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Public libraries serve as important hubs for lifelong learning for older adults. Nevertheless, if library visits are perceived as discouraging and frustrating, they can be burdensome for this demographic. The perceptions of motivations influencing public library use among older adults was explored through 37 semi-structured interviews. Employing the ARCS (Attention, Relevance, Confidence, and Satisfaction) motivation model, a qualitative approach was adopted. The analysis aims to shed light on the motivations and perceptions of elderly library users. The significance lies in being the pioneer in applying the ARCS motivation model to library use among older adults within the framework of public libraries, highlighting profound implications for library services catering to this demographic. The findings will contribute to new methodologies in library user research, increase knowledge and interest in public library use among older adults, and provide concrete suggestions for library administrators and policymakers. • Older adults' motivations for using public libraries are interconnected within the ARCS motivation model. • Older adults' attention emphasizes the variety and availability of library materials, programs, and services. • Older adults' relevance emphasizes the need for the educational and recreational value of public libraries. • Older adults' confidence emphasizes expectations, opportunities, and librarian support for library use. • Older adults' satisfaction emphasizes the convenience of library services, comfort of facilities, and feedback. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Radon exposure is the second leading cause of lung cancer, yet few Americans test their homes for radon, particularly in rural areas. The academic team and community partners engaged the public library systems in four rural counties to offer digital radon detectors for check-out as a means of increasing the public's access to free radon testing. The check-out procedures and instructional materials were created through an iterative process, and library personnel were educated on radon and home radon testing prior to launching the lending program. Library patrons reported high usability, feasibility, and acceptability of the program. Library patron-staff interactions mainly included discussions about the logistics of radon testing. Given that public libraries are invested in making communities thrive and promoting health, providing library lending programs for radon detectors is a novel, feasible, and acceptable way to reduce the risk of lung cancer in the community. • The radon detector library loan program was designed and evaluated using citizen science methods. • The radon detector library loan program was usable, feasible and acceptable to library patrons. • Library patrons were appreciative of having access to radon detector kits at no cost. • Public libraries can serve as partners to promote the health of communities. • Radon detector loan programs are innovative and attract community members who may not have otherwise utilized the library. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Many public libraries provide makerspace services, where people can share tools and knowledge to create tangible items, yet the audience for these spaces is sometimes challenging to identify or maintain. Sometimes the spaces are less inclusive than intended or desired. This comparative case study examines user and library staff experiences in three makerspaces to determine the types of leisure the makerspaces support, and the types of makerspaces community members want. The study found that these spaces serve two audiences: those committed to a serious leisure use of the space, and those interested in casual leisure. These audiences each need different support, programs, and policies. Neither type of leisure was well supported in all three cases. This study situates the benefits of library makerspaces in the lives of the users and asks a series of questions orienting LIS toward a research agenda concerning serious and casual leisure. • The Serious Leisure Perspective was applied to grounded theory analysis of public library makerspaces. • Library staff often idealize serious leisure making, but such making is not always possible in these spaces. • Many users prefer to attend programs and are more interested in casual leisure, as a social alternative to work. • Casual leisure did not develop into serious leisure; audiences require different programs, staffing, outreach. • A research agenda with orienting questions is offered for public library-oriented scholars. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The relevancy of public libraries is often called into question, with some saying that library services have been or will be displaced by, among other things, new media such as social media. This study tested this displacement hypothesis with survey data collected from three nations (the U.S.: N = 879; South Korea: N = 700; and Singapore: N = 987). Ordinal regressions were used to investigate the relationship between the use of social media and nine public library services, taking into account individual demographic differences. The results show that for all three nations, social media use has significant complementary relationships with all nine library services examined. Computer and information literacy training showed the largest effect size. However, signs of displacement effects were observed in the odds ratio statistics, particularly among daily social media users and in reference services, library visits, and time spent in the library, suggesting that where displacement is concerned, these areas warrant extra attention. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Public library systems' websites were often the sole means for older patrons to access library services and programming during the COVID-19 pandemic. This study integrated Pauwels' (2012) framework to analyze 25 Ontario public library systems' websites for evidence of their available programming for older adults during the early months of COVID-19. The 640 identified programs for older adults revealed a number of patterns, including issues regarding visibility and representation of older patrons on library websites as well as assumptions surrounding older adults' access to technologies. Discussions consider three implications for public libraries as they reopen and create new virtual spaces "postpandemic": questioning (re)distributions of resources that support both virtual and in-person services, questioning implicit assumptions that digital connection will foster social connection, and questioning the effects of the library as a virtual space on feelings of social connectedness. • Connections to public libraries can help older patrons maintain a sense of identity, facilitating adjustments in older age. • Pauwels' (2012) framework can help scholars analyze websites with enhanced depth and nuance. • Public library post-pandemic efforts must consider the virtual/in-person split in services, programs, and collections. • Virtual public library programs will not necessarily foster social connection and may exacerbate digital exclusion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Public libraries must respond to the needs of the communities they serve in order to remain relevant, but assessing these needs is especially challenging in the midst of the rapid development of information technology. This study examines needs assessments to understand the user community, library services, and expected sources to determine user needs regarding space and services. The research employed a mixed-method approach including semi-structured interviews, a questionnaire assessment, and Social Network Site (SNS) big data analysis. The study assessed the needs and characteristics of users and non-users at Yongsan-gu Public Library, South Korea. Data collected were used to examine how the library was affected by COVID-19, the steps it taken to adjust and provide services, and how users have adapted to library use during the pandemic. The research results provide direction for building a future public library in regions that lack cultural infrastructure. The results also demonstrate that it is necessary to construct infrastructure linked to cultural projects by creating complex cultural and user-oriented spaces. • Triangulation methods were used to assess public library users and non-users service needs. • The study examined how library users and non-users adapted to library closures brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic. • The research findings provide direction for public libraries by emphasizing infrastructure development. • Library users and non-users have similar expectations and want libraries to be more interdisciplinary cultural spaces. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Public librarians in South Korea assist users in obtaining information on a variety of topics. However, health-related information and services have a lower profile than other services due to a perceived lack of librarian expertise in searching and evaluating health resources. Although public library users are actively seeking health information, it has become critical for both public librarians and users to develop skills for using and evaluating Internet health resources. Therefore, this study was conducted to identify a set of useful criteria to evaluate online health web sites for both librarians and library users. From a comprehensive literature review, 33 criteria related to health website evaluation were identified. Using this set of criteria, South Korean public librarians and users were asked to rate the importance of each criterion in surveys. A strong consensus was found between the two groups. The top 10 most highly rated criteria from both groups were identified and compared. The results led to the development of an initial set of 12 evaluation criteria for health websites. It is expected that the final set of criteria will be used by public librarians to recommend the best health websites to their users. Although the study was conducted in South Korean public libraries, the findings are applicable in providing evaluation services of health websites to libraries worldwide. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Large scale open-source library automation systems can increase efficiencies in bibliographic production. The implementation of such a system, Evergreen, was examined in order to ascertain whether it facilitated detection and use of library collections in Indiana public libraries. Three hundred forty-nine participants recruited from nine public libraries completed user surveys. Additionally, library server data about interlibrary loan (ILL) statistics were collected from participating libraries on a monthly basis. The self-reported user survey included questions about patron history at local public libraries, use of the previous Online Public Access Catalogs (OPACs), and use of the Evergreen OPAC for finding and accessing multiple library collections since library users could directly request interlibrary loans via the Evergreen OPAC. The findings indicate that the implementation of the Indiana Evergreen system received moderately positive ratings from the participants; the positive evaluation was primarily related to the use of the ILL function. The ILL service satisfied the participants'' needs and motivated them to use the Evergreen OPAC. Benefits for Evergreen users were confirmed. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: The economic value of public libraries for local residents in Korea was measured. An economic-value measurement model that enables the estimation of diverse types of public library services was designed, using a conditional-value measurement method. Benefits were taken as the value of the main services provided by public libraries, such as accessibility to informational materials, facilities, and programs. Costs included the total amount of expenses at libraries such as personnel expenses, materials purchasing expenses, and other operational costs. Data were collected from 1220 users from 22 public libraries in the province of Seoul/Gyeonggi-do and the other seven Korean provinces. The return on investment (ROI) was calculated to be 3.66. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: In this qualitative study exploring the content of social interactions between library staff and patrons, interviews were held with 15 library staff members in three neighborhood branch libraries in a large American midwestern city. An analysis of the interviews suggests that public libraries may contribute to social capital through the relationships and interactions that occur between staff and patrons. Some of the ways in which these relationships and interactions may contribute to social capital include: building patrons'' trust in the library and its staff, connecting people to both community and library resources, providing social support for patrons, reducing social isolation, helping patrons gain skills to function in an increasingly online world, and providing a positive place for neighborhood residents to gather. The kinds of social interactions occurring in libraries that may help to build social capital are highlighted. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Information inequity is a central concern of the digital age. Many recognize the role of public libraries in bridging such inequities. Unfortunately, however, public libraries are often limited by the funding available to them. This study used a geographic information system (GIS), inequality measures, and multiple regressions to analyze statistics from the Public Libraries Survey (PLS) collected by the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) and from census tract data. It evaluated the levels of public library funding and services and tested how these resources vary with neighborhood income and urbanization levels. This is one of the few nationwide multivariate studies of neighborhood-level variations. The study revealed significant funding and service variations across the nation's 9000 library systems. Distributions of digital materials, full-time staff with a master's degree in library and information science, and library programs were especially disparate. Library systems in lower-income or rural neighborhoods were relatively less funded and offered fewer information resources. Interestingly, the only variable that was not significantly associated with neighborhood income was the number of public Internet terminals. This suggests that recent funding and research efforts may have made a difference. Similar funding efforts are encouraged for other types of library resources such as staff education and training. In light of the prevalent disparities in resource levels across neighborhoods, the study calls for a fundamental evaluation of the funding mechanisms for libraries. Also, information behavior research should investigate how this structural information inequity affects individuals’ information use decisions. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Public libraries have been held in high regard by communities since they were established in North America in the mid-19th century. Recently, with their diminishing informational role combined with the economic downturn, libraries have had to reassert their relevance to communities in a period of severely reduced municipal budgets. One role that is often assumed but rarely examined in depth is the library as a generator of social capital. This preliminary study investigates the relationship between public libraries and indicators of social capital using a questionnaire survey administered in three branch libraries in a large Midwestern American city. Library users had significantly higher levels of social capital in terms of community involvement and trust than a random sample of city residents. When frequency of library use was correlated with indicators of social capital there were mixed results. Library use was significantly associated with community involvement, but not with trust. Lack of trust in neighbors may be the incentive for people to become more involved in their communities in order to create a safer environment. The findings suggest that there is a strong relationship between public libraries and social capital but that further research is needed to broaden the base of the study and to include interviews with library patrons and staff so as to get a more nuanced view of how social capital is created. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The public library facility design literature identifies the importance of understanding patron wayfinding behavior and designing around it, and this research is a first step toward answering that call. Unobtrusive observation is conducted of library patrons'' initial wayfinding behavior from the two entrances of a medium-sized public library in south Florida. Although more than 100 entry routes are observed during this study, less than a quarter of those routes are taken by over 75% of observed patrons as they enter the facility, indicating that certain entry routes are extremely popular. Library personnel can use geographic information systems (GIS) to map the most popular routes. Then they can use information about which entry routes are most popular to increase the level of wayfinding ease in the entry areas of the facility and to strategically market library materials and services along highly-trafficked entry routes. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

This article presents an overview of the methods, findings, and the general implications of the 2007 Public Libraries and the Internet study. This annual study has chronicled public libraries' provision of Internet access to patrons and a range of related issues since the early 1990s. The 2007 study focused on the provision and maintenance of Internet access and services, infrastructure issues, community impacts of the technology, training, library technology funding, and e-government roles of public libraries. This article details these findings, exploring how the 2007 data compare to previous studies. It also considers the implications of these comparisons in terms of the levels of service that libraries are able to provide, the challenges that libraries face in providing these services, and the ways in which communities and governments rely on public libraries to guarantee public Internet access. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: This study investigated the effectiveness of question answering by question types in the inter-institutional collaborative chat reference service at a public library system. In particular, this study examined whether subject-based research type questions are answered as effectively as simple factual type questions, and whether local-specific questions are answered as effectively as non-local questions in the inter-institutional chat reference service. Effectiveness was assessed in terms of answer completeness and user satisfaction. The analysis was based on user surveys and corresponding transcripts of 415 chat reference transactions initiated by patrons of a public library system. The study found little difference in the effectiveness of question answering between subject-based research and simple factual questions. However, local-specific questions, such as circulation-related and inquires about local library services, were answered less completely and patrons expressed lower levels of satisfaction compared to non-local questions. These findings indicate problems and gaps in coordinating the inter-institutional chat reference service among participating libraries. Implications to design seamless services in the collaborative service were discussed. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

A secondary analysis of a user survey administered in 13 public libraries examined user ratings of reference services by transaction type. Transaction type is defined dichotomously as self-generated (users transacting questions they have determined for themselves) or imposed (agent users in the library seeking information on behalf of someone else). Users with self-generated questions rated library services lower than did users with imposed questions. Both groups rated the library experience lower than their reference desk experience, and imposed queries were responsible for proportionately higher “first time” use of the reference desk. No significant difference existed between groups for ratings of finding useful information in the library, finding everything wanted in the library visit, frequency of library use, or levels of attained formal education. There were significant differences found for ratings of the reference librarian''s service behaviors, user satisfaction with reference service, and frequency of reference desk use. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Can public libraries become hubs for citizen science? In line with the principles of citizen science, this question was answered collaboratively with librarians from the Barcelona Network of Public Libraries who performed two hands-on activities. One activity was a training course taken by 30 librarians from 24 different libraries which enabled them to envisage citizen science implementation at each library. The other activity consisted of co-creating a citizen social science project and involved 40 library users, seven librarians from three different cities, and professional scientists. The analysis considers the perspectives of both librarians and users, through participant observation, surveys, and a focus group to identify strengths and challenges. The overall results suggest that public libraries can offer leadership in the promotion of citizen science and contribute to the mission of public libraries to act as local community hubs. The main challenges identified were related to the complexity of collaboration, uncertainty regarding research co-creation, and participant retention strategies. • Public libraries can offer leadership in the promotion and implementation of citizen science initiatives. • Citizen science helps to attract new users, increase social cohesion, and improve perceptions of a library's social value. • Citizen science encourages users to address science-based community issues alongside scientists. • Soft skills are crucial to deal with the challenges raised by co-creation processes and participant retention. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Public libraries that practice effective dialogic communication are more likely to build trust with their communities. Applying principles of dialogic communication as a theoretical framework, this study examines how public libraries in Canada and the USA use Twitter to build long-term positive relationships with their publics. Content analysis of 28,788 Twitter messages sent to and from thirteen library @names revealed that libraries tend to employ the 'dialogic cluster' principles more often than the 'technical and design cluster' ones. However, 'technical and design cluster' messages were more likely to be retweeted. The number of followers was found to be positively related to the frequency of trust messages that the Twitter users send to a library @name. The authors discuss communication practices to actively engage publics in dialogic communication on Twitter. • Principles of dialogic communication are used to explore library use of Twitter to build relationships. • Dialogic communication is important in building library-public relationships. • Trust is a key dimension of library-public relationships. • Twitter is an effective tool to facilitate dialogic communication. • Effective dialogic communication results in a growing number of engaged followers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Public libraries play a vital role in providing information, education, and cultural activities to local populations. Digitization and the Internet have changed the traditional functions of public libraries and caused them to become more community-centered and offer more diverse services. Agent-based geographical modeling is a method for simulating complex urban environments using heuristic and approximated algorithms. The agent model for public libraries developed for this study demonstrates the possibilities for analyzing accessibility, exploring demographic data of potential users, finding underserved areas, and searching for the best locations or relocation sites for libraries. This model has been implemented and tested using the entire public library network of Slovenia. Results suggest that agent-based geographical modeling is a promising method for research in the field of library and information science. • Agent based geographical modeling (ABGM) is a promising research method in the field of library and information science. • ABGM is a heuristic method for the analysis of the accessibility when exploring demographic data of potential users. • ABGM supports the identification of underserved areas and searching for the best (re)locations sites for libraries. • ABGM results deepen the knowledge of potential library users. • Library administrators can use ABGM results in everyday decision-making and planning of the public library network. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]