scholarly journals Lietuvos viešųjų bibliotekų įtaka informacinių technologijų sklaidai visuomenėje

2009 ◽  
Vol 50 ◽  
pp. 51-56
Author(s):  
Ugnė Rutkauskienė
Keyword(s):  
Public Libraries ◽  
Cultural Preservation ◽  
Public Access ◽  
Civic Life ◽  
Income Generation ◽  
Educational Levels ◽  
The Public ◽  
Diffusion Of Information ◽  
Public Resources ◽  
Gates Foundation

Siekiant paspartinti informacinių technologijų (IT) sklaidą visuomenėje, per pastarąjį penkmetį Lietuvoje buvo itin aktyviai plėtojamas viešos interneto prieigos (VIP) tinklas. Nors sudėtinga tiksliai įvardyti VIP diegimo investicijas, jos siekia daugiau nei 100 mln. litų. Beveik 90 % VIP veikia viešosiose bibliotekose (VB) – įvairiomis iniciatyvomis jose buvo sukurtas vienas tankiausių VIP tinklų Europoje. Kita vertus, beveik neturime informacijos apie šių prieigų naudojimą ir juo labiau vartotojams ir visuomenei daromą įtaką. Skaidrūs ir reprezentatyvūs duomenys apie VB teikiamos VIP socialinę ir ekonominę naudą ir jos mastą sprendimų priėmėjams neabejotinai padėtų spręsti šios paslaugos tęstinumo klausimus. Straipsnio tikslas – remiantis atlikto reprezentatyvaus kompleksinio poveikio vertinimo tyrimo duomenimis, atskleisti Lietuvos VB įtaką IT sklaidai visuomenėje. Daroma išvada, jog VB didelei visuomenės daliai yra labai svarbios kaip prieigos prie IT teikėjos, o jų sudaroma galimybė naudotis kompiuteriais ir internetu vartotojams teikia akivaizdžią socialinę ir ekonominę naudą.Impact of Public Libraries of Lithuania on Diffusion of Information Technolgies in SocietyUgnė Rutkauskienė Summary To foster a diffusion of ICT’s in society Lithuania has been intensively developing the network of public internet access points. Almost 90 percent of them were established at public libraries. The sustainability of this initiative will require a lot of public resources and funding so it becomes vital to prove the benefi ts users gain from the interaction the public access computing in libraries. The purpose of the paper is to share the methodology and practice of impact focused and outcomes based research into public access computing in Lithuania. The paper presents a methodology of measuring the outcomes of public access computing as well as acquaints with main results of study conducted within the project “Libraries for Innovation”, supported by Global Libraries program of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. The study is exploring both positive and negative downstream impacts in the areas of employment and income generation; educational levels; civic life and engagement; government transparency and democracy; cultural preservation and improved health. Findings show the benefi ts that users can gain from using PAC in public libraries including access to ICT, technology training and assistance, expanded employment opportunities, conducting commercial transactions, access to and assistance with local, state and federal government electronic services, support to learning, communication and personal identity.

Public libraries, public access computing, FOSS and CI: There are alternatives to private philanthropy

First Monday ◽  
2007 ◽  
Author(s):  
Siobhan Stevenson
Keyword(s):  
Digital Divide ◽  
Public Libraries ◽  
Public Library ◽  
Problem Definition ◽  
Public Access ◽  
The Public ◽  
Bill Gates ◽  
Gates Foundation ◽  
Definition Of ◽  
Technology Grant

In January 2007, The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF) announced its second multi–year technology grant program for America’s public libraries. The purpose of Phase II, Keeping communities connected: The next step is to help public libraries sustain the public access computing infrastructure laid down during Phase I. Now, as then, the goal of the program is to bridge the digital divide. But it is a digital divide as defined by Bill Gates and not the public library community. Situating Gates’ philanthropy within a critical policy frame, this paper considers two alternatives to Gates’ problem definition of the digital divide, and how knowledge of these might benefit those communities served by public access computing (PAC) services as found in public libraries. The two specific alternatives considered come from the Free Software Foundation (FSF), and Community Informatics (CI). Significantly, both social movements promote the potential of free and open software as an important part of any solution. Finally, the public library literature is reviewed for patterns in the community’s use of FOSS, and the argument is made for its use in the delivery of PAC services.

