The Library has established both a physical and a virtual Shanghai Exposition Information Center (http://www.worldexpoinfo.cn/). The collection of documents on World Expos has become one of the richest collections in the world on this topic. Value-added information services based on the collection include information services for local enterprises and local government in the form of monthly briefi ngs. Shanghai Library staff have also been involved in editing, translating and writing six titles in the World Expo Book Series. These activities refl ect the important role of public libraries in providing information services. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to point out that past models of information ownership may not carry over to the age of digital information. The fact that public ownership of information (for example, by means of national and public library collections) created social benefits in the past does not mean that a greater degree of private sector involvement in information provision in the knowledge society of today is synonymous with an abandonment of past ideals of social information provision. Design/methodology/approach – A brief review of recent issues in digital preservation and national electronic heritage management, with an examination of the public–private sector characteristics of each issue. Findings – Private companies and philanthropic endeavours focussing on the business of digital information provision have done some things – which in the past we have associated with the public domain – remarkably well. It is probably fair to say that this has occurred against the pattern of expectation of the library profession. Research limitations/implications – The premise of this paper is that LIS research aimed at predicting future patterns of problem solving in information work should avoid the narrow use of patterns of public–private relationships inherited from a previous, print-based information order. Practical implications – This paper suggests practical ways in which the library and information profession can improve digital library services by looking to form creative partnerships with private sector problem solvers. Originality/value – This paper argues that the LIS profession should not take a doctrinaire approach to commercial company involvement in "our" information world. Librarians should facilitate collaboration between all parties, both public and private, to create original solutions to contemporary information provision problems. In this way we can help create pragmatic, non-doctrinaire solutions that really do work for the citizens of our contemporary information society. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose – To discuss the nature of public library websites and what they communicate about the values of the sector. Design/methodology/approach – The article examines a range of Scottish public library websites to determine domain and quality of information resources provided. Findings – That many public libraries in Scotland have a virtual identity problem brought about by being part of larger websites for their parent bodies. It is argued that this identity problem is to the detriment of the service, and that models of good practice should be urgently considered by public librarians. Practical implications – The article should be of interest to librarians considering how best to present their websites and the potential challenges in doing so as part of a larger umbrella organisation. Originality/value – This is the first article to examine all sites from Scottish public libraries in terms of their origins and content. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Outlines the development of libraries in China, including the National Library, university libraries, public libraries, specialized libraries and other types of library, and the work of the Library Society of China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Two branches of applied social science have devoted substantial attention to researching information seeking and use. One branch is the field of communication, with its emphasis on the design of messages to effectively transmit expert information. The second is the field of library and information science, with its emphasis on meeting user needs. This paper is an overview and comparison of what is known about information seeking and use based on these two bodies of research, particularly as it applies to serving the needs of racial and ethnic minorities. Data Source: This paper is informed by three in-depth literature reviews of the two fields and of the difficulties of bringing findings from disparate fields to bear on the same phenomena. Conclusions: Twenty-five broad brushstroke propositions are extracted in a way that allows both commonalities and contradictions to be informative, particularly as they relate to how the flexibilities offered by electronic technologies may allow experts to serve user needs more effectively and efficiently. Remarkably, while both fields have approached their studies from separate viewpoints without much overlap, both have struggled with the baggage imposed on their research by information-as-transmission assumptions and both have moved toward approaches that focus on information-as-communication. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article focuses on the development of American libraries and its effect on librarianship over the past one hundred years in the U.S. It discusses seven major monographs and supplementary readings about book selection and collection management, highlighting on public libraries with a catalog from the American Library Association (ALA). It noted that it was in 1900s that the first comprehensive works on book selection were introduced, including information on community assessment, selection policy development and various details of selection process. Moreover, technological advancement of information was claimed as an important factor which greatly affects collection management.

Edited version of paper presented at the World Library and Information Congress: 69th IFLA General Conference and Council, 1-8 August 2003, Berlin. Describes the activities of the Kenya National Library Service (KNLS) in providing library and information services for visually impaired persons, including the library and information services offered and the challenges faced. Suggests a way forward, not only for KNLS, but also for public libraries worldwide. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Family learning is now acknowledged by both government and non-government bodies as being an important aspect of lifelong learning. It is of direct relevance to public libraries, yet little information is available about the specific role the public library can play. The main aim of the paper is to investigate the levels and types of current provision in UK public libraries, and to find out what influences the services on offer. In addition, the research tries to establish whether family learning can be of benefit to libraries, and if current provision meets the key recommendations as outlined in recent reports. The majority of library services surveyed offer family learning on a regular basis. Social inclusion, funding and partnership working are key issues, but their influence does vary between library services. Overall library services seem to be making a valuable contribution to family learning, perhaps more so than the literature suggests. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study summarizes the development of public libraries and reviews key studies on public librarianship in Kuwait. The field study assesses the public library system including its organizational structure, collections, facilities and equipment, information services, access, personnel, problems facing public libraries, and the librarians' awareness of policies, job descriptions and career development opportunities. Findings, conclusions and recommendations for the improvement of the current situations of public libraries in Kuwait are provided. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Ten public libraries were surveyed to evaluate access for young children, aged 4 1/2 to 6 years, to age appropriate informational picture books. Location of books, types of shelving, and displays were noted for both fiction and informational books, and unobtrusive observations of young children browsing were conducted in three of the libraries. The findings confirmed children's preference for books in eye level face front shelving in high traffic areas especially near the children's area seating; most children did not explore far from parents. Visits by children to hardcover fiction, paperback fiction, and paperback informational picture books, were balanced. However, hardcover informational picture books were missed due to less accessible locations, oversize shelving, and fewer displays. The role of accompanying parents in finding materials was pivotal. Improving access for young children to a wide variety of books in their public libraries supports both recreational and educational needs, and needs to be considered in library layout. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]