scholarly journals Consulting the community : how customers' needs are reflected in public library collection development policies

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
◽  
Sarah Marion Osborne
Keyword(s):  
New Zealand ◽  
Qualitative Methodology ◽  
Public Libraries ◽  
Public Library ◽  
Policy Formulation ◽  
Collection Development ◽  
The Public ◽  
Community Needs ◽  
Development Policies ◽  
Study Participants

<p>This study is an investigation into the methods of community consultation that are undertaken by a sample of New Zealand public library managers during the formulation and application of their libraries' collection development policies. The gathering of information about the needs and wants of customers helps ensure that the public library is practicing responsive collection development. A qualitative methodology is used, consisting of in-depth interviews with a sample of library managers from medium-sized, non-metropolitan public libraries in the lower North Island of New Zealand. Discussion during the interviews centres upon the participants' use of community needs analysis techniques; both "direct" community consultative methods, and "indirect" data analysis methods. The role that formal collection development policies play in the participants' institutions is discussed, together with the relative importance of informal collection development policies, practices and procedures. The study's findings reveal that the process of collection development policy formulation is less well-structured than that described in the literature, and that informal policies, practices and procedures are used to inform day-to-day collection management activities. The application of community consultative techniques by the study participants is less well-developed than descriptions of its use in the international literature.</p>

scholarly journals Consulting the community : how customers' needs are reflected in public library collection development policies

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
◽  
Sarah Marion Osborne
Keyword(s):  
New Zealand ◽  
Qualitative Methodology ◽  
Public Libraries ◽  
Public Library ◽  
Policy Formulation ◽  
Collection Development ◽  
The Public ◽  
Community Needs ◽  
Development Policies ◽  
Study Participants

<p>This study is an investigation into the methods of community consultation that are undertaken by a sample of New Zealand public library managers during the formulation and application of their libraries' collection development policies. The gathering of information about the needs and wants of customers helps ensure that the public library is practicing responsive collection development. A qualitative methodology is used, consisting of in-depth interviews with a sample of library managers from medium-sized, non-metropolitan public libraries in the lower North Island of New Zealand. Discussion during the interviews centres upon the participants' use of community needs analysis techniques; both "direct" community consultative methods, and "indirect" data analysis methods. The role that formal collection development policies play in the participants' institutions is discussed, together with the relative importance of informal collection development policies, practices and procedures. The study's findings reveal that the process of collection development policy formulation is less well-structured than that described in the literature, and that informal policies, practices and procedures are used to inform day-to-day collection management activities. The application of community consultative techniques by the study participants is less well-developed than descriptions of its use in the international literature.</p>

scholarly journals Twittering Libraries: How and Why New Zealand Public Libraries Use Micro-Blogging

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
◽  
Magalie Andree Olga Le Gac
Keyword(s):  
New Zealand ◽  
Diffusion Of Innovation ◽  
Qualitative Methodology ◽  
Public Libraries ◽  
Alternative Communication ◽  
Diffusion Of Innovation Theory ◽  
The Public ◽  
Development Tool ◽  
Twitter Users ◽  
Library Websites

<p>The aim of this research is to discover how and why New Zealand Public Libraries use the micro-blogging platform Twitter. This paper uses a qualitative methodology consisting of open-ended interview questions conducted via e-mail. Rogers' Diffusion of Innovation theory is used as the theoretical framework of this research. The analysis demonstrates that participants use Twitter as an alternative communication channel with members of the public who are Twitter users. Library websites as well as library services and programs are promoted on Twitter. Using Twitter enables participants to advocate for their libraries as Web 2.0 champions and is an invaluable professional development tool. The number of interactions and feedback from Twitter users who follow the library is a measure of the successful use of Twitter for participants. This research also reveals what software is being used by participants to maximise their use of Twitter. The results of this research will allow public librarians to gain more knowledge about the micro-blogging software Twitter and how it can be used to assist in the delivery of outcomes and outputs in their public libraries.</p>

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.

scholarly journals Assessing the impacts of changing public service provision on geographical accessibility: An examination of public library provision in Pembrokeshire, South Wales

2017 ◽  
Vol 36 (3) ◽  
pp. 548-568 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gary Higgs ◽  
Samuel Jones ◽  
Mitchel Langford ◽  
Jesse Heley
Keyword(s):  
Geographical Information Systems ◽  
Public Libraries ◽  
Public Library ◽  
Geographical Information ◽  
The Public ◽  
Community Needs ◽  
South Wales ◽  
The Uk ◽  
Geographical Accessibility ◽  
Delivery Models

Public libraries make an important contribution to the wellbeing of local people often acting as community hubs by reducing the isolation felt by vulnerable members of society through promoting social interaction and supporting the wider needs of local communities. However, access to libraries is threatened in Wales, as elsewhere in the UK, by uncertainty stemming from changes in local government service delivery models, austerity-driven cuts in public spending, changing demands on the service from the public and the potential impacts of new developments in digital services and technologies. Drawing on network-based analysis of changes to library services in a predominantly rural authority in South-West Wales, the aim of this paper is to demonstrate how Geographical Information Systems can be used to monitor the impacts of alternative models of provision currently being considered by library authorities. By examining the spatial impacts of changes in services following a period of re-configuration in this library authority, we point the way to methods that enable levels of provision that meet community needs to be sought during times of budgetary pressures and proposed changes to the delivery of public services.

scholarly journals Twittering Libraries: How and Why New Zealand Public Libraries Use Micro-Blogging

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
◽  
Magalie Andree Olga Le Gac
Keyword(s):  
New Zealand ◽  
Diffusion Of Innovation ◽  
Qualitative Methodology ◽  
Public Libraries ◽  
Alternative Communication ◽  
Diffusion Of Innovation Theory ◽  
The Public ◽  
Development Tool ◽  
Twitter Users ◽  
Library Websites

<p>The aim of this research is to discover how and why New Zealand Public Libraries use the micro-blogging platform Twitter. This paper uses a qualitative methodology consisting of open-ended interview questions conducted via e-mail. Rogers' Diffusion of Innovation theory is used as the theoretical framework of this research. The analysis demonstrates that participants use Twitter as an alternative communication channel with members of the public who are Twitter users. Library websites as well as library services and programs are promoted on Twitter. Using Twitter enables participants to advocate for their libraries as Web 2.0 champions and is an invaluable professional development tool. The number of interactions and feedback from Twitter users who follow the library is a measure of the successful use of Twitter for participants. This research also reveals what software is being used by participants to maximise their use of Twitter. The results of this research will allow public librarians to gain more knowledge about the micro-blogging software Twitter and how it can be used to assist in the delivery of outcomes and outputs in their public libraries.</p>

scholarly journals Trust as a form of governance in public libraries in New Zealand : using Franklin District Library Trust as a case study

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
◽  
Ursula Catherina Loots
Keyword(s):  
New Zealand ◽  
Diffusion Of Innovation ◽  
Public Libraries ◽  
Public Library ◽  
Innovation Process ◽  
Diffusion Of Innovation Theory ◽  
The Public ◽  
Library Community ◽  
Management Changes

<p>This research is an attempt to clarify the extraordinary and new concept in public libraries - trust as a form of governance. Public libraries world wide are faced with the dilemma of having to find funding to keep the services they provide for their communities as good, or preferably better, than it has been. Trust as a form of governance is just one possibility facing public libraries in New Zealand today. At the onset of this research it became clear that no literature has been produced or research undertaken on the topic of trusts in public libraries in New Zealand or on the governance of public library trusts. As trust as a form of governance could become an important issue in the restructuring and funding of public libraries in New Zealand as well as in the management changes facing public libraries in New Zealand today, it is important that research be done on the topic and made available to the public library community. As a supporting theoretical framework for planning the research, Everett Rogers' Diffusion of Innovation theory and more specifically, the theory of the innovation process in organisations has been used.</p>

scholarly journals Trust as a form of governance in public libraries in New Zealand : using Franklin District Library Trust as a case study

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
◽  
Ursula Catherina Loots
Keyword(s):  
New Zealand ◽  
Diffusion Of Innovation ◽  
Public Libraries ◽  
Public Library ◽  
Innovation Process ◽  
Diffusion Of Innovation Theory ◽  
The Public ◽  
Library Community ◽  
Management Changes

<p>This research is an attempt to clarify the extraordinary and new concept in public libraries - trust as a form of governance. Public libraries world wide are faced with the dilemma of having to find funding to keep the services they provide for their communities as good, or preferably better, than it has been. Trust as a form of governance is just one possibility facing public libraries in New Zealand today. At the onset of this research it became clear that no literature has been produced or research undertaken on the topic of trusts in public libraries in New Zealand or on the governance of public library trusts. As trust as a form of governance could become an important issue in the restructuring and funding of public libraries in New Zealand as well as in the management changes facing public libraries in New Zealand today, it is important that research be done on the topic and made available to the public library community. As a supporting theoretical framework for planning the research, Everett Rogers' Diffusion of Innovation theory and more specifically, the theory of the innovation process in organisations has been used.</p>

More to offer than books: stakeholder perceptions of a public library-based meal programme

2020 ◽  
Vol 23 (12) ◽  
pp. 2179-2188 ◽  
Author(s):  
Monica M De La Cruz ◽  
Kimmy Phan ◽  
Janine S Bruce
Keyword(s):  
Social Services ◽  
Public Libraries ◽  
Public Library ◽  
Social Needs ◽  
Motivating Factors ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
The Public ◽  
Community Needs ◽  
Financial Need ◽  
Programme Outcomes

AbstractObjective:To examine the perspectives of librarians and staff about Lunch at the Library, a library-based summer meal programme for children. The study examines: (i) motivating factors behind implementing the meal programme; (ii) issues of feasibility; and (iii) perceived programme outcomes.Design:One-on-one semi-structured interviews with library stakeholders (librarians and staff) from a purposeful sample of California libraries.Setting:Twenty-two library jurisdictions across California that implemented the Lunch at the Library summer meal programme in 2015 in areas of high financial need.Participants:Twenty-five library stakeholders representing twenty-two of the thirty-three Californian library jurisdictions that implemented Lunch at the Library at their sites.Results:Library stakeholders recognised the need for a child meal programme during summer. Despite lack of sufficient resources and personnel, they were motivated to implement the programme not only to fill a community need but also to ensure children at their libraries were primed for learning over the summer. Library stakeholders also perceived the public library’s changing role in society as shifting from reference provision to social service provision either directly or by referral.Conclusions:The public library is an ideal place to provide social services because of its accessibility to all. Librarians and library staff are motivated to address the social needs of their communities. This study demonstrates the feasibility of implementing new social programmes at public libraries. Funding to support these programmes would increase the library’s capacity to address other community needs.

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