scholarly journals Assessing Sufficiency and Quality of Bandwidth for Public Libraries

2007 ◽  
Vol 26 (1) ◽  
pp. 14 ◽  
Author(s):  
John Carlo Bertot ◽  
Charles R. McClure
Keyword(s):  
Rural Areas ◽  
Public Libraries ◽  
Public Access ◽  
The Internet ◽  
The Public ◽  
Internet Study ◽  
Telecommunications Services ◽  
Access Services ◽  
Networked Services

Based on data collected as part of the 2006 Public Libraries and the Internet study, the authors assess the degree to which public libraries provide sufficient and quality bandwidth to support the library’s networked services and resources. The topic is complex due to the arbitrary assignment of a number of kilobytes per second (kbps) used to define bandwidth. Such arbitrary definitions to describe bandwidth sufficiency and quality are not useful. Public libraries are indeed connected to the Internet and do provide public-access services and resources. It is, however, time to move beyond connectivity type and speed questions and consider issues of bandwidth sufficiency, quality, and the range of networked services that should be available to the public from public libraries. A secondary, but important issue is the extent to which libraries, particularly in rural areas, have access to broadband telecommunications services.

The Transformation of the Public Trust Doctrine

2021 ◽  
pp. 244-280
Author(s):  
Joseph D. Kearney ◽  
Thomas W. Merrill
Keyword(s):  
Twentieth Century ◽  
Public Trust ◽  
Public Institutions ◽  
Public Access ◽  
The Public ◽  
Public Property ◽  
Public Trust Doctrine ◽  
Public Resources

This chapter focuses on a remarkable rebirth of the public trust doctrine and traces the arc of its development on the Chicago lakefront in the twentieth century. It discusses how the public trust doctrine became the primary legal rubric for resolving controversies about what is permitted and forbidden on the lakefront. The chapter then asserts that the purpose of the doctrine has changed dramatically. It was originally to preserve public access to navigable waters, in order to allow the public to engage in commerce or fishing, then the focus changed with the environmental revolution in the 1970s. Today, the purpose is understood to be the preservation of public resources in the hands of public institutions. Ultimately, the chapter analyses how the doctrine became an antiprivatization doctrine for certain select categories of public property.

scholarly journals Public libraries in the "age of austerity": income generation and public library ethos

2014 ◽  
Vol 38 (117) ◽  
pp. 20-36 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hartwig Pautz ◽  
Alan Poulter
Keyword(s):  
Research Methods ◽  
Public Libraries ◽  
Public Spending ◽  
Public Library ◽  
Library Services ◽  
Supplementary File ◽  
Income Generation ◽  
The Public ◽  
Spending Cuts ◽  
Additional Income

The budgets of Britain’s public services have been under sustained pressure and public libraries are no exception to public spending cuts in today’s “age of austerity”. Librarians increasingly try to supplement shrinking budgets by employing a variety of income generation methods. But are these methods always in line with the public library ethos? This article presents data showing what British librarians hold to be the public library ethos, what they undertake to generate extra income to maintain public library services and whether they think that their efforts to generate additional income are ever in contradiction to the public library ethos. The article is based on survey and interview data produced in 2013 and also provides, in a Supplementary File, a comprehensive list of income generation methods. The research methods only allowed for the production of non-generalisable data.

Impact Planning and Assessment (IPA) of the Global Libraries Initiative (GL) of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation

2012 ◽  
Vol 13 (1) ◽  
pp. 5-7 ◽  
Author(s):  
David Streatfield
Keyword(s):  
Public Libraries ◽  
Public Access ◽  
Access To Information ◽  
Self Assessment ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Evidence Collection ◽  
Gates Foundation ◽  
Impact Planning ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Collection Methods

PurposeThis paper has the aim of introducing the Special Issue on Impact Planning and Assessment (IPA) of the Global Libraries Initiative (GL) of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, which aims to provuide public access to information through computers in public libraries.Design/methodology/approachThis descriptive paper introduces the work of the Global Libraries Initiative and its IPA Specialists.FindingsAs more countries have joined Global Libraries, there has been a gradual increase in interest by IPA Specialists and their colleagues in employing a broader range of evidence‐collection methods in attempts to show more clearly whether and how greater access to information through public access computing leads to changes in users and their lives. There is still a great deal to be done before a likely move into the realm of systematic measurement of changes to people's lives and it is highly questionable whether IPA Specialists could ever achieve such a goal by enthusiasm, energy and collaboration alone. There is scope for more consistent application of qualitative research methods within and across countries, as well as for developing common impact measures based on user self‐assessment and reporting.Originality/valueThe paper introduces and discusses the Impact Planning and Assessment (IPA) of the Global Libraries Initiative (GL) of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, and suggests how research to improve the GL Initiative can move forward.

Income generation in public libraries: potentials and pitfalls

2014 ◽  
Vol 63 (8/9) ◽  
pp. 560-573 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hartwig Pautz
Keyword(s):  
Public Libraries ◽  
Public Funding ◽  
Public Library ◽  
Income Generation ◽  
Ethical Considerations ◽  
Content Type ◽  
The Public ◽  
Almost Everywhere ◽  
Review Reports ◽  
Practical Level

Purpose – The aim of this paper is to discuss the literature on income generation methods in the context of the “public library ethos”. As public libraries are struggling with cuts to public spending almost everywhere, the topic of “income generation” to supplement public funding is highly relevant. Design/methodology/approach – The article is a review of existing literature about income generation methods and public library ethos. Findings – The literature review reports on a large variety of income generation methods – some of them are country-specific and only applicable in particular political, legal and cultural environments, others could be applied by librarians across borders. The review makes clear that income generation is difficult and requires skill. It also clearly outlines the potential incompatibilities between some income generation methods and the public library ethos. Practical implications – The article raises important issues with regards to how practitioners should go about funding existing or new services. It becomes clear that librarians need a clear ethical position regarding how services can be provided and under which conditions services cannot be provided on the basis of principled reasoning. Originality/value – A broad range of literature on income generation and public library ethos from various countries is reviewed and questions regarding how public librarians, on a practical level, can improve their institutions’ funding situation are discussed. This praxis-oriented discussion is connected to important ethical considerations that should come into play when devising an income generation strategy.

scholarly journals REDUCING THE “JUSTICE GAP” THROUGH ACCESS TO LEGAL INFORMATION: ESTABLISHING ACCESS TO JUSTICE ENTRY POINTS AT PUBLIC LIBRARIES

2018 ◽  
Vol 34 (2) ◽  
pp. 99-128
Author(s):  
Beth Bilson ◽  
Brea Lowenberger ◽  
Graham Sharp
Keyword(s):  
Public Space ◽  
Public Libraries ◽  
Public Access ◽  
Access To Justice ◽  
Collection Development ◽  
Legal Information ◽  
The Public ◽  
Legal Advice ◽  
Entry Points ◽  
Limited Scope

Among the strategies to improve public access to justice, increasing the accessibility and comprehensibility of legal information must be ranked as important. In this paper, the authors explore how libraries and librarians might play a role in providing the public with access and guidance to legal information. These issues are considered primarily in the context of two scenarios: that of the self-represented litigant, and that of a party to a limited scope retainer. The authors consider in particular how public libraries as a public space and public librarians as trusted intermediaries might support the objective of greater access. The possible roles of law society/courthouse and academic libraries in training and collection development are also considered. The distinction between providing access to legal information and giving legal advice is discussed briefly, and the authors suggest some possible ways of clarifying this distinction while pursuing the goal of expanding public access to legal information.

Exception from informed consent for emergency research: The experience of the public access defibrillation trial

2002 ◽  
Author(s):  
Vincent N. Mosseso ◽  
◽  
Lawrence H. Brown ◽  
Shannon W. Stephens ◽  
Tom P. Aufderheide ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Informed Consent ◽  
Public Access ◽  
Emergency Research ◽  
The Public ◽  
Public Access Defibrillation

The libraries’ communicating popular scientific knowledge

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Irina Pavlichenko ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Scientific Knowledge ◽  
Public Libraries ◽  
Research Institutions ◽  
Population Groups ◽  
The Public ◽  
Library System ◽  
Project Activity

The author examines how the public libraries could promote scientific knowledge. M. Lermontov Interdistrict Centralized Library System develops programs targeted at different population groups. The project activity is being accomplished in partnership with academic and research institutions, and universities.

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