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The paper features an interview with computer scientist Norbert Végh, who works at the Matej Hrebenda Slovak Library for the Blind in Levoča (SLB). Végh is the creator of the award-winning Digital Library project and, as part of his work at SLB, he is dedicated to making websites and digital services accessible to visually impaired and blind users. The aim of the interview was not only to introduce SLB's services and report on its activities and collaborations, but also to provide information on the beginnings of Végh's work in this field. His long-term interest in disadvantaged users is also reflected in other activities and projects through which he helps to improve their experience with digital products and services, even outside the library environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper takes readers on a tour of the largest academic library in Finland – the main building of the Helsinki University Library, which is one of four branches specialising in art, law, theology, education and social sciences. The academic library is distinguished by its functionalist architecture that makes orientation easy while permitting flexible forms of study on an individual or group basis and respecting the accessibility needs of disabled users. It provides a variety of less common services on top of the usual library and information services. One of the most significant of these benefits is providing a variety of courses aimed at information literacy and information seeking. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We live in a society in which every area of our activity is based on the access to relevant and up-to-date information. The majority of our daily activities are based on knowledge that we form thanks to the available information. Therefore, it is natural that today's society is referred to as a knowledge society and, despite their apparent decline, libraries continue to play an important role in it. The paper is devoted to the libraries' mission in the 21st century and points out several reasons why they can still be considered a relevant source of information. The aim is to highlight the current problems of search engines related to obtaining quality information in the digital environment. On one hand, the amount of digital information is considered enriching, but it is also necessary to take into account algorithms and the limitations of our information literacy and critical thinking. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The cultural portals of libraries inform, educate and cultivate the thinking of society via the promotion of cultural heritage and by focusing on the regional specificities of European nations. Portals, as electronic information resources, generally contribute to the enrichment of the libraries' collections and their advantages consist of the constant availability, unlimited searching and updated information. The paper presents a thematic overview of Slovak and Czech cultural portals with a focus on the cultural heritage. The author analyses two portals (Ludovakultura.sk and Lidovakultura.cz) in greater detail, focusing on their aesthetic and content specifics, mission and institutional attachment, followed by a recommendations summary and conclusions for library and information practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses the efforts by libraries to distribute diapers to families in need. Topics include a National Diaper Bank Network study which found that 47 percent of families with young children in the U.S. struggled to afford diapers in 2023, the partnership of St. Louis (Missouri) County Library (SLCL) with the St. Louis Area Diaper Bank, and the launch of the diaper program by Los Angeles (LA) County (California) Library (LACL) in 2022.

Despite the long-standing conference model during which participants usually act as passive listeners, a gradual transformation has been taking place. Online meetings are coming to the forefront and online tools supporting interactions between speakers and participants are becoming more common. Workshops and lectures have thus become a space for active participation. The aim of this paper is to present the first-hand experience of the authors with the organization of conferences and educational events at the Slovak National Library and to summarize key trends that can be applied to basically any event. A number of interactive online tools will also be introduced. The importance of taking trends into account leads to the increased attractiveness of events, improved librarian education and collaboration between libraries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The fourth industrial revolution is reflected in the way we work and communicate today, as well as in the demands that society places on us. Constant development of digital technologies and the general digitalization of society point to the growing need for the development of digital competencies in order to fully participate in what is happening around us. The paper introduces the event Bibliospheres 2023, which offered approaches to dealing with the aforementioned changes in the library environment. The organizers and participants of the event point to the fact that not only schools, but also libraries are gradually innovating their spaces to enable the general public to educate themselves via creative workshops and smartlabs. With the support of the Slovak Centre of Scientific and Technical Information, libraries expand their equipment and portfolio of their services. It is a matter of linking libraries with practice via activities that are attractive as well as necessary for development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Foreign as well as Slovak libraries are constantly trying to innovate their services and thus become closer to their users. In this vein, the Public Library of Mikulas Kovac in Banska Bystrica introduced a service which respond to the need for contactless services. The paper is focused on the implementation and operation of a device that allows limitless book reservations and their pickups via bibliomat - the automated box which features an integrated library and information system. As a result of an increase in demands on the library's operation, the services of bibliomat are a prerequisite for effective communication between users and the library, without the necessity of visiting a specific branch during its office hours. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article offers information on a study concerning the career path movements of librarians. Topics discussed include labeling of librarians on the type of library they work; diversification in the master of library science (MLS) program at The Ohio State University (OSU); and mentions that majority of the librarians with diversified librarianship experience are in managerial or administrative positions.

