The use and promotion of adapted books in Norwegian public libraries

2021 ◽  
pp. 096100062199642
Author(s):  
Gerd Berget
Keyword(s):  
Public Libraries ◽  
Public Library ◽  
Target Groups ◽  
Library Community ◽  
Library Users ◽  
User Groups ◽  
Broad Variety ◽  
Literary Experiences ◽  
Reading Impairments ◽  
Selection Of

Public libraries offer a large selection of books. For many library users, one of the highlights of the library visit is to explore this collection in search of interesting books that will provide enriching literary experiences. For some people, however, mainstream books might not be motivating to read, for instance, due to reading impairments, language challenges or inaccessible content. Consequently, most libraries also hold a collection of ‘special books’. In Norway, one example of such a collection is the books developed by the association Books for Everyone. This article explores the organization and promotion of adapted books in Norwegian libraries and is based on two datasets. The first dataset comprises the complete production by Books for Everyone, consisting of 232 titles. These books were examined to get an overview of the material commonly found in Norwegian public libraries, with a focus on the allocation of adaptation types and target groups. This dataset showed a diverse collection of books in six different categories. The majority was in the category ‘Easy to Read’, targeted at a broad variety of user groups. The second dataset consisted of survey data from 178 libraries regarding their organization and promotion of the Books for Everyone collection. The data revealed differences in how public libraries utilize these books, due to, for instance, a lack of knowledge about adapted books and potential target groups. Moreover, for many libraries, these books were regarded as ‘special books’ and were consequently not included in exhibitions or book talks. It may be necessary to pay more attention towards adapted literature in the library community and provide more knowledge about this literature among librarians. The overall purpose of this article is to provide some advice to librarians and other practitioners on how to deal with adapted books in a public library context.

The role of libraries in the dissemination of health information in Botswana

2016 ◽  
Vol 65 (4/5) ◽  
pp. 320-349 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tuelo Ntlotlang ◽  
Balulwami Grand
Keyword(s):  
Sample Size ◽  
Health Information ◽  
Information Acquisition ◽  
Information Sources ◽  
Public Libraries ◽  
Public Library ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Library Users ◽  
Health Information Sources

Purpose This paper aims to investigate the role of public libraries in the dissemination of health information in the southern part of Botswana, namely, Kgatleng and Kweneng districts. It also explored how these libraries market health information services to the community they serve. The study also used health information acquisition model to get an understanding on how public library users seek health information. Design/methodology/approach The survey research design was chosen for the study and purposive sampling procedure was used to obtain the sample size of the population. The sample size consisted of 120 respondents and six interviewees. Data were collected from both library staff and users using questionnaires and interviews. Findings The results of the study showed that public libraries are striving to provide accurate and useful health information to members of the community by collecting and availing both print and electronic health information sources. The findings further indicated that public libraries have marketing programmes that they use on raising awareness of health information to their clientele. The marketing programmes include outreach, library brochures/leaflets, newsletters and library exhibitions. The results of the study also showed that there were some challenges that hindered the library users to access and use health information (e.g. lack of appropriateness of information resources and limited number of health information sources). Originality/value For a better dissemination of health information, public libraries should establish working relationships with health agencies and communication organisations or media houses with the objective of cooperative developments of collections, referrals and shared training.

scholarly journals Exhibition Development in Auckland Libraries

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
◽  
Timothy Mark Greenslade
Keyword(s):  
Public Policy ◽  
Cultural Heritage ◽  
Public Libraries ◽  
Public Library ◽  
Exhibition Design ◽  
Design Principles ◽  
Special Collections ◽  
Physical Layout ◽  
Selection Of

<p>Throughout New Zealand’s public library sector, librarians, particularly those responsible for special collections, maintain and create exhibitions. They aim to reflect the depth and richness of our history, cultural heritage and society. Due to the immeasurable value of cultural heritage, it needs to be presented effectively, not only for aesthetic and preservation purposes, but also for the betterment of society. Therefore the objective of this study is to explore how exhibition principles are being applied to exhibition development and presentation in Auckland Libraries. This study will not only focus on the principles behind physical layout of the exhibitions, and selection of objects on display, it will also attempt to place exhibition design into a wider context. It will do this by exploring how library exhibitions reflect public policy, and how exhibition designers perceive their social and cultural responsibilities as representatives of public libraries. Herein lies the value of the proposed study; it will allow better informed practices by exploring the use of exhibition design principles, and the application of public policy in public.</p>

Public library circulation records: What do they reveal about users’ reading preferences?

