Special Libraries and Instruction:

As in any library, bibliographic instruction is a very important service of a special library. However, it is almost never referred to by this name. The sessions can be referred to as individualized orientations (for one person) or a special presentation on services (for a group of managers, scientists, engineers, etc.) These presentations and orientations are opportunities for the savvy special librarian to sell and show off the library, build a support network for the services offered, and acclimate the client to the vast information available in the library, ensuring a client base and continued existence.     

欧洲数字图书馆与世界文化多样性

尊敬的中国国家图书馆馆长先生 尊敬的各位馆长、同行: 大家好! 我非常高兴而且十分荣幸有这个机会向大家介绍我们欧洲数字图书馆的发展计划.     

ACRL Framework: Integrations for Special Libraries

Abstract

This column examines the potential applications of the ACRL Information Literacy Framework within special libraries. The authors address the current literature related to the ACRL Framework in special libraries and present two case studies detailing its usage in instruction and outreach initiatives. The first case study relates to an instruction session for interns at Mt. Cuba Center. The second case study relates to teaching users to edit Wikipedia at the New York Botanical Garden. Suggestions for how to integrate the ACRL Framework into future projects as well as suggestions for how information literacy can take on a greater role within the special libraries field are included in the conclusion.     

Volunteers in Special Libraries

The contributions of volunteers in special libraries have not been well-documented or researched. However, anecdotal evidence shows that volunteers have played a key role in the formation of many special libraries and continue to lend their skills and knowledge to these libraries. This column explores examples from the literature and gives a brief case study on the various ways philatelic libraries use volunteers. The scope of the column includes traditional unpaid volunteers, remote volunteers, crowdsourcing, internships, job training programs, and other voluntary or nontraditional work. Volunteer labor is far from free in terms of cost to the organization, but can provide benefits beyond simply unpaid labor including subject expertise, special skills, and community building. Special libraries looking to begin or expand volunteer programs are advised to study the lessons learned from other types of libraries and organizations with successful volunteer programs. Successfully managing volunteers requires careful planning and coordination just as managing paid staff does.     

Serials Management in Special Libraries: Present and Future Relationships Between Libraries and Vendors

Summary

The management issues facing those who deal with serials in special libraries may be common to all special libraries, unique to the particular discipline, or shared by all libraries struggling to deal with serials in the 1990s. A law librarian and a medical librarian described the history, nature, and use of serial literature in their respective subject areas, and discussed important customer issues facing their libraries, including the financial aspects. They were joined by a vendor's representative who summarized the similarities and differences in these library situations from a vendor's perspective, including the opportunities and limitations of the vendor/special library relationship.     

Collaboration and Competition in Special Libraries

Librarianship has a long tradition of collaboration and cooperation between libraries, but the literature yields scant evidence of formal partnerships in practice in special libraries. This column explores the barriers to collaboration for special libraries, from organizational culture to legal constraints, as well as the potential benefits and how librarians can overcome the barriers to reap these benefits. Different types of collaboration, including among similar special libraries and between special libraries and other types of libraries and related organizations, as well as informal and formal cooperation, and short-term and long-term partnerships, are discussed. Collaboration and cooperation were part of the impetus to form professional associations. The column provides a brief history of professional library associations and their role in supporting library partnerships in the United States. The conclusion explores how the increasingly digital nature of information and library work affects collaborative library efforts and where the future of these efforts may lie, especially for special libraries.     

Special Libraries Assessment or Marketing the Special Library

Unlike many reference librarians, special librarians have always found themselves in the position of having to prove the value of their information centers, information services, and even themselves. Now, more than ever, it is important for the special librarian to be prepared to document the worth of the provided services and facilities to satisfy both the user and the administrators.     

The Forecast for Special Libraries

ABSTRACT

Special libraries exist in an ecosystem consisting of the information industry, the library world, their own organizations, and workforce demographics. Librarians need to be aware of the trends shaping all of these facets. This column takes a close look at Outsell's Information Industry Outlook report for 2016 and its implications for special libraries. The outlook for special libraries is neither the previously forecast Baby Boomer retirement crisis nor the dire end of special libraries many feared during the recent recession. Instead, the special library world is transforming, creating both challenges and opportunities for special librarians. Millennials entering both the workforce at large and the library workforce will make their presence known. Savvy information professionals will stay on top of these trends and find their niche, whether in a traditional physical library or in emerging careers outside the library.

