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The article focuses on the periodical's appreciation for library workers during National Library Week, highlighting the benefits of Booklist Reader for library patrons and readers' advisory librarians. Topics discussed include periodical's process of providing book reviews and resources for librarians; the availability of reviewed books for patrons; and the positive reception of Booklist Reader by subscribing libraries and their patrons.

Chapter 5 of Library Technology Reports (vol. 58, no. 1), “Library Engagement Platforms’ End Goal,” focuses on the end results. David Lee King describes scenarios where these services and engagement platforms succeed and what that might look like to the customer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An interview with Caroline Coward, library group supervisor at Jet Propulsion Laboratory, M. Ryan Hess, library services manager at Palo Alto City Library in California, Darra L. Hofman, blockchain researcher, Bohyun Kim, associate professor at University of Rhode Island Libraries, and Annie Norman, state librarian in the Delaware Division of Libraries, is presented. They discuss the possible uses of blockchain in libraries, the need to educate both library employees and users, and what services will not fit into the blockchain model.

Although web sites accessed on phones are the most obvious type of mobile Internet use, they're not the only kind. This chapter provides other examples of mobile library services that can be geared toward diverse populations: audiobook collections, text reference and notification, and device lending programs. Where possible, the focus is on inexpensive ways to implement these services. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article provides the viewpoint of marketing faculty member and former librarian on the topic of convincing their constituents that they are still an intellectual center and can also provide access to social and cultural events. Technological advances allow a greater availability of services, from high-tech conference rooms to self-checkout stations, but librarians need to let the rest of the institution's faculty and staff know how they can use these to improve their own services. She suggests that a business model be used instead of a consumer model, as value-in-use assessment can also help during budget discussions.

The article discusses the ways that libraries can use instant messaging as a means of communication with patrons. Statistics regarding IM use are presented. The article argues that, when used effectively, IM can create a new relationship between the library, librarians, and patrons. It can also create a different feeling of community for the library. The article offers ways to set up and utilize IM, including a discussion of IM applications. A section discussing the best practices for IM in libraries is presented.

The article discusses services for library patrons with disabilities. Emphasis is given to topics such as disability awareness training for librarians and library staff, soliciting feedback from people with disabilities on service expectations, and timing of training, process reviews, and professional development.

The article discusses the use of repair events hosted by libraries to reduce waste and acquire new library patrons from the community. Topics include the ability of repair clinics to teach patrons to repair broken items and inspire them to learn more about products they consume and how they work, the use of Repair Cafes and Fixit Clinics to connect libraries with their surrounding communities, and the use of the repair events to build sustainable societies.

The changing landscape of library collections has led to a new take on services that libraries offer. While competing with on-demand access of content found on the open web, the library needs to position itself in a new way to capture the interest of its users by providing new services that are compelling, exciting, and self-service oriented. This chapter will identify the impetus for these changes and what technologies have been made available to better support library patrons. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The past decade has been witness to dramatic evolutions in library service as patron expectations and the research process have changed. Libraries have found themselves competing with everyday content services like Google and Wikipedia, cafés such as Starbucks and Barnes and Noble, and home delivery and online streaming services such as Netflix. To stay in this information access market, libraries are shifting their services to better meet the demands of the new generation of user. Libraries are changing their look, changing their level of service, and partnering with the competition—all to continue to be a part of the research process and provide content to patrons when and where they expect it. This evolution is necessary to keep the library relevant to the researcher. This chapter will illustrate these new services that libraries are offering and explore what about them is meeting the demand of library patrons. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the past decade, libraries have shown some major evolutions in the types of services they provide and the platforms in which they deliver these services. From the learning café, to patron-driven acquisitions, to the NGC discovery solution, libraries are evolving to match the demands of changing user behaviors. But a key part of the process that is commonly overlooked is the use of data analysis to drive decisions. By utilizing usage analysis tools, we can build a picture of how certain changes and evolutions affect patrons and how services are used. By constantly analyzing reports on usage, librarians can better judge how to improve services to meet the demands of their patrons. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses designing physical spaces for youth services in libraries and other public places. The importance of having specific spaces within library settings for children and teenagers is examined and the effect of architecture and design on learning is explored. Connections between architectural design and a library's service philosophy, staff involvement, and the focus of library services are discussed. Benefits of user input are also examined.

The article presents several ways libraries can adapt to change and stay relevant to users in the years following the global financial crisis of 2008 and 2009. The author addresses what he calls "library fitness" in light of the 150th anniversary of the book "The Origin of Species" by Charles Darwin, which presents the theory of the survival of the fittest. The twelve steps to library fitness include emphasizing local communities, engaging library users, and finding and solving problems. Other topics include ideas discussed in the books "Forces for Good: The Six Practices of High-Impact Nonprofits," by Leslie Crutchfield and "How the Mighty Fall," by Jim Collins.

