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In recent years, many libraries have experimented with the idea of creating makerspaces in their facilities. Library makerspaces provide patrons with opportunities to experiment not only with different technologies, but [...]

It is essential that librarians providing financial literacy programming understand how their programming ties in with the available personal finance literature. Consequently, this article intends to explore the interplay between the differing audiences, content and goals addressed by the popular personal finance genre and financial literacy library programming respectively. The author will explore how library programming and the most popular financial literacy resources compare and contrast, and address how overlap, and the surprising degree of separation between these mediums, will impact the financial literacy education accessible to various demographic groups and the role library programming may play in the movement to come., In the United States, financial literacy is a term used almost ubiquitously in a negative context: for instance, in discussing that among young Americans with a college education only 49 [...]

Dave Tyckoson, and Nicolette Warisse Sosulski met because Sara Kelly Johns, a mutual friend, told them 'you have to meet each other! I don't know that I know anybody else [...]

Our global economy has become so complex that the gap between what people know about economics and personal finance, and what they need to know, is widening every day. --Council [...]

Web-scale discovery is a vexing issue for contemporary libraries. Everybody is doing it differently and no one seems satisfied. For all the various conference presentations and journal articles, it can still be difficult to find takeaways that will suit your own library Jeremy Darrington's column is unique in that it not only catalogs Princeton's unique experiences and offers broadly applicable advice on implementing a discovery layer. Whether your library has already chosen a product or is still debating whether any of them are worth it, I hope this piece assists you in managing change.--Editor, Over the last few years, changing user expectations and new technologies have led libraries to rethink their approach to helping users more easily discover the breadth of print and electronic [...]

A school librarian helped struggling third-grade readers improve their test scores and learn to enjoy reading by implementing the Reading Apprenticeship intervention at her isolated rural school. She recruited twenty-one local adult volunteers to read with student partners in the school library twice a week for twelve weeks. Participants were enthusiastic, averaging more than 21 completed sessions. From pre- to post-test, students gained an average of 24.8 WPM on the DIBELS (138% of expected gain) and 9.1 months on the STAR (303% of expected gain). Teachers' written observations also noted associated positive changes in classroom reading skills and behaviors. Recommendations for use of this intervention by other school librarians are included., Introduction For over two decades, research has repeatedly demonstrated the significant impact of school libraries and librarians on students' reading achievement in schools. Numerous studies in the United States have [...]

University of Cape Town faces losing 'irreplaceable' historical material on anthropology, ecology and politics. University of Cape Town faces losing 'irreplaceable' historical material on anthropology, ecology and politics., Author(s): Linda Nordling Author Affiliations: 'The damage is total': fire rips through historic South African library and plant collection The gutted interior of the University of Cape Town library's Jagger [...]

As noted in this column in RUSQ 48(2) ('Building on a Firm Foundation: Readers' Advisory Over the Next Twenty Five Years'), one of the challenges facing readers' advisors in the [...]

No matter how you define it, corporate social responsibility (CSR) is a hot topic. From community investing to business ethics to environmental sustainability and beyond, proponents of CSR view the [...]

Frontline is an online course developed in the UK in the theory and practice of reader centred work in the public lending library. It is designed to challenge library staff [...]

Through a review of the literature, the author sought to identify what assessment planning practices exist in libraries, how the assessment planning process works in libraries, and what components constitute a library assessment plan. The findings suggest that, while libraries determine and report a great many aspects of organizational performance, general assessment planning (which encompasses total organizational impact and value) is not frequently used or integrated into the library's comprehensive strategic planning process, and it does not always effectively cover the scope of the assessment activities and information needed by organizational leaders and administrators to develop effective strategic plans and decisions. This lack of integration creates disconnects between the library's ability to determine and report organizational value and the library's need to provide accountability evidence to stakeholders and use the performance measurement results effectively in executing strategic planning and decision making. Using the findings of the review, the author proposes an alternative set of assessment planning components and focus areas. KEYWORDS administrators, assessment, organizational performance, planning, stakeholders, strategic planning, value DOI: 10.1080/01930826.2010.489007

Cloud computing and Web collaboration are shaping 21st-century libraries. These 2 developments seem to be behind the newest developments in library services and are driving library automation. The 2 are impacting library work by providing the library administrator with opportunities, especially for greater synergies among various individuals over dispersed locations. While the literature indicates ambivalence about these twin developments among library and information professionals, the administrators of distance library services have no choice but to engage in the use of cloud computing technologies and Web collaboration in order to remain relevant to users. Unfortunately, in doing this, distance services librarians will need to trade off ownership and control, trusting outsiders, while teaching users to be critical of the information gathered from collaborative sources. KEYWORDS collaboration, cloud, distance library services, Web DOI: 10.1080/01930826.2010.488995

Reaching and teaching users in the diffuse, multigadget, online/mobile world is a significant challenge facing libraries. This article discusses bow the ANimated Tutorial Sharing Project (ANTS) production model provides libraries with a sustainable approach to building large numbers of multimedia learning objects that are useful beyond one library. It will also discuss bow ANTS file conversion and syndication efforts mean that these learning objects (1) can be made highly visible to users accessing content via a computer or smart phone and (2) enable libraries to establish a meaningful electronic presence for the purpose of providing point-of-need information literacy. KEYWORDS collaboration, contributor incentives, flash tutorials, information literacy, library visibility, mobile devices, open educational resources, virtual teamwork DOI: 10.1080/01930826.2010.488961

Microblogs are ubiquitous participant Web technologies that enable users to share information, interact with content, and generate resources. Librarians can use these applications for library services, instructional activities, and event promotion. For librarians and patrons, these technologies can be combined with other social media to develop personal learning networks (PLNs) for teaching, learning, and research. As PLN tools, microblogs can provide librarians with many opportunities to build cohorts of professional support and gain access to materials not readily accessible in traditional formats. This article provides an overview of issues to consider when using microblogs as library tools. KEYWORDS microblogs, participant Web, social media DOI: 10.1080/01930826.2010.488951

In today's climate of accountability in higher education, most colleges and universities--and therefore academic libraries--consider student learning the cornerstone of their missions. Reference service is one area in which libraries [...]

The history of the convergence among museums, libraries and archives as cultural artifact repositories is examined. Findings reveal a reconvergence between museums and libraries of conventional shared history. What these institutions must do in relation to the emergence of new information technologies are also discussed.

A flourishing digital economy needs broadband access and content relevant to people's lives. This paper describes how Electronic Resources Australia (ERA: http://era.nla.gov.au/) was established to deliver digital content, Through national [...]

A study was conducted to show that the current methods used in libraries for creating community-focused information services (CIS) face a significant omission. These resources fail to account for cultural differences in how information circulates within communities. Information about culturally based hierarchies of access is also provided.

There is a general perception that as librarians, we know what constitutes and defines a rare book, that our heritage book collections are well-documented and their future survival is planned [...]