2020 ◽  
pp. 096100062094964
Author(s):  
Golnessa Galyani-Moghaddam ◽  
Parvin Taheri
Keyword(s):  
Public Libraries ◽  
Public Library ◽  
Bibliometric Method ◽  
Male And Female ◽  
Female Youth ◽  
Library Users ◽  
Adventure Stories

This study investigates the reading preferences of young users of public libraries located in different districts of Tehran. The study uses a quantitative bibliometric method. It was carried out through an analysis of the online borrowing data recorded in the circulation departments of six Tehran public libraries ranked 3 by the Iran Public Libraries Foundation. The books borrowed by 12–18-year-old library users were analysed using Excel. The data shows that the users, regardless of their gender, preferred to borrow books not related to their coursework (non-supplementary books). Novels, adventure stories and fantasy were the genres most preferred by the users. Male and female youth, however, exhibited different reading preferences.

Estimation of GDP from public library usage: Turkey sample

2020 ◽  
Vol 41 (4/5) ◽  
pp. 153-171
Author(s):  
Semanur Öztemiz ◽  
Mustafa Agah Tekindal
Keyword(s):  
Public Libraries ◽  
Public Library ◽  
Economic Benefits ◽  
Var Model ◽  
Library Services ◽  
Causality Test ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Integration Test ◽  
Library Users

PurposePublic libraries are institutions that provide information services to all citizens in a country and support the development of lifelong learning, awareness and creativity. All these provide an advantage for having a developed economy and being a developed society. This study aims to reveal the interaction between the gross domestic product (GDP) and public library usage in Turkey. The study also purposed to increase awareness of the economic benefits of public libraries.Design/methodology/approachIn the study, a vector autoregression (VAR) model and co-integration techniques were used. Johansen co-integration test was used examining the long-term relationship between the variables. Due to the variables moving together in the long term, the vector error-correction model was preferred instead of the VAR model, as a result.FindingsAccording to the causality test results, GDP was found to be affected when there was a change in the number of library users. According to the Granger causality test result, a change in GDP was also found to have a significant effect on the number of library users. All these indicate an interaction between GDP and public library usage in Turkey between 2001 and 2017.Social implicationsThe revealed interaction between GDP and the number of public library users can be useful for policymakers who are making decisions to develop public library services and to increase GDP.Originality/valueThe interaction between public library usage and GDP can be seen such as an unlikely combination. However, this study presented a mutual interaction between public library usage and GDP. The findings of the study will be of a great importance in developing countries to be motivated to make public library services better.

scholarly journals Public Library is….; Mapping Stakeholder Perspectives on the Values and Purposes of the Public Library

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pam McKenzie ◽  
Jacquelyn Burkell ◽  
Janet Allen
Keyword(s):  
Nous Avons ◽  
Public Libraries ◽  
Concept Map ◽  
Public Library ◽  
The Public ◽  
Stakeholder Perspectives ◽  
General Importance ◽  
Library Users ◽  
Public Library Users ◽  
Survey Responses