There is no doubt that libraries need to adapt to the modern and developed world of the future. It is therefore essential that new useful practices and advanced technologies be innovated and introduced in the future. Furthermore, it is necessary to set out the direction in which the modernization of libraries will take in the future so that the above-mentioned shrines of progress and information can be properly promoted. In this paper, the authors present some transnational initiatives that focus, among other things, on the education of employees of cultural institutions, especially libraries, and the requirements that are placed on their competencies in the creative economy. The topic is approached from the point of view of the EU index of creativity and the possibilities of non-institutionalized education (e.g. Erasmus +) which support the competent growth of employees and the organizational innovation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article focuses on American psychologist Abraham Maslow has published a seminal paper on the influence the physical surroundings. Topics include the participants has viewed photographs of people's faces and evaluated them based on different attributes, Maslow has wanted to test how people reacted to this content while has located in different physical environments, and Maslow has surmised that the condition of the surroundings has an impact on not only the emotions but judgment as well.

The paper is focused on the critical factors affecting the development of reading literacy. There are four crucial factors based on international research: literacy skills, book availability, alternatives and culture. Reading skill is interconnected with the motivation for reading, and it is formed long before children enter the school. Research confirms that student motivation is a key factor in successful reading. To effectively support reading, it is essential to build a functioning system of libraries (public, school and class libraries). Alternatives are other leisure opportunities that may be more attractive if children do not have access to age-suitable and attractive books. The reading culture in the country shapes the preferences of individuals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents electronic resources including American Civil Liberties Union Papers, Part II, Dutch Royal Library, and Bloomsbury Drama Online.

The article offers information on a paper presented at Special Libraries Association (SLA) 2016 revealed that libraries can do much more to address the ‘gap' in providing information to mobile device users. Topics discussed include issues libraries face in staying relevant in a world; how people now access information; and how sophisticated mobile consumers expect when they begin to use library services.

The article reports that American Library Association Ethnic and Multicultural Information Exchange Round Table has announced the winners of its David Cohen/EMIERT Multicultural Award the University of Missouri School of Information Science and Learning Technologies team has who worked on paper.

The article reports that Library History Round Table (LHRT) has announced that in 2020 Justin Winsor Library History Essay Award winner is Julie Park, for her paper Infrastructure Story: The Los Angeles Central Library's Architectural History.

The article presents studies which appeared advocating particular approaches that librarians could take to expand their electronic (e)-book collections. ProQuest's February 2017 white paper promotes the use of ebook platforms and support services of ProQuest. The Publishers Communication Group's white paper focuses on benefits for enhanced chapter-level metadata to publishers.

The article presents news briefs as of January 1, 2018. Topics discussed include information on the website ScholarlyHub which provides access to research and papers and make scholarship across disciplines both visible and accessible; opening of Turkish library at the Yunus Emre Institute in Johannesburg, South Africa which promotes Turkish language and culture; and improvement in the National Digital Library of India (NDL India).

The article announces several personal changes and awards related to librarians in the U.S., as of June 2016, including appointment of Krishna Nathan at S&P Global, Cheryl A. Middleton at Oregon State University, and presentation of Springer's Howard E. Brandt Best Paper Award to Mun Dae Kim.

The article announces the 2016 Hugh C. Atkinson Memorial Award given to dean James L. Mullins of Purdue University and the Best Paper Award 2015 received by David Calligaris from the journal "Analytical and Bioanalytical Chemistry (ABC)."

This section offers digital information news briefs including Nature Publishing Group's (NPG) offering of double-blind peer review for its authors, the Global Commission on Internet Governance's latest working paper on Internet governance, and cybersecurity, and the Web of Things initiative.

The article presents an overview of the American Library Association Archives, which has been housed at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign since 1973 and is home to a vast collection of records, including historical files, audiovisual materials and personal papers. A discussion of instructions on how to make donations to the archives which can be found at the web site archives.library.illinois.edu/ala/donate-materials is presented.