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.

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.

Technology, Contracts, and Electronic Resources

2012 ◽  
pp. 166-196
Keyword(s):  
Public Services ◽  
Public Law ◽  
Public Access ◽  
Collection Development ◽  
Electronic Resources ◽  
Digital Revolution ◽  
The Public ◽  
Card Catalog ◽  
Electronic Technologies ◽  
The Way

The electronic revolution, which began over fifty years ago, has changed not only the way libraries operate but the way people conduct research and business, interact with each other, socialize, communicate, and even commit crimes. Originally, the phrase “library electronics” referred to an ILS (integrated library system) or an OPAC (online public access catalog). Today, this same phrase refers to not only the ILS, OPAC, and public access computer but to print management and computer reservation software, e-books, CD-ROMs, databases, and CALR vendors. As technology has changed libraries, it has also changed users’ behaviors, research techniques, public services, and the librarian’s role. Intended to be an extension of the collection development and public services chapters, this chapter explores the effect of the digital revolution on the public law library, ways public law libraries can utilize the technology, and how and why these libraries are being driven to increase their use of digital technology. Because contracts are commonly thought of as being associated with electronic resources, the authors have chosen to discuss contract issues in this chapter rather than in the Collection Development chapter. Other related topics include transitioning from the card catalog to the OPAC and ILS, electronic formats, vendor selection, miscellaneous electronic technologies, and pricing issues.

scholarly journals Book Review: Helping Library Users with Legal Questions: Practical Advice for Research, Programming, and Outreach

2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Agnes Gambill West
Keyword(s):  
Information Literacy ◽  
Justice System ◽  
Access To Justice ◽  
Legal Information ◽  
Practical Advice ◽  
The Public ◽  
Legal Questions ◽  
Library Users ◽  
American Legal System

Deborah A. Hamilton’s new book sheds light on the access to justice crisis in the American legal system and illustrates valuable strategies for how libraries can help. Hamilton’s passion for assisting the public with research and discovery of legal information makes her well-suited to share practical advice for research, programming, and outreach related to legal information literacy. Hamilton’s message to readers is clear: libraries can play a significant role in making the justice system more accessible and equitable by providing access to laws and legal information.

scholarly journals WIELOJĘZYCZNOŚĆ ZRÓWNOWAŻONA? KRAJOBRAZ JĘZYKOWY POLSKO-CZESKIEGO POGRANICZA W UJĘCIU EKOLINGWISTYCZNYM (PRZYPADEK DUSZNIK ZDROJU I HRONOVA)

1970 ◽  
pp. 145-156
Author(s):  
MAGDALENA STECIĄG ◽  
ANNA KARMOWSKA
Keyword(s):  
Public Space ◽  
Small Towns ◽  
Public Access ◽  
Linguistic Landscape ◽  
The Czech Republic ◽  
The Public ◽  
Road Signs ◽  
Public Road ◽  
Local Opposition ◽  
Made In

The aim of the article is to analyse the linguistic landscape of the Polish-Czech borderland with particular emphasis placed on the number and hierarchy of languages existing in the public space. A static study will be carried out i.e. a study of the language(s) of public road signs, names of streets and squares, public-access buildings, signs on businesses and shops, hoardings etc. The research material comes from two small towns: Duszniki Zdrój in Poland and Hronov in the Czech Republic, both aspiring to become local tourist centres. The global vs. local opposition is of importance to the assumptions made in the study because the language will be regarded as a local practice (Pennycock, 2010). In conclusion, the study will examine the thesis that the local linguistic landscape is a testimony to a transition from a monolingual paradigm towards a “post-monolingual condition” (Yildiz, 2012). It will also be very interesting to find out which configuration of the languages can be considered sustainable in terms of the area’s multilingual nature.

The Economics Weekly, the Public Space and the Voices of Chinese Independent Intellectuals

1996 ◽  
Vol 147 ◽  
pp. 860-888 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Public Space ◽  
Public Libraries ◽  
Student Movement ◽  
Protest Movement ◽  
The Public ◽  
World Economic ◽  
Jiang Zemin