Column Editor’s NoteSpecial libraries share concerns with their more general academic, public, and school counterparts, but they also have unique characteristics and concerns which merit separate consideration. Libraries of all types are evolving, and just as special libraries can learn from the general literature on libraries, practitioners in all types of libraries can learn from the experiences and best practices of special libraries. “The Specialist,” appearing in even-numbered issues of this journal, addresses the administrative concerns of special libraries. The column's scope is a broad umbrella of specialized librarianship and includes corporate, non-profit, government, and independent libraries as well as the specialized departments and branches of academic and public libraries. Contributions from practitioners and scholars on any aspect of special libraries are welcome. Interested authors are invited to contact the editor at tmurray@stamps.org for submission guidelines.     

专业资料室特色谈

在市场经济的冲击下,书刊价格大幅度的上涨,经费来源相对的紧张,工作人员收益偏低等不利因素,使图书馆业陷入了困境."211工程"的实施,给高校图书馆的发展带来了新的机遇,重点学科的建设,同样给专业资料室带来了盎然生机.抓住机遇发展自己,走特色化道路,是专业资料室改革发展的必由之路.     

ROIs and Surveys in Special Libraries: One Corporate Experience

Special libraries, especially in corporate environments, face a challenge in measuring their value and communicating it to their customers and management. This can be especially difficult in organizations where libraries or information centers are perceived as cost centers that make minor financial contributions. A return on investment study, when combined with contextual information, can help overcome this perception while providing valuable information on customer needs.     

Resource Sharing in Special Libraries

This article provides a detailed account of resource sharing in special libraries in Kenya. A brief definition of special libraries is provided, and the characteristics of these libraries highlighted. The current position pertaining to cooperation in Kenya in general and in social libraries in particular is provided. It is concluded that cooperation in Kenya is still informal. Factors hindering formal programmes have been isolated. The suggestion is advanced that formal programmes can be operational only if the government establishes a national coordinating body on information.     

专业图书馆的服务创新

根据专业图书馆的性质和特点,阐述建设独具特色的专题数据库和建立专业门户网站及专业资源导航库的必要性;介绍网络环境下改善服务内容和方式,开展个性化服务的具体内容;并指出提高信息服务人员素质,使其努力成为知识导航员的重要性。     

Special Academic Libraries and the Millennial Patron

ABSTRACT

Special academic libraries are in the unique position to blend the innovative and user focused services of academic libraries with the niche collections of special libraries when serving their Millennial student population. Millennials are a highly researched generation, but special libraries may have not updated their services to reflect the needs and expectations of this rising generation. Maine Maritime Academy's Nutting Memorial Library serves as a case study of methods in which special academic libraries can incorporate Millennials' expectations of library spaces, services, and collections in sustainable ways.     

日本专业图书馆的专题情报

日本专业图书馆的专题情报白晓煌Ａｂｓｔｒａｃｔ：Ｔｈｅｒｅａｒｅ１５００ｓｐｅｃｉａｌｌｉｂｒａｒｉｅｓｉｎＪａｐａｎｆｏｒｔｈｅｐｒｅｓｅｎｔａｎｄｔｈｅａｕａｎｔｉｔｙａｎｄｓｃｏｐｅｏｆｔｈｅｉｒｃｈａｎｇｅｏｆｍｅｃｈａｎｉｓｍｔｏｏｐｅｎｔ...     

Special Libraries and PCC: Adopting Community Standards at Focused Collections

Abstract

A reminiscence on the positive influence of the Program for Cooperative Cataloging (PCC) through the perspective of the author’s career as she moved from university libraries into the specialized realm of a research library within a museum. The author describes her service on the PCC Policy Committee, how The Frick Art Reference Library joined PCC, and how New York City art librarians facilitated best practices in partnership with PCC trainers and the ArtNACO Funnel. The mutual benefits of PCC and the unique contributions of special libraries are emphasized. Challenges to this community’s participation in PCC are outlined, with suggestions for going forward.     

专业信息中心专家资源的开发

专业信息中心在我国文献情报事业的发展中具有重要的地位和作用。本文根据专业信息用户的特点，提出了重新认识专业信息中心专家作用的观点，即：“专家是资源”、是“合作伙伴”、是亟待挖掘的“知识宝库”。并就如何组织和开发专家资源，加快信息开发，形成信息产品等进行了探讨。