The Need For Networks Among Public,Academic, and School Libraries in Metropolitan Sierra Leone

Metropolitan Sierra Leone is made up of Freetown, the capital city and its environs. Within its bounds are dispersed a variety of libraries, each with the mission of providing adequate, relevant and up‐to‐date materials tailored to the needs of their numerous clientele. However, because of stringent budget cuts and a lack of human and material resources, these institutions are unable to carry out their missions. One way to improve this situation is through collaboration in the provision of materials and services. This article explores the need for the establishment for networks among public, academic and school libraries in metropolitan Sierra Leone. The article begins by defining metropolis followed by a brief recounting of some features of a metropolis, the library scene in metropolitan Sierra Leone and a consideration of plausible areas for networks among these libraries. The article concludes with a discussion of some issues that have to be faced if the proposed network is to materialise.     

Attitudes of School and Public Librarians Toward Combined Facilities

A stratified random sample of Iowa school and public librarians were surveyed to determine their attitude toward combination school-public library facilities. The survey instrument was based on one developed by L.J. Amey and R.J. Smith for a survey of Toronto school and public librarians. The survey determined that their was little difference in attitude of Iowa elementary and secondary school librarians toward combined facilities, nor was there much difference in attitude of Iowa public librarians serving populations under 2,500 and those serving more than 2,500 toward combined facilities. School and public librarians did demonstrate statistically significant differences in responses to fifteen of the twenty-six statements relating to combined facilities. Compared to the respondents in the Toronto study, a larger percentage of Iowa public librarians were less concerned about the geographic inconvenience of combined facilities and perceived less duplication resulting from combination. Although a larger percentage of Iowa librarians seemed to see some advantage in combined facilities, both groups indicated some important concerns relating to combined school-public libraries.     

Comparative Evaluation of Adolescents' Use of Public Libraries in the Nigerian States of Osun and Oyo

This study compares the utilization by adolescents age 12–17 of public libraries in Osun and Oyo States in Nigeria. The study utilized interviews and a checklist as data-gathering techniques. Some 414 volunteer adolescent users were selected, with males predominating. Of the respondents, 51.7 percent were in the libraries to read their own books. Of the respondents from Oyo State Public Library, 99 percent were aware of library Internet services compared to only 22 percent from Osun State. Users specified two major problems: no good display of library materials and lack of up-to-date materials on subjects in which students were interested. The authors suggest several policy changes to improve adolescent services in the two libraries.     

A Rationale for Public Library Civics Instruction

Statistics bear out the dire need for civic education and engagement within our nation’s libraries, those free and “equalizing” institutions that traditionally afforded opportunities assisting in the development of civically astute individuals. Per our founding principles, libraries and librarians remain responsible for instituting programming that assists in the development of capable citizens who actively participate in political life, hence ensuring the perpetuation and positive evolvement of our governmental system and its resulting law. Public and school libraries must return to a targeted emphasis on the provision of services that develop critical thinking opportunities steeped in civic intent and purpose. Examples include civic-oriented instruction, debate, communication, service and public policy facilitation, and forum building.     

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。     

胥江实验中学图书馆建设的探索与实践——苏州图书馆总分馆制的延伸与发展

苏州图书馆与苏州市胥江实验中学的合作,对公共图书馆直接管理中学图书馆进行了有益的探索.具体做法是:学校提供馆舍、装修、设备、物业费用,每年向办州图书馆支付人员和购书经费,并在分馆建设时,一次性支付初始馆藏资源购置费100万元;苏州图书馆为其安装管理系统,委派5名工作人员,提供图书并每月补充更新,征订报刊,开通馆藏数字化资源,负责开放.学生使用苏州图书馆的少儿读者证,实行通借通还.合同另外还规定:周一到周五,分馆为胥江中学的师生服务,双休日、节假日、寒暑假向校外学生和社区居民开放.这种管理模式,对突破现有行业壁垒,实现真正的资源共享,起到了极好的作用.     

A Children's Focus Group Discussion in a Public Library:

A survey of public library administrators in North Carolina revealed that 85 percent engage in either short or long range planning activities using both formal, written and informal, unwritten policies and procedures. Analysis of the results showed that approximately 58 per cent used the ALAPLA manual, Plnnning and Role Setting for Public Libraries, for suggested planning techniques. Capital budgeting, operational resource strategy, and provision of written long-term objectives for the library were reasons given for planning by the majority of respondents. Most administrators anticipated a need for systematic planning in the future, primarily because of the changing roles of the library in the community, and the increasing need for accountability.     

Changes in Public Library Youth Services: A Content Analysis of Youth Services Job Advertisements

ABSTRACT

This article investigates requirements and responsibilities for public library youth services librarians. Position advertisements were published in American Libraries in five-year increments, from 1971 to 2001. Youth services librarian positions were analyzed as to changes in position titles, education requirements, job responsibilities, and personality characteristics. Findings suggest that the number of advertised youth services positions is increasing, and job titles are changing from the specific “children's services” to the more generalized “youth services.” Advertised responsibilities of the youth services librarian have consistently emphasized collection management and administrative duties, and many advertisements place a heavy emphasis on personality traits.     

From Cooperation to Collaboration: Toward a Framework for Deepening Library Partnerships

Abstract

Librarians are encouraged to collaborate in their work, but examples in LIS literature suggests the term “collaboration” is applied to a range of activities that vary widely in terms of interaction, resource-sharing, cooperative planning, and cooperative service delivery. Collaboration has been studied in other fields but remains largely unexplored beyond case studies in LIS. Through a series of focus groups with librarians and a range of potential community partners, this research identified barriers to collaboration and factors that enable successful partnerships, resulting in a general framework that could act as a guide to planning and developing deep collaborations.     

Yoga at the Public Library: An Exploratory Survey of Canadian and American Librarians

Results of a 2017 survey of 983 public librarians in the U.S. and Canada show that libraries increasingly provide opportunities for both youth and adults to practice yoga at the library. This article examines how these public library yoga programs work and what impacts they have. Most libraries have limited means to assess the impact of these programs. Nonetheless, over 80% of responding librarians said participation in yoga programs had met or exceeded their expectations, and 60% said yoga programs have brought new users into their libraries. These results suggest that yoga programs in public libraries are having significant effects.     

An Evaluation of Public Library Websites: Describing Children's Services in Japan

ABSTRACT. This study is the first to investigate the amount and type of information about children's services described in Japanese public library websites, with particular reference to the Web pages intended for children, and the extent to which usability is taken into account in the design of these websites. Further, the study analyzes what kinds of content are more prevalent in children's services as described in Japanese public library websites in comparison with the actual delivery of these services. Finally, the study considers the usability of children's Web pages from the perspectives of how easy they are to read and understand.     

Teen Services at Baltimore's Pratt Library: A Long History and Sustained Emphasis

This article is a first‐person account of the development of teen services at Pratt Library in Baltimore, MD. The piece places special emphasis on the development of public access computing, particularly of computing by children, especially teens.     

Connected Learning in the Public Library: An Evaluative Framework for Developing Virtual Learning Spaces for Youth

This article presents an evaluative framework to aid public libraries in achieving a mission of providing informal learning opportunities through virtual spaces. Existing literature on assessments and evaluation is used to build the basic framework; the experiences of 21st Century Learning Labs in Libraries and Museum grant recipients are used to develop evaluative tools and examples for library practitioners to use in planning their own virtual spaces. This article serves as the first evaluative approach to the development of informal virtual learning spaces in public libraries.     

Money and Leadership: A Study of Theses on Public School Libraries Submitted to the University of the Philippines' Institute of Library and Information Science

The author suggests the importance of knowledgeable leadership as a factor in improving Philippine school libraries. He offers a brief case study of how two different libraries fared with similar levels of funding. One without outstanding leadership did not advance; the other with knowledgeable leadership made large advances. This report is drawn from the author's earlier degree research at the University of the Philippines' Institute of Library and Information Science.     

Public Library Services in the Knowledge Economy: The Sierra Leone Experience

Sierra Leone's knowledge economy stresses the importance of information for national development, and libraries have a crucial role to play in this development. Libraries are catalysts for human progress because they help in the development and transmission of knowledge and culture; they foster civic awareness in support of economic productivity and innovation in society. Although many economic programs have been implemented by the Sierra Leone government, a vast amount of information is unused, either because national decision-makers do not realize its importance or because people who might want it do not know how to access it. The public library has to play an increasingly significant role if rapid economic recovery is to be made. This article examines Sierra Leone's economy in postwar reconstruction, the importance of information and knowledge in a knowledge economy, and the problems affecting library services and how the public library can overcome these problems and make meaningful contributions to the knowledge economy.     

An Analysis of Children's Web Pages in Public Library Web Sites in Japan

A progenitor article for this work can be found in Public Library Quarterly 27, no. 4. This study is the first to report on the types of contents in children's web pages and the characteristics of Web-OPACs for children in public library websites in Japan. This study reveals that children's web pages, in general, place more emphasis on providing guidance on library services and on the use of information resources for reference services, rather than on helping children with regular learning or providing research assistance to adults on children's services. Other findings are reported as well.     

A Library Research Course for Graduate and Professional Students in Communication Sciences and Disorders

SUMMARY

This article describes the formation and content of a required library and information research course for graduate and professional students enrolled in the Communication Sciences and Disorders Master of Arts degree program at Western Washington University. The course was created as a result of library assessment, student feedback, and faculty observations. In place since 2003, the curriculum continues to evolve and is sustained through the collaborative efforts of the library and the department faculty.     

新课程环境下中学图书馆的参考咨询服务

根据新课程环境下中学教育教学的迫切需要，分析中学图书馆参考咨询服务的服务模式，探讨当前中学图书馆开展参考咨询服务面临的主要问题及解决存在问题的有效途径。     

Public and Academic Library Cataloging Collaboration in Ohio's NACO Funnel Project

Catalogers at The Ohio State University (OSU) Libraries, Columbus Metropolitan Library (CML), and Cleveland Public Library (CPL) are collaborating through the Ohio Name Authority Cooperative (NACO) funnel to create personal name authority records that directly benefit library patrons. Although OSU provides training and review, all three libraries receive value from the collaboration. There have been obstacles, however, such as cataloging training and workflow differences between public and academic libraries. This article will discuss the challenges and benefits of this inter-library cataloger collaboration from the point of view of all three libraries, plans for the future, and best practices for other libraries that are interested in public/academic library collaborations of this kind.     

刍议科学专业图书馆、公共图书馆的合作与共享

当今时代,既是竞争的时代,也是合作的时代.文章通过对科学专业图书馆、公共图书馆这两种不同类型图书馆的共性和差异性分析,探讨了二者合作共享的可行性与对策.