Although after the 4 June crackdown on the Tiananmen protest movement in 1989 many newspapers were banned, their previous issues remained accessible in public libraries. However, there were two exceptions, the Shanghai-based World Economic Herald (hereafter abbreviated as the Herald) and the Beijing-based Economics Weekly (hereafter abbreviated as the Weekly). It is obvious that the intention of the authorities was to make people forget the existence and influence of these two newspapers before 4 June. At the very beginning of the student movement, the editor-in-chief of the Herald, Qin Benli, was dismissed from his post by Jiang Zemin, then Party head of Shanghai. Chen Ziming and Wang Juntao, respectively former manager and former vice-editor-in-chief of the Weekly, were accused of being black hands of the student movement, and were sentenced to 13 years of imprisonment in 1991, the heaviest punishment on non-conformist intellectuals.

scholarly journals Greening and opening the public space of the Nile banks. A demonstration case study in Maadi, Cairo

2018 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
pp. 31-48
Author(s):  
Amir Gohar
Keyword(s):  
Public Space ◽  
Phoenix Dactylifera ◽  
Public Access ◽  
City Center ◽  
The Public ◽  
Local Residents ◽  
Military Facilities ◽  
Or Organization ◽  
The City

The Nile, in general, and particularly in Cairo, is an ecological, cultural and social corridor that is not yet fully utilized. The 2011 Cairo workshop “Connecting Cairo to the Nile” identified the potential to increase accessibility to the river, suggested longitude trail system, proposed connecting the waterfront with adjacent neighborhoods and proposed expanding the ferry system. I studied a 2-km reach of the east bank in Maadi, a wealthy suburb about 10 km upstream of the city center, with relatively greener banks, availability of resources at the district level, higher awareness of local residents, physical setting allow for banks re-use, existence of community organizations (i.e. Tree Lovers and Midan).  Findings of fieldwork and interviews show that: (i) species of native vegetation found are Phoenix Dactylifera, Jacaranda, Cortedarea and Papyrus alba; these are concentrated along 115 meter in southern part of the study area. (ii) Public access was categorized into: public space (accessible), private or semi-public space (accessible with conditions), and prohibited (inaccessible). Along this representative stretch of the Nile, the public access was limited to 16%, the private or semi-public makes 29% and the prohibited zones are 55%. (iii) Boating operations found to be in three categories, floating hotels (Nile cruises), motor boats (including ferries) and sailing boats, all are scattered along the banks without an overall plan or organization, which affects water flow and block public access to the banks. To better develop the banks, I recommend (i) maintaining existing riparian vegetation and expand it to other areas with healthy banks or planted nurseries, (ii) connecting open public spaces to create a pleasant walking trail along the banks in addition to improving public access by relocating government buildings (such as the police or military facilities) and facilitate access to the river for general public, (iii) reducing the anchoring points to two locations and redistribute boating operations to group all motor boats to use the ferry anchoring points and all the sailing boats to use Al-Yacht club marina.

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.

Collection development and management within public libraries in Delhi

2015 ◽  
Vol 36 (1/2) ◽  
pp. 99-114 ◽  
Author(s):  
Prabhjeet Kaur ◽  
Paramjeet Kaur Walia
Keyword(s):  
Public Libraries ◽  
Public Library ◽  
Physical Region ◽  
International Standards ◽  
Collection Development ◽  
Content Type ◽  
The Public ◽  
The Government ◽  
The Masses ◽  
Development And Management

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to find out about the collection development and management in the public libraries governed by the government or its agencies in Delhi and compare them with the international standards for public libraries. Design/methodology/approach – In all, Delhi has three chains of public libraries namely Delhi Public Library (DPL), like Hardayal Municipal Public Library (HMPL) and New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) public libraries. The librarian/heads of selected branches were approached with a structured questionnaire aimed at collecting information on the collection development and managements in these libraries and selected branches. The data were then analysed and interpreted. Findings – It was found that with the advent of ICT and its impact on the society, it is evident that the public libraries are not making the desired effort to reach out to the public and make it more appealing to the users. The main problem with the library remains to be the lack of membership. A few initiatives have been taken, but still there were not many digital services being provided by these public libraries in the present day digital environment. Research limitations/implications – The study was limited to the public libraries within the physical region of Delhi only. Practical implications – The evaluation sheds light on the existing scenario of public libraries in Delhi and may contribute in their future development. Social implications – With the acceptance of the international standards as suggested in the study, the public libraries in Delhi would be better able to provide information resources and services to the masses. The better learned masses make the society more advanced. An information rich society would thus lead to an overall growth and development of the state. Originality/value – There have been many studies in the past on DPL but none have intended to cover other public libraries chains like HMPL and NDMC public libraries which are governed by the government or its agencies and are established with aim of imparting information to the population of Delhi. Also, a similar the comparison with international standards was never done earlier.

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