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Background: Libraries in the UK have evolved from traditional book-lending institutions into dynamic community hubs, This study aims to explore the potential of libraries to act as community hubs to promote mental and physical health and wellbeing of community-dwelling adults, drawing on insights from both library users and library staff in England. Design: A mixed-method, cross-sectional study using online survey and interviews with community-dwelling adults and library staff. Methods: We collected data using a 14-item electronic survey and interviews with library users and staff to gauge perceptions. Descriptive statistics and thematic analysis were used to identify key trends and emergent themes. Results: We included 605 respondents from the survey and interviewed 12 library users and staff. Libraries remain popular and are considered a 'safe place by members of the community, regardless of their frequency of service usage irrespective of whether they are frequent users of services. However, a lack of awareness among library users about community-facing services could act as a hurdle to improving community health and wellbeing. Targeted engagement with residents is needed to increase awareness of libraries' services, including community interventions to help tackle loneliness and inequalities in digital and health literacy. Library staff often did not feel involved in important decision-making. Various barriers, drivers and practical recommendations were identified to leverage libraries as hubs to promote community health and wellbeing. Conclusion: Libraries already offer a variety of resources that directly or indirectly support the health and wellbeing of community-dwelling adults and young people. However, public awareness of these services is limited. As we navigate post-pandemic recovery, libraries can serve as platforms for community engagement, fostering resilience, mental health support and reducing social isolation. Recognising libraries' untapped potential can lead to healthier communities and improved wellbeing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although it has been argued that school libraries are important for supporting the reading engagement of pupils who receive free school meals, to date there has been little analysis of the extent to which use of school library spaces is related to these pupils' reading behaviors. We analyzed data from 6,264 children and young adults in the United Kingdom entitled to free school meals (FSM) who completed the 2019 National Literacy Trust Annual Literacy Survey. Our goals were to understand the extent to which these pupils' engagement with reading and writing were related to access to or use of their school libraries and to understand some of the reasons why they do or do not use school libraries. We found their enjoyment of both reading and writing, their confidence in their own abilities, and the frequency with which they read or wrote for pleasure outside of school was significantly higher for those pupils eligible for FSM who used their school libraries relative to both those who did not use their school libraries and those who had no school library. Consistent with this finding, children eligible for FSM who used their school library engaged with a greater diversity of reading material and writing than those who were not school library users. Pupils who had access to welcoming, well-equipped libraries with books well-matched to students' interests used the libraries for those reasons and because, for many, it was a safe haven. Many non-users either had no school library or perceived the library as poorly equipped, unwelcoming, or uninteresting. We argue that effective school libraries can be a significant resource in supporting engagement with self-motivated literacy practices in children from low-income families. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Tanganyika Library Service (TLS) was the national public library service set up in Tanzania, East Africa, in the 1960s. By the end of the decade, it was generally regarded as a model of Western-style public library development in Africa. This is an account of its establishment and early years based on accessible documentary sources in Tanzania and the United Kingdom, on printed sources, and on interviews with 1960s staff members in the two countries. Topics include the background of educational and library underdevelopment during the colonial era; the African Socialist philosophy of Tanzanian President Julius Nyerere; TLS readers and what they wanted to read in English or Kiswahili; the link with adult education and with literacy education in particular; the attempts to reach as many as possible with books and service in spite of resource constraints; the urban/rural debate; staffing and staff development; the contribution of E. M. Broome, TLS founding director; and the issue of overseas aid and cultural imperialism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective - To identify available health library user typology classifications and, if none were suitable, to create our own classification system. This is to inform effective future library user engagement and service development due to changes in working styles, information sources and technology. Methods - No relevant existing user typology classification systems were identified; therefore, we were required to create our own typology classification system. The team used mixed methods research, which included literature analysis, mass observation, visualization tools, and anthropological research. In this case study, we mapped data across eleven library sites within NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde Library Network, a United Kingdom (U.K.) hospital library service. Results - The findings from each of the NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde Library Network's eleven library sites resulted in six user typology categories: e-Ninjas, Social Scholars, Peace Seekers, Classic Clickers, Page Turners and Knowledge Tappers. Each physical library site has different profiles for each user typology. The predominant typology across the whole service is the e-Ninjas (28%) with typology characteristics of being technically shrewd, IT literate and agile - using the library space as a touch down base for learning and working. Conclusions - We identified six distinct user types who utilize hospital library services with distinct attributes based on different combinations of library activity and medium of information exchange. The typologies are used to identify the proportional share and specific requirements, within the library, of each user type to provide tailored services and resources to meet their different needs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article details the challenges faced by today's UK-based inter-lending services in terms of fiscal pressures, technological change and changing patron expectations. It examines how recent refurbishment at the British Library has led to an increase in community inter-lending, against a background of a general reduction of the reliance on inter-library loan services. It also considers the perception of the value of inter-lending services by senior management, alongside the impact that online availability of materials has had. It then considers the issues around rights management and licence restrictions for inter-lending imposed by many publishers and suppliers. Finally, it considers the steps for change that inter-lending services need to embrace to meet these challenges. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article features a year of blog experience in the context of a literature review and content analysis in the field of library science in Great Britain. It describes the interest of librarians to offer information online. It reflects on the creation of the Health Information Skills blog that primarily targets students within the University of Salford in Lancashire, England. It considers blogs as one of the best ways for libraries to communicate with their users. In addition, the article discusses the use of an RSS feed in such blogs.

Members of the public are expected to assume increasing responsibility for their own health and to keep themselves informed about health issues. Here we describe a study of library users' and staff members' expectations about the public library's role in supporting citizens' "healthwork." We conducted our research in a public library in the United Kingdom that operates on a model of patron self-service. Data were gathered through in-depth interviews with library patrons and staff members as well as a written survey of patrons who had visited the library because of a health concern. Our findings suggest that the library's users regard the public library as a highly trusted source of health information. The majority of surveyed users were in search of books relevant to their health concern, and more than half were able to locate what they needed on their own. While generally self-sufficient, some of the survey respondents as well as those who took part in the interviews indicated that they had consulted library staff for help, although they appeared uncertain about the level of reference support they should expect. Members of the library's reference desk staff who took part in the interviews expressed frustration over policies that limit the time available to support patron's inquiries, and many lacked training, particularly in online health information resources. The results raise important questions about the emerging "geography of responsibilities" in health-informing work arising from changing information technology and new emphases in health policy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective To assess the scale of library and IT resource access issues reported anecdotallyby nursing students on clinical placement. To map patterns of IT and library usage behaviour to inform future service plans for this population of students. Methods -A multi-response self-completion questionnaire administered on a group basis to 78 pre-registration Diploma Nursing students. Results -The survey group were heavy users of library and IT facilities while on placement (87% of respondents accessed library and IT facilities at least once per week). Survey respondents encountered barriers to accessing these resources, including lack of awareness of local facilities, lack of time to access facilities, supervisors' attitudes towards use of library and IT facilities by placement students, and feeling inadequately prepared for accessing and using resources at a distance from the university. Respondents relied heavily on facilities in the placement location and university facilities and responses suggest that use by location was strongly linked to resource format. Use of public library facilities to support study while on placement was revealed by the survey. Respondents' main source of help for library and IT issues was clinical mentors. The survey indicated that the experience of library and IT access varied greatly with location of placement venue. The study was limited in eliciting more detail about location-specific experiences and findings need to be explored further with respondents using focus group methodology. Conclusions - Library and IT access problems encountered by the pre-registration nursing students included in this survey were not large scale. Although there is no evidence of behaviour to circumvent systemic problems, the study identified small but significant barriers. Five recommendations addressing these barriers will require collaborative service planning between University of Salford and National Health Service (NHS) learning resource staff to implement. This collaboration needs to include service users and the practice mentors who support them on clinical placement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective - This study examined low or non-use of the library at St. Martin's College, UK and determined the possible reasons for this. Additionally, this study investigated the other sources of information non-users were accessing. The results were then fed into the library's future strategic planning cycle. Methods - Using data from the TALIS management system, a postal survey was distributed to students who registered as low or non-users. Non-users were considered a hard-to-reach target group, and a further classroom-based survey was administered. Results - The findings showed that students in part-time and distance learning courses were the largest group of non-users. Other factors influencing non-use included the purchase of books, use of the Internet, and a lack of awareness of services available. Conclusions - The library service needs to target non-traditional student groups, particularly those taught off-campus, with innovative induction techniques. This survey highlighted the need to embed information skills teaching into the curriculum and a recent restructure of the department has enabled this to happen with a more focused approach to academic liaisonship. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article focuses on a day in the life of Phil Adams, Senior Assistant Librarian at De Montfort University in Great Britain. He comments on choosing a discovery tool and integrating it into the larger library infrastructure and mentions looking into different digital preservation avenues that would provide library users with access to digital content. He talks about curating the electronic newsletter The Digitalpreservation Daily at http://paper.li which presents news on digital preservation.

Objective -- To explore the role and expectations of patrons and staff about the role of a public library in enabling citizens' "health information work." This involves helping citizens take responsibility for their own health care by finding and using health information. Design -- Case study. Setting -- A single, UK public library with a self-service delivery model based in a city centre in the spring of 2006. Self-service also applies to reference services and is designed to "empower users to locate and use information on their own." Subjects -- 202 library visitors who came to the library specifically to find health information completed a questionnaire, 15 of these visitors were later interviewed; 19 library staff (10 librarians, 6 library officers and 3 senior managers). Methods -- Mixed quantitative and qualitative methods. A print questionnaire was administered to adult library users (age 18 and over). Semi-structured interviews were conducted with fifteen randomly selected library users who completed the questionnaire, sixteen library staff who worked directly with library users, and with three librarians in senior management positions in the library. Descriptive statistics were calculated from the questionnaire, recorded interviews were recurring themes. Main Results -- While all respondents came to the library to seek health information results from the questionnaire found that half (50%) of respondents came to the library to look for information on a specific health problem; 37% of respondents had tried finding information elsewhere before coming to the library; 40% usually searched the Internet when they needed health information or advice although only 32% reported trusting the Internet somewhat or completely; 67% intended to borrow books; only 4% indicated that they had planned to ask library staff for help; and 59% reported finding what they were looking for by themselves. Results from the interviews found users, front line staff, and managers in general agreement about the role of the library as a starting point for health information, and that the library was a neutral and non-threatening environment. There was also agreement among the three groups interviewed that the public library fills a gap when health care providers, particularly doctors, are unable to meet the information needs of some of their patients. Library staff were concerned about interpreting information as well as the impact of a self-service philosophy on the quality and length of interactions with users, and seemed unclear about their role in relation to health information provision. Library staff had no training in supporting health information and limited or no knowledge of authoritative online health resources and how to use them, and their approach to Internet searching was similar to users. This lack of training and expertise appeared obvious to library users. Users did not identify interpretation of information by librarians as an issue but did reference the impact of self-service and the Internet on the role and morale of the library staff. Neither library users nor library staff identified librarians as a resource to be used when seeking health information. The value of the library for users was the book collection and they saw the library as second only to physicians as a source of trustworthy information. Conclusion -- Uncertainty about the role of librarians in health information provision was evinced by both librarians and library users. Both groups were also uncertain about the relationship between self-service and technology, and the way in which librarians and their work are almost invisible. Health policies emphasize personal responsibility for health yet individuals are not enabled to find answers to their questions. The absence of health knowledgeable front line staff in public libraries is "worrisome." The obvious trust users have in the library suggests that efforts to develop consumer health information in these settings continue to be a worthwhile response to the "pressures on citizens to take responsibility for their health". [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There is a marked contrast between the approach to reference services in Harbin Engineering University, China and Northumbria University, UK. Both universities have experienced increased pressure on library services due to a rapid growth in student enrollment. In both institutions, the academic staff are a vital link between students and the library. The emphasis at Northumbria is not on the provision of a reference service for academic staff but on making them aware of the resources and how to access and use them. In Harbin Engineering University, teachers are VIP library users. Delivering an effective reference service to teachers will encourage students to use information. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]