Focuses on the Virtual Village Communication Center of the Public Library of Charlotte and Mecklenburg County in Charlotte, North Carolina. Description of the renovated technical-services space, which has workstations using high-speed T1 Internet connections and general office-productivity software; Background on the computer lab and how it was designed to give the entire community access to computer technology, information, instruction, and services; Author's views on usage of the computer stations and assistive technologies for the disabled.

The article discusses mental health training for librarians at locations such as the Jackson-Madison County Library, Tennessee and Wilton Public and Gregg Free Library, New Hampshire. Emphasis is given to topics such as the identification of different types of mental illness, providing guidance for youth patrons, and connecting patrons to information resources on mental illness.

The author discusses the issue in inequality in library services. She mentions small things such as programs for infants and toddlers that are inaccessible to working parents, the need to address equity issues regarding library collections, and the need to hire staff that reflects the surrounding population.

The author discusses the role of embedded librarians in providing services to patrons. She mentions several programs that have incorporated embedment, the expansion of services to users who may have not considered using the library, and embedment as a way of staying vital to the communities that are served by the library.

The author discusses strategies that librarians can pursue to aid their patrons' reading selections, focusing on the use of television programs to find various genres patrons might be interested in. Topics include the online marketing of book covers that readers see on the library's website, the use of electronic discovery tools, as well as the use of films to help patrons with book selections.

The article reports that while more than 99 percent of public libraries in the U.S. offer Internet access, many have not kept up with increasing infrastructure demands, which may have implications for demand at academic libraries. An average of 10.7 public access workstations are owned by public library branches, the article notes. Bandwidth speed has slightly declined, with 62.1 percent of public library branches having connection speeds of greater than 769kbps. Nearly 80 percent of libraries also claim to have insufficient workstations some or all of the day.

This article discusses the author's opinion that the personal opinions of librarians does not belong in a reader's advisory for books. Also discussed is how the responsibility of librarians who provide the reader's advisories has increased as the professional interest in these advisories has also increased.

The article discusses readers' advisory services of libraries. The author suggests that librarians rethink their interactions with readers when offering book suggestions. She believes that librarians should view this interaction as a conversation instead of an interview. She believes that doing this will allow readers to view libraries and librarians as resources.

The article reports on the participation of the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill Library and School of Information and Library Science in the Open Content Alliance (OCA). OCA is a group of international organizations that are constructing a permanent archive of digitized text and multimedia materials on the Web. The school is the first from a university to join the alliance, and the library is the first library to contribute manuscript materials. And collections included in the archive are freely available for access and reuse.

The article offers advice to library professionals on how to develop a summer reading program. In order to create the most effective system, the author suggests soliciting feedback from staff members, conducting patron surveys, and considering input from teachers and other educators.

Reports on a library program in Houston, Texas which will give library card-holding residents free access to email, word processing, spreadsheet software and document storage space. Positive reaction to the program; Technological facilities at the libraries; Cost effectiveness of the program.

The article focuses on how library managers and administrators can encourage innovation in libraries and prevent the failure of new library services. The author suggests that managers should encourage staff to learn about new trends in technology, give staff time to experiment with new initiatives, and develop a work culture that is tolerant of risks. Other topics include budget cuts to libraries, patron population, and rate of return (ROI) for libraries.

A letter to the editor is presented in response to the article "Why Librarianship Endures," by Will Manley in the September 2010 issue.

The article focuses on a 2008-2009 study by the American Library Association (ALA) about funding and technology access in public libraries. Results of the study indicated that over 71% of libraries claim that they stand as the sole source of free access to computers and the Internet in their respective communities. Job-seeking services were regarded by the libraries as one of the most crucial online services offered. About 38% of libraries experienced budget increases at or above the inflation rate.

The article discusses the findings of a survey conducted by the American Library Association (ALA) and the Florida State University. According to the survey, public library visits increased by 61% between 1994 and 2004, largely driven by the need for technology. People come to the library because it is often the only source of free access to computers and the Internet in the community. Total circulation also rose 28% in the same 10 years, with children's materials leading the pack at 4.4%.

The author examines whether providing computers and Internet access in libraries is librarianship. He observes that most library patrons are on computers. He suggests that librarians should not be concerned because people coming to the library to surf the Web is a good thing. He advises that librarians should take advantage of every opportunity to grab people's attention and have them notice and use their libraries.

The author discusses the popularity and the importance of online gaming being used in libraries. The author discusses her findings from an article she wrote called "Gaming and Libraries: Intersection of Services," which looked at how online video games, like the virtual environment game Second Life, can offer a range of educational and informational services to library patrons.

Presents information on the spaces set up outside the William H. Welch Medical Library at Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland