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This article explores how the notion of participation informs policy documents in a public library context. Library users are expected to manage on their own, to a large extent, as society calls for self-governing, active subjects who are willing to participate. To explore this notion of participation, we utilize the concept of problematization and analyze policy documents regarding the public libraries of Copenhagen, Denmark, and Malmö, Sweden. Although all of the documents are concerned with participation and user involvement, they have different points of departure and call upon different rationalities. Whereas the outlined policies of the Malmö libraries problematize social inclusion, the Copenhagen libraries primarily problematize inefficiency. Despite this contrast, increased participation seems to be the proposed solution in the policy documents of both cities. An analysis of these documents shows the complex and sometimes contradictory meaning of the concept of participation, depending on which rationality is put into play. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Millennial learning is heavily dependent on the use of mobile technologies for information gathering, processing, and sharing. This project examines how student response systems, such as Poll Everywhere, impact the effectiveness of information literacy instruction in a mid-size academic library. Data collected from Millennial student participants in 26 instructional sessions indicate that such systems are effective in measuring students' familiarity with library resources and preferences in information use. The results also demonstrate how the integration of Poll Everywhere encourages classroom discussion, reduces redundancy in instruction, and helps make learning more meaningful for Millennial students.

Before the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, the College's Hirons Library & Learning Center (HLLC) library marketing efforts included word of mouth, information literacy instruction session, physical and electronic displays, and announcement on the library webpage to library users. In March 2020, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the HLLC, in collaboration with the Office of Institutional Research & Training (OIRT), designed two new library marketing campaigns using the project management app, Notion. Both campaigns were designed to meet the new and changing needs of our new, predominately remote, users. In the first library marketing campaign, the HLLC's marketing goal was very focused and deliberate in purpose. The library emailed the College community messages to increase awareness and usage of the library's eBook collections. In the second library marketing campaign, the library broadened the purpose of the marketing campaigned to promote online resources, tools, and virtual programs. The library sent text messages to the students. In this edition of the column, we describe how our marketing efforts have changed due to the pandemic, including which strategies we employed, and the extent to which we recognized success with these new efforts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A library should be accessible and provide inclusive services. This is a challenge for many developing countries. However, with limited funding and infrastructure, there have been concerted attempts to mitigate this challenge. This paper focuses on mini-libs as a possible solution for library users with print disabilities. A case study approach is used to focus on a South African partnership between the North-West University and the North-West Provincial Department of Arts and Culture. Funding was sought to establish and support mini-libs in the North West Province community libraries through a leading South African petroleum company. Using a qualitative approach, the study investigated the implications of establishing mini-libraries (mini-libs) as a possible solution. The main results identified challenges in resource provision, negative attitudes in library staff, and accessibility to the min-libs. Training for both library patrons and library staff is recommended to resolve some of the challenges reported. The paper also recommends that resources be allocated for the mini-libs to be relevant to the library patrons. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The purpose of this research is to determine the relationship between comprehensive quality management and the loyalty of library users of the Hozavi Masoumiyeh Institute of Higher Education. Methodology: This descriptive research is of correlation type. The statistical population includes the library users of the Masoumiyeh Higher Education Institution in Qom, from which 264 people were selected using Cochran's formula by simple random sampling. The data gathering tool was a questionnaire and descriptive statistical methods and Pearson correlation coefficient were used to analyze the data. Findings: The findings indicated that among the components of comprehensive management, the "Customer-based concentration" factor was the highest with an average of 2.37. The other components "process management", "leadership" and "human resource management" are in the next places, respectively. In the components of user loyalty, the "attitudinal" component with an average of 2.21 was higher than the "behavioral loyalty" component with an average of 1. 91 Conclusion: The results of the research indicate that there is a direct and meaningful relationship between the comprehensive quality management and user loyalty in the library of the Higher Educational Institution of Masoumiyeh Institute. There is also a direct and strong relationship between the components of two variables; which "Customer-based concentration" as compared to other components of comprehensive quality management had the strongest relationship with the user loyalty components.

