POLITICS OF LOCAL INTERLIBRARY COOPERATION

Social and political issues are key factors in developing cooperation among public libraries. Experiences in public library cooperation have shown that the acceptance of cooperation as an ideal, patron reaction and acceptance, local pride and control, and the education and cooperation of the library board, local government officials, and funding agencies are all important in providing the best possible framework for cooperation. The commitment to and understanding of the implications, changes, and modifications that cooperation requires are also important. Realization that interpretation of what cooperation means and that unequal contributions can be expected are necessary steps in developing effective arrangements among public libraries.     

Impact of the Public Library District Model on Local Funding of Public Libraries in New York State

For more than a decade the Regents of the State of New York have recommended that public and association libraries in the state become public library districts with independent taxing authority. The Regents contend that such districts are preferable for several reasons, in particular for more reliable and higher per capita funding for library services. This study, using data provided by the New York State Education Department, examined the funding of all public libraries in New York during a ten-year period. The study found that while public library districts did demonstrate more reliable funding over time, they did not see improved per capita funding as compared to other library types found in the state.     

Strategies for sustainable funding: a metadata review of the independent library district model

ABSTRACT

Public libraries have seen a decline in public funding, relying on a mixture of external types of funding to keep services running. With state and local governments continuing to face financial pressures, some libraries have explored alternative ways to maximize funding, by forming library districts. This report aimed at exploring library districts in three states, Colorado, Michigan, and Oregon, which have similar funding structures. The report found more stable and predictable funding patterns in library districts versus their counterparts and provides evidence that is a strong alternative for public libraries seeking a change in the way they obtain funds.     

Neighborhood disparities in access to information resources: Measuring and mapping U.S. public libraries’ funding and service landscapes

Information inequity is a central concern of the digital age. Many recognize the role of public libraries in bridging such inequities. Unfortunately, however, public libraries are often limited by the funding available to them. This study used a geographic information system (GIS), inequality measures, and multiple regressions to analyze statistics from the Public Libraries Survey (PLS) collected by the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) and from census tract data. It evaluated the levels of public library funding and services and tested how these resources vary with neighborhood income and urbanization levels. This is one of the few nationwide multivariate studies of neighborhood-level variations. The study revealed significant funding and service variations across the nation's 9000 library systems. Distributions of digital materials, full-time staff with a master's degree in library and information science, and library programs were especially disparate. Library systems in lower-income or rural neighborhoods were relatively less funded and offered fewer information resources. Interestingly, the only variable that was not significantly associated with neighborhood income was the number of public Internet terminals. This suggests that recent funding and research efforts may have made a difference. Similar funding efforts are encouraged for other types of library resources such as staff education and training. In light of the prevalent disparities in resource levels across neighborhoods, the study calls for a fundamental evaluation of the funding mechanisms for libraries. Also, information behavior research should investigate how this structural information inequity affects individuals’ information use decisions.     

美国公共图书馆与中小学图书馆合作促进机制研究

本文结合美国公共图书馆与中小学图书馆合作的发展与现状,重点从国家政府的管理与控制、地方政府的管理与控制、行业协会的协调与促进以及经费来源等角度研究美国公共图书馆与中小学图书馆的合作促进机制,并为我国相关合作的开展提出建议。     

我国公共图书馆财政拨款增长研究——基于近三十年统计数据

依据最近30年来的统计数据发现,我国地方财政支付能力的增长水平直接影响到对当地公共图书馆的经费拨款的增长.公共图书馆财政拨款每年都在增长,但占地方财政支出比重还不够高,波动性也较大,近年来还呈波浪下降,至今还未表现出稳定的迹象,亟待采取措施规范调整.公共财政对图书馆的支持方式与模式,是图书馆事业中值得重视的关键问题.     