We used survey responses and statements of library organizations to create a corpus of items describing the value of public libraries.  A sample of public library users and staff from the province of Ontario individually sorted these statements into groups and labelled the groups, and rated each statement with respect to its general importance, its centrality to the mission of the public library, and its uniqueness to the public library.  We used GroupWisdom™ software to analyze individual responses into an overall concept map and to identify differences in patterns across different participant groups. Nous avons utilisé les réponses aux sondages et les déclarations des organisations de bibliothèques pour créer un corpus d'articles décrivant les valeurs des bibliothèques publiques. Un échantillon d'utilisateurs et d'employés des bibliothèques publiques de la province de l'Ontario a trié individuellement ces énoncés en groupes et étiqueté les groupes, et a évalué chaque énoncé en fonction de son importance générale, de son rôle central dans la mission de la bibliothèque publique et de son caractère unique pour le bibliotheque publique. Nous avons utilisé le logiciel GroupWisdom ™ pour analyser les réponses individuelles dans une carte conceptuelle globale et pour identifier les différences dans les modèles entre les différents groupes de participants.

scholarly journals From means to an end to ends in themselves

2020 ◽  
Vol 1 (2) ◽  
pp. 34-52
Author(s):  
Mia Høj Mathiasson
Keyword(s):  
Public Libraries ◽  
Public Library ◽  
Historical Case Study ◽  
Historical Case ◽  
The Public ◽  
Broad Variety ◽  
And Function ◽  
Role And Function ◽  
Source Materials

Offering a variety of activities and events is considered a central part of many public libraries today. Under the term public library programmes, this article presents the findings from an empirical study of the development of publicly available and publicly announced activities and events offered within or in relation to Danish public libraries over a sixty-year period. The aim of the study was to enrich our understanding of these library services from a historical perspective focussing on describing development. Inspired by Historical Case Study (HCS), the study was designed as a diachronic analysis of a broad variety of empirical source materials collected from two case libraries, documenting programmes offered between 1960 and 2020, including interviews with programming librarians. From analysing the source materials, a development is described which shows that while the different types of programmes offered throughout the period have been somewhat consistent, their format and content have expanded in parallel with the expansion of the public library, its collections and services. At the same time, the reasoning behind offering programmes can be described as a development from programmes considered as a means to an end (e.g. education, publicity or community building) to programmes also considered as ends in themselves. By supporting and enriching the knowledge on programmes as services, this study provides an empirical foundation for discussions and debates about the role and function of public library programmes as part of the public library in the future as well as rich empirical examples for further research.

How to increase the loyalty of public library users? A qualitative study

2019 ◽  
Vol 52 (2) ◽  
pp. 317-330 ◽  
Author(s):  
Oranus Tajedini ◽  
Ali Akbar Khasseh ◽  
Mahin Afzali ◽  
Ali Sadatmoosavi
Keyword(s):  
Resource Management ◽  
Public Libraries ◽  
Public Library ◽  
Physical Space ◽  
Space Management ◽  
Positive Effects ◽  
Frequent Use ◽  
Library Users ◽  
Research Population ◽  
Public Library Users

The main objective of this study is to explain how to increase user loyalty behavior to public library services. This study uses a qualitative method based on grounded theory. The research population included users of public libraries in Iran. The data were collected through in-depth interviews, and the theoretical saturation was obtained after interviewing 24 members of public libraries. The collected data through interviews were analyzed using theoretical coding and content analysis. Results indicated that observing moral and humane principles when dealing with library users plays a significant role in both building user loyalty to the library and attracting new users. In addition, it was found that causal conditions in increasing loyalty among public library users are related to four areas including physical space management, information resource management, human resource management, and information technology management. It was also noted that factors such as service quality, proper design of interiors, providing diverse and updated information resources, the use of new communication technologies, and the use of cyberspace and social network applications must be taken into account by public libraries. Building loyalty among users and members of public libraries in today’s technological world is of high importance, as it will guarantee the repeated and more frequent use of public libraries and their services and thus reflect their positive effects. The loyalty of users of libraries and information centers can be based on perceived quality, effective communication between librarians and users, and satisfaction with services offered by libraries and their staffs and can affect the intention for repeated visits, and the use of library service and preferring a library over other libraries.