The study examines the use of online public access catalogues (OPAC) at the Catholic University College of Ghana. The research aims to assess the awareness of OPAC among library users, analyze its usage, identify related challenges, and determine user satisfaction. A quantitative research approach was employed, targeting students at the Catholic University College of Ghana as the study population. Data were analyzed using version 25 of the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS). The findings revealed challenges related to the limited availability of computers for OPAC systems, with users experiencing delays due to others occupying the available computers. Additionally, respondents showed a lack of sufficient IT knowledge. To address these issues, the study recommends that the library authority invest in more hardware or computers to improve accessibility. It also suggests ongoing training for patrons to enhance their IT skills and familiarity with the system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This exploratory study illustrated an integrated academic library supply chain (IALSC) model to design the strategic planning management tool of the academic library. The supply chain (SC) model has been widely used in manufacturing industries and has also been applied in many service industries with the same objectives. However, very few studies for academic libraries, particularly the implementation of the integrated SC model, are being executed, although it has been proven that SC management in practice can enhance stakeholder satisfaction, increase revenues and decrease total costs. The academic library also needs to be successful in providing quality products, services and information to fulfil the library users' needs within the library budget. This research aims to develop a verified model of the integrated SC for the academic library. Design/methodology/approach: This research used both qualitative and quantitative approaches to achieve its objectives. The proposed conceptual SC model, named as IALSC, for the academic library has been developed using the system thinking method; eventually, it has been validated through the fuzzy Delphi method, an expert judgement technique. Findings: The research findings could contribute to academic library management in planning and formulating a roadmap for the library to increase its quality services for all stakeholders. Originality/value: The conceptual model would have a high potential to be proposed as the strategic decision-making tool for an academic library, i.e. the flow of funds through the operations of the library, the library stakeholders' satisfaction measurement, the decision process currently made by the library management team on the purchase of new library resources, the library resource suppliers, etc. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There is an overwhelming need for Virtual Library and Information Services (VLIS) due to the revolutionary and innovative use of the Internet, alternate information sources, evolving institutional policies and user needs, and potential disasters like the Covid-19 outbreak that prevented access to physical libraries. This study sought to identify benefits that both users and librarians derive from VLIS usage as well as setbacks limiting VLIS provision and utilization. Mixed methods with a pragmatic research paradigm were adopted. Data from library users and staff from 2 universities, one public and one private were gathered using surveys and interviews, respectively. 394 library users and 8 library staff made up the sample size. VLIS benefits included support with coursework, e-resource remote access, instant response to users' queries, notifications of new library additions, improvement in knowledge and skills, timely access to current information, and wide access to numerous e-resources. Challenges to VLIS entailed reliance on Google, unawareness, frustrations by requests to buy or subscribe to e-resources, poor Internet connectivity, limited Information Literacy (IL) skills, restricted access to e-resources, insufficient infrastructure, high cost of eresources, poor attitude towards VLIS, lack of digital versions for local resources, and low concentration in virtual IL classes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Libraries have been rethinking their collections and services in order to remain relevant for new generations. In Chile, adults between 20 and 36 are one-third of the population, yet they are underrepresented in the research on reading preferences and practices. Through a survey of 346 library users, librarian interviews and focus groups, this study sought to learn about library habits and preferences as well as literacy and cultural practices among 18 to 29 year-old library users in Santiago, Chile. Findings reveal a diversity of reading preferences, with an accent on genre fiction and nonfiction; an appreciation of the librarian as mediator and authority, a view of the library as a symbolic and material space; and a migration to the Internet for recommendations, access to books and spaces for new literacy practices. These initial findings underscore the importance of adapting libraries' collections and services as literacy practices evolve among young users in the twenty-first century. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The 'Read at Leicester' leisure reading collection was developed to encourage sustained reading for leisure amongst University of Leicester students. A key challenge in building this collection was not having any funds to develop it. It was important that the collection was representative of the diverse user population. In order to start putting the collection together, books already held in the library that were not on subject reading lists were identified. Throughout this process it became evident that, in order to achieve true representation within the collection, the library would need to work in collaboration with library users to develop it. A fund of £1,000 was secured to launch a campaign to purchase diverse books and build the collection. In October 2019, the Represent campaign was launched as a campaign through which library users could recommend titles from under-represented voices for the library to purchase. The Represent campaign has been live since October 2019 and, as of November 2020, a total of 199 requests have been received. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper is an attempt to highlight 'communication' as an imperative tool for library users in the current scenario of professional marketing and project communication as a process for one who needs much more constructive thinking and doing in everyday life so as to communicate for the purpose of sharing their ideas, feelings, emotions, knowledge and information with others effectively. This paper also concentrates on the library user's manner of talking and style of enhancing relationship through communicative skills, making it a point so clearly that communication is found to be an imperative tool in all respects such as attitude, aptitude, acquiring the knowledge, enhancing the reading skills in a proper, effective and even in a convincing way. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigates the influences of the antecedent factors on the complaints and resulting behaviors of 582 university library users in South Korea. There were statistically significant relationships between personal norms and negative word of mouth and indirect voice behaviors, between service importance and negative word-of-mouth behavior, and between perceived severity of dissatisfaction and most of the specific complaint responses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Deals with a study which described the development and application of a structural equation model on the satisfaction and loyalty of library users in the U.S. Effect of the collection of printed publications on satisfaction of library users; Results from an action-oriented perspective; Implications of the satisfaction and loyalty model on literature studies.

The study set out to determine users' perceptions of green libraries and what libraries are doing to create awareness about environmental sustainability. An adapted green library classification was used to guide and interpret the study. The study adopted a quantitative approach and copies of a questionnaire were distributed to 180 patrons in four City of Cape Town libraries. The data were analysed ilsing SPSS version 23 and results were presented using pie charts, tables, frequency counts and simple percentages. Findings established that respondents were familiar with the majority of environmental terms and the libraries are carrying out four of the eight environmental practices. These are: environmentally sustainable resources; natural ventilation. posters or displays on environmental crises, and natural lighting. The sources respondents most frequently used to find out about green issues were social media, television, books, schools, and magazines. A slight majority Of respondents indicated that their libraries were doing enough to promote environmental sustainability. At the same time, most respondents agreed that there is a need for public libraries to educate users on green living and to offer green information literacy. Recommendations include: public libraries creating displays/posters; having educational talks and programmes: and activities and events on green issues that target dif.ferent audiences. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For more than three years, the City Library in Frankfurt has been offering new library users an online card application service without media discontinuity. In 2022, it was extended to include online renewing of the library card, followed by ePayment in 2023, to settle fees and overdue charges. The article includes a description of the starting position and motivations, outlines development processes and challenges, and offers a preliminary assessment after three years of practical experience. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Libraries must make their interests visible in the political process, especially regarding equipment and funding. Library management is often bound by loyalty obligations and cannot publicly advocate for their interests. Friends and support associations are crucial here, as they can act independently of employment obligations and represent the interests of users. Examples from Hückeswagen, Korntal-Münchingen, and Cologne demonstrate successful lobbying by local friends' associations. The German Association of Library Friends (Bundesverband der deutschen Bibliotheks-Freundeskreise e.V., BdB) supports this engagement and promotes the visibility of libraries. Founded in 2018, the BdB offers training, webinars, and an award for outstanding friends' associations. It collaborates with other cultural support associations and advocates for key issues such as library funding and e-lending. However, the BdB recognizes the need to expand its lobbying efforts which are currently limited by volunteer resources. To address this, the BdB aims to acquire additional funding to create more professional structures overall ensuring the effective representation of library users' interests at all levels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper aims to present the development of the Bookmobile Service of the “Fran Galović” Public Library in Koprivnica in the context of developing mobile library activities in the Republic of Croatia. It also aims to highlight the social role of mobile libraries as important factors in shaping the cultural life of the places they visit. Their support of educational institutions with which they cooperate daily is irreplaceable. The paper presents the changes in the development of the Bookmobile Service of the “Fran Galović” Public Library in Koprivnica brought about by the acquisition of a new bookmobile (third in a row). The new bookmobile was launched in the first half of 2024. Its spatial organization and technical equipment are suitable for the needs of mobile library users in the 21st century. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]