scholarly journals Practices and thinking of public libraries in China during COVID-19

IFLA Journal ◽  
2021 ◽  
pp. 034003522110460
Author(s):  
Zhou Xin

As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, libraries in China closed their doors in early 2020 and moved all their services online. This change has brought unprecedented challenges for the development of library services, while it has also brought opportunities and motivation for the future transformation of libraries. This article uses official WeChat accounts of the National Library of China and more than 30 provincial public libraries as the main information sources to summarize and classify the services provided during the period of closure. It also collates and analyses news items released by these libraries to guide the improvement of the online services of public libraries in the pandemic environment. Finally, it puts forward the author’s reflections and suggestions on the key development directions of libraries in the post-pandemic era in six areas: reading promotion, smart libraries, new media operation, information literacy cultivation, open access and collaborative development.

2016 ◽  
Vol 49 (2) ◽  
pp. 152-164 ◽  
Author(s):  
Paul Zulu ◽  
Mpho Ngoepe ◽  
Nampombe Saurombe

Legislation plays an important role in the provision of national and public library services. In Zambia, however, libraries that perform the functions of national and public libraries are operating without a legislative mandate. As a result, there is fragmentation of library services as there is no single institution which performs all the functions of a national library service. Although several efforts have been made in the past to enact national library service legislation, no Act of Parliament has been passed to date (2015). This study provides empirical evidence depicting the benefits of having legislation in the provision of national and public library services. The study identifies institutions that perform functions of national and public library services in Zambia. Quantitative data were collected through questionnaires administered to public library staff and interviews with senior government officials and executive members of the Zambia Library Association and Zambia Library Consortium. The study recommends that appropriate legislation that puts together the functions of public and national libraries under one institution be enacted in Zambia as soon as possible. Failure to transform this pattern will jeopardise the preservation of the country’s cultural heritage.


2016 ◽  
Vol 33 (2) ◽  
pp. 17-22 ◽  
Author(s):  
George Kingori ◽  
Dorothy Njiraine ◽  
Stephen Maina

Purpose The purpose of this study is to examine the implementation of information literacy programmes in the public libraries in Kenya as demonstrated through a case study of the major public library in the country – Kenya National Library Service (KNLS). Design/methodology/approach The use of a case study research design made it possible to establish in-depth personal views, opinions and attitudes of the various respondents through face-to-face interviews and questionnaires. Both quantitative and qualitative approaches were used to collect data from the respondents. Purposive and random sampling techniques were used, and data were analyzed. Findings Major findings of this study indicated that the majority of users at the KNLS relied heavily on the print information materials, while some users, especially researchers, utilized the Internet for their academic work or research. The findings indicated that information literacy should be embedded in the information literacy programmes in all public libraries. Research limitations/implications The study was confined to the KNLS. A much wider scope could be untenable, necessitating such limitation. Practical implications As KNLS is the national library charged with the responsibility of providing public library services, it is a major player in terms of policies and guidelines. The study will encourage users in public libraries to appreciate the importance of information resources and also sensitize public library administrators to support information literacy programmes. Social implications The study will enable the educational administrators to develop and plan relevant instructional models related to information literacy, critical thinking and independent learning. The challenges and solutions experienced at the KNLS can be applied in other public libraries in Kenya. Originality/value The study identified the various gaps and challenges that exists in implementation of information literacy programmes in public libraries. Major recommendations of this study are: users should be provided with training on use of information resources; library staff should be provided with methodology skills to make them effective trainers; and public libraries should partner with other stakeholders to provide information literacy programmes. In addition, adequate funding for physical, material and human resources should be provided to facilitate the implementation of information literacy programmes in the public libraries in Kenya.


2014 ◽  
Vol 43 (4) ◽  
pp. 162-168
Author(s):  
Lv Shuping ◽  
Wen Quan

Abstract This paper describes the development of the Digital Library Promotion Project (DLPP) at the National Library of China and the ways in which it has enhanced the access to cultural heritage. In May 2011, China launched the DLPP as one of a series of digital library initiatives which have been developed in recent years. By building an interconnected and distributed digital library platform and resource clusters, and providing digital cultural services in a variety of media, the DLPP enhances public library services in China. The authors found that digital projects such as the DLPP enrich social discourse and increase access to China’s cultural heritage.


2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
pp. 61-70
Author(s):  
Lei Wang

With the change of information environment, the emergence of new technology, services, and new media, reference librarians and users have more choices in information acquisition methods, tools, and means. The reference consulting service is the most valuable part of developing collections, increasing comprehensive service ability, and revealing a library's social roles in the information age. The change in user demands has accelerated the transfer process which shifts the focus of library reference work from the literature retrieval to the individualized, information-oriented deep content mining, or metrology analysis. Improving the new service capacity to accomplish library service transformation is also an important goal of functional improvements to the National Library of China. In the coming years, the National Library of China will promote new services through improving the reading guidance, developing literature resources, innovating service methods, supporting national development strategy, strengthening the library's essentials, and promoting business cooperation.


2018 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
pp. 25
Author(s):  
Al Muhdil Karim ◽  
Evi Zakiyah

Abstrack. This study describes the utilization of online library services by the Indonesian community in general. In addition, this article describes what efforts undertaken by the Government of Indonesia through the National Library of the Republic of Indonesia in increasing interest in reading Indonesian society where many issues or research results nuanced read Indonesian story is ranked lower than the other countries. However, the Government of Indonesia is not facing such problems, several plans and innovations have been implemented, namely the development of National Library with an attractive design, making many online services such as Indonesia One Search, KIN, Portal e-resources and so forth. In the last year, people who visited the library exceeded the target, which in 2015, library visitors amounted to 3,676,309 and in 2016 increased to 4,326,475 visitors.


2021 ◽  
Vol 30 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Moises Rockembach

In this book review, Collaboration in Designing a Pedagogical Approach in Information Literacy (Landøy, Popa, Repanovici, 2020), we address the main characteristics approached by the authors, such as conceptual issues of information literacy, pedagogical approaches, the use of tools and exercises for the development of critical thinking about selection and use of information sources. This book, published by Springer in 2020 and open access, becomes a pedagogical option for addressing the topic of information literacy in the training of new information professionals.


Author(s):  
Cheryl Peltier-Davis

While it is essential that national library functions and services are carried out, within the English-speaking Caribbean these functions can be provided by extending the role of the country's main public library. A questionnaire was administered in 1994 to 14 public libraries and one national library in the region to ascertain if public libraries performed any national library functions and if so to assess how effectively, with a view to formulating proposals as to how best this dual role could be achieved. The survey, in which 13 libraries participated, revealed that a majority of the libraries did in fact act as de facto national libraries, performing many of the functions of traditional national libraries, though there were major deficiencies (e.g. only seven had legal deposit, and only four produced national bibliographies). A structure for a dual-function Public/National Library is proposed, with three functional divisions (Public Library Services, Technical Services, and National Heritage) and a powerful National Library Services Board.


Author(s):  
Cheryl Ann Peltier-Davis

In an environment where the continued survival of national libraries is being questioned, this article looks at an example of a public library system providing national library functions. The recent creation of the National Library and Information System (NALIS) in Trinidad and Tobago is evidence that Caribbean public libraries through a process of integration and centralization of existing library services can provide a nationwide national library service while maintaining essential national library functions. The organizational structure of NALIS is presented along with an outline of the functions of the various library divisions. A brief review of the literature on the current status of national libraries precedes the discussion on NALIS.


2019 ◽  
Vol 18 (3-4) ◽  
pp. 46
Author(s):  
Mária Eszenyiné Borbély

A tanulmány a Múzeumi és könyvtári fejlesztések mindenkinek „Az én könyvtáram” EFOP-3.3.3.-VEKOP/16-2016-00001 projekt keretében lefolytatott vizsgálat eredményeit ismerteti. A projekt többek között arra keresi a választ, hogy mi lehet a könyvtárosok szerepe a közkönyvtárakban a tanulást támogató könyvtári szolgáltatások megvalósításában, elsősorban a digitális írástudás, információs műveltség fejlesztésében. Ez a fajta könyvtáros szerepvállalás feltételezi, hogy a könyvtárosok rendelkeznek a feladatellátáshoz kívánatos digitális kompetenciával és egyéb szükséges készségekkel. Ahhoz, hogy reálisan értékelhessük a helyzetet, fel kell térképeznünk a könyvtárosok digitális kompetenciáinak szintjét. A pályázat megteremtette egy országos reprezentatív felmérés lebonyolításnak lehetőségét, melynek eredményeként mélységeiben sikerült megismerni, hogy a magyarországi települési könyvtárakban dolgozó könyvtárosok milyen digitális kompetenciákkal rendelkeznek. --- Digital competence levels of librarians working in Hungarian municipal libraries: Results of a Countrywide Representative Survey The study describes the results of the survey carried out by the Museum and Library Development for Everyone “My Library” EFOP-3.3.3.-VEKOP/16-2016-00001 project. Among other things the aim of the project is to define the role of librarians in public libraries in their implementation of library services, directed towards supporting learning, primarily in developing digital literacy and information literacy. This engagement requires librarians to have digital competences and various skills needed for carrying out their responsibilities. In order to evaluate the situation realistically, we need to map out the level of librarians’ digital literacy. The project created the opportunity for conducting a representative national survey. As a result of this survey, the depth of the digital competence status of librarians working in the Hungarian municipal libraries was assessed. Keywords: digital competence, DigComp, librarians, public library, Hungary, survey


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