印度Raja Rammohun Roy图书馆基金会研究

印度Raja Rammohun Roy图书馆基金会（RRRLF）成立于1972年,主要为印度所有的公共图书馆、地方和国家的图书馆协会以及其他致力于或参与公共图书馆发展的组织提供经济资助。RRRLF对印度公共图书馆的资助项目可分为配套项目和非配套项目,通过与印度各邦立图书馆计划委员会、各邦政府及各类型的图书馆协会等组织的合作运行各类项目。RRRLF在印度公共图书馆经费保障、公共图书馆体系建立、乡村图书馆发展及图书馆法的制订等方面都起到了巨大的推动作用,RRRLF的资助行为对中国图书馆事业的发展具有借鉴意义。     

New York State Public Library Systems and Their Services

This research revisited the conditions for establishing and funding public library systems in New York State Education Law and the Regulations of the Commissioner of Education, examined public library systems' organizational mission statements, and analyzed the public library systems' 2007–2011 five-year Plans of Service and 2008–2009 annual reports. The study found that public library systems in New York State generally provide services following the instructions in the state law and regulations and in their mission statements, although there are wide-ranging variations of actual service activities among public library systems based on their organizational and demographic characteristics.     

Ugandan health libraries in the 21st century: key initiatives and challenges

This article is part of a series in this regular feature which looks at new directions in health science libraries. This paper highlights new initiatives aimed at ensuring health libraries can contribute to the development of Uganda in the 21st century and the challenges facing libraries. It stresses that for libraries to be successful they need to form networks and collaborations for resource sharing; take advantage of the benefits of information technology; computerise their library systems; as well as invest in the development of staff. The paper highlights the main challenge facing the library service as inadequate funding both from government for public‐funded health libraries and the private sector (for privately funded health libraries). The paper concludes that, despite the bottlenecks brought about by inadequate funding, Ugandan health libraries have taken positive steps to support health research and education, as well as patient care, not just for Uganda, but for the whole of the East African region. J.M.     

公共图书馆与政府信息公开

公共图书馆作为政府举办的公益性图书馆,是区域性文献信息资源收藏与提供的中心,在政府信息公开中具有天然的、不可替代的优势;同时作为公共文化服务体系中的重要环节,也责无旁贷。本文阐述了公共图书馆在政府信息公开中的作用以及政府信息公开对公共图书馆提出的要求,并指出应当注意的问题和对策。     

重庆市公共图书馆的建设现状与发展研究

对2005—2009年重庆市公共图书馆业务活动及经费状况进行统计分析,由此分析出重庆市公共图书馆存在着经费投入不足、管理体制落后、服务功能低下等问题。针对这些问题,提出了重庆市公共图书馆发展策略。     

A health education outreach partnership between an academic medical library and public library: lessons learned before and during a pandemic

Background:Public libraries serve as community centers for accessing free, trustworthy health information. As such, they provide an ideal setting to teach the local community about health and health literacy, particularly during public health crises like the COVID-19 pandemic. Since 2018, an outreach partnership between an academic medical library and public library has developed, delivered, and continuously evaluated a health education program targeting public library users.Case Presentation:Health education activities were integrated into three existing public library programs: adult workshops, child and family programming, and circulating family activity kits. Prior to COVID-19, events were held at the public library, which then pivoted online during the pandemic. An interprofessional team approach combined the expertise of academic medical and public librarians, medical school faculty and staff, and medical students in developing the educational programs. Twelve in-person and five virtual programs were offered, and five circulating health education family kits were launched. Activities were assessed using program evaluation surveys of the adult and children''s programs and circulation statistics of the kits.Conclusions:This case report showcases the lessons learned from implementing a longitudinal outreach partnership between an academic medical library and public library before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. The interprofessional team approach and flexibility in program design and delivery in both the in-person and virtual environments proved critical to the success of the partnership. This partnership could serve as a model for other libraries interested in pursuing interprofessional collaborations in educating local communities on healthy behavior and health information–seeking practices.     

Desired Characteristics of Management and Leadership for Public Library Directors as Expressed in Job Advertisements

ABSTRACT

Advertisements for public library directors can reflect the evolution of the public library environment as libraries adapt to changes related to funding and technology. No study has examined whether the skills and attributes desired of public library directors have changed over time and whether they are associated with the characteristics of management or leadership. Content analysis of public library director job advertisements from 2000–2011 revealed a closer association with management than leadership traits and an omission of characteristics like advocating, fundraising, being politically savvy, and having a vision needed to position the public library as an essential resource to stakeholders.     

谈公共图书馆的公益性

公益性是公共图书馆的根本属性。公共图书馆的职能及其任务,要求它必须实行公益性服务。坚持公共图书馆的公益性,要从强化公益观念、争取资金来源和拓展服务着手。参考文献4。     

Aggregating broadband demand: Surveying the benefits and challenges for public libraries

Public libraries in the United States play an important role in their communities by providing free internet access to all residents. Research exists that discusses public library connectivity by investigating funding, technical aspects, and library mission, and that also promotes membership in regional or state consortia as a means of making broadband internet connections more affordable. The research discussed here builds upon these works by asking the question: Do the benefits of aggregation, or pooling demand, justify the investment of state library resources in establishing and maintaining a library cooperative to support internet access? It reports on a survey of Indiana public library directors on questions related to connectivity, E-rate funding, and participation in the Public Library Internet Consortium, a statewide cooperative established by the Indiana State Library. The survey was conducted by Dr. Mary Alice Ball, who was affiliated with Indiana University School of Library and Information Science, Indianapolis while conducting the relevant research. Dr. Ball chairs the Telecommunications Subcommittee of the American Library Association's Office for Information Technology Policy.     

公共图书馆公益讲座可持续发展述略

考析公共图书馆公益讲座中存在的一些问题和不利因素,从资金保障、讲师资源建设、品牌意识的建立等几个方面,提出公共图书馆开展公益讲座服务可持续发展的若干策略.     

社区服务与资源共享的社区图书馆

指出社区建设的主要内容之一是构建社区图书馆，认为社区图书馆不同于以往意义上的公共图书馆和单位图书馆，互联网的发展为建立新型的社区图书馆提供了崭新而广阔的空间。     

Library Partnerships and Organizational Culture: A Case Study

ABSTRACT

Uncovered in the course of a 2011 study looking at partnerships between academic and public libraries in Canada was a unique series of partnerships among a college library, public library, regional library system, and school district library system in Medicine Hat, Alberta. With little or no additional funding, these libraries have partnered to deliver library services beneficial to both their primary clients and the broader community. Through a case study of the libraries, it is possible to determine the value and the challenges of partnerships and the elements of organizational culture necessary for successful partnerships.     

衢州社区图书馆发展现状剖析及对策思考

衢州的社区图书馆虽然已经达到一定量的发展,但在经费来源、馆舍分布、藏书质量、人员素质、服务项目以及设备设施等方面存在一定问题。通过相关调查分析研究,认为政府资金和政策的扶持力度是重中之重,当然社区图书馆要积极融入社区居民的日常生活,并应用发达的网络载体,通过各社区的通力合作,实现资源的全面共享。     

美国公共图书馆经费保障制度研究

经费是公共图书馆生存和发展的基本保障,围绕经费保障问题形成的制度则是公共图书馆生存和发展的基础性制度。美国公共图书馆事业发达的重要基础在于其经费保障制度及其体系的完善。美国通过联邦、州和地方政府多个层面颁布法律、法规和标准来规定对公共图书馆的拨款事项,实现美国公共图书馆经费增长与国家财政支出增长同步,并取得较好的服务效益。但目前尚存在经费在不同级别政府间分配不公等问题。本文系统分析美国各个层面对公共图书馆经费保障制度的立法基础和法律形式,考察其经费保障体系的实践效果,以期为我国图书馆法关于经费问题的理论与实践研究提供参考。