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The German Library Association (dbv) has taken a position on the "Fair Reading" campaign, which claims that public libraries are destroying the e-book market and compromising freedom of speech. The dbv argues that these claims are based on false information. Libraries must acquire a license for each e-book they wish to lend, and each e-book can only be read by one person at a time. The borrowing of e-books is limited to library customers with a library card. The dbv further demands a legal regulation for e-book lending, in order to enable libraries to purchase e-book licenses for new releases and to fairly compensate authors. [Extracted from the article]

Communicating information in the era of the internet poses a new challenge to public libraries. Is there a way to connect conventional media and digital information to experience both worlds as one? With the research project 'Quellentaucher' ('source diver'), North Rhine-Westphalia intends to develop and test new opportunities of information research. The library user shall be offered an intuitive and entertaining research experience. The research project is carried out in cooperation with the working group Human-Computer Interaction of the university of applied sciences in Konstanz. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article deals with the specific target groups for vocational training. The focus is on the satisfaction with the libraries' offers and on possible services to increase their attractiveness and thereby strengthen the role of Berlin's public libraries as educational agents for those who left school. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Public libraries offer easy, free access to information, education and entertainment to individuals from all sections of society. Today, their offers play an important role in promoting and supporting media competence. This article examines how well libraries enable immobile persons and inhabitants of less developed areas to take part in society, based on the results of the study 'Use monitoring for public libraries', a project of the Berlin public libraries (NuMoB study). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In 2013, library users were questioned in the course of the Berlin EFRE project NuMoB of the Berlin public libraries. The results coming from users of the existing bookmobiles differ in some areas from those of the general survey. The high customer satisfaction especially with the staff running the bookmobiles may be emphasized. This is not least a result of a different form of customer treatment with more personal contact. Bookmobiles serve needs individually and thereby are an element of the library system - also in the city. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As part of the Alliance for Lifelong Learning the state of Baden-Württemberg promotes innovative forms of training and provides, among other things, a virtual learning environment based on ILIAS (German for 'Integrated Learning, Information and Work Cooperation System'). On that basis the public library of Ludwigsburg has designed its own learning platform which is adapted to its individual needs. Since mid-July 2013, library users have been able to gain access to language, business and computer courses with a valid library card, regardless of time and location. The article describes the framework of the Ludwigsburg project and gives an insight into its latest developments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper discusses hypotheses why women librarians are particularly resistant to and critical of new forms of culture and learning that young visitors of libraries find attractive. Based on several enquiries, the author concludes that libraries in France remain a feminine world which tends to be closed to intermixing sexual, ethnic and social barriers. She describes women's reaction to young people - qualified as 'non-readers', 'visitors', or 'tourists' - who prefer libraries with coffee shops, DVD rentals and internet services. Male teenagers legitimately find traditional libraries gloomy, and female librarians are particularly critical about their behaviour and preferences. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses the transition, challenges and strategies of public libraries to the digital age on the example of the Main Library of Vienna, Austria. The library improved its accessibility, created new working space for e-readers, and division into college-areas to improve their flexibility. Other topics mentioned were integration and presence of social media at the library, devolpment of digital choices such as ebooks, and the use of the internet at the library.

Prohibition and mandatory signs are standard in German libraries. Hardly a library wants to miss out. As part of a student seminar, the effect of these signs was studied, especially color and contrast effects but also and mainly effects on the customers. Are prohibitions and mandatories integrated into the communication strategy? The paper shows that the number of prohibition and mandatory signs in most libraries is very large, the design unprofessional-looking and the statements are often ambiguous. For the purposes of customer management the paper shows some alternatives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]