Characteristics, uniqueness and overlap of information sources linked from North American public library Web sites

First Monday ◽  
2005 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chandra Prabha ◽  
Raymond Irwin
Keyword(s):  
Web Sites ◽  
Information Sources ◽  
Public Libraries ◽  
Public Library ◽  
The United States ◽  
Web Pages ◽  
Web Based ◽  
The Public ◽  
Library Community ◽  
Specific Search

This article reports on the availability, domain distribution, percentage of Web sites versus Web pages, perceived value, and category of 31,400 Web–based resources selected by 50 public libraries in the United States and Canada. Eighty–seven percent of these resources were available, 60 percent were Web pages, and resources selected by 20 percent of the sampled libraries were finding tools such as general or subject specific search engines. Ninety–three percent of the resources were selected by just one of the 50 libraries; only 17 percent of the resources appeared to be primarily of local interest. The public may be unaware of these unique resources. The public library community must develop programs to increase the awareness and sharing of these evaluated resources.

Democratizing the Maker Movement: A Case Study of One Public Library System’s Makerspace Program

2019 ◽  
Vol 58 (4) ◽  
pp. 234 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alexandra Lakind ◽  
Rebekah Willett ◽  
Erica Rosenfeld Halverson
Keyword(s):  
Public Libraries ◽  
Public Library ◽  
Maker Movement ◽  
Diverse Range ◽  
Library Users ◽  
Do It Yourself ◽  
Creative Ideation ◽  
Library Profession ◽  
The Maker Movement

The maker movement has found a home in public libraries. Field leaders including public libraries in Chicago, Chattanooga, Houston, Louisville, and Toronto have built robust makerspaces, developed maker programming for a diverse range of patrons, connected community experts with library users for the purpose of sharing information, and fostered communities of practice. Characterized by open exploration, intrinsic interest, and creative ideation, the maker movement can be broadly defined as participation in the creative production of physical and digital artifacts in people’s day-to-day lives. The maker movement employs a do-it-yourself orientation toward a range of disciplines, including robotics, woodworking, textiles, and electronics. But the maker ethos also includes a do-it-with-others approach, valuing collaboration, distributed expertise, and open workspaces. To many in the library profession, the values ingrained in the maker movement seem to be shared with the aims and goals of public libraries. However, critiques of the maker movement raise questions about current iterations of makerspaces across settings. This article highlights critiques and responses regarding the “democratic” nature of the maker movement, and in particular, the article analyzes ways librarians involved in a prominent public library maker program discursively construct making and maker programming in relation to the maker movement more generally.

The long tail of search and topical queries in public libraries

2017 ◽  
Vol 66 (6/7) ◽  
pp. 430-441 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tami Oliphant ◽  
Ali Shiri
Keyword(s):  
Public Libraries ◽  
Public Library ◽  
Long Tail ◽  
Research Attention ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Search Queries ◽  
Library Users ◽  
Current Events ◽  
Public Library Users ◽  
June July

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to elaborate the long tail of topical search queries, including the influence of current events, posed to a large, urban public library discovery system. Design/methodology/approach Search queries from the months of June, July, August and September 2014 (1,488,339 total queries) were collected from the Edmonton Public Library’s BiblioCommons database using Google Analytics and exported to Excel. The data were then analyzed using descriptive statistics, frequency counts and textual analysis to explicate the long tail of search, (including the most popular searches) and to explore the relationship between topical search queries and current events. Findings The findings support the long tail theory, as the aggregate tail of topical search queries comprised the vast majority of the total searches and current events exert some influence on the nature and frequency of topical searches. Research limitations/implications Data collection was limited to four months of the year; thus, comparisons across the year cannot be made. There are practical implications for public libraries in terms of marketing and collections, as well as for improving catalogue functionality, to support user search behaviour. Originality/value Not much research attention has been focused on the nature of topical search queries in public libraries compared to academic libraries and the Web. The findings contribute to developing insight into the divergent interests of intergenerational public library users and the topics of materials they are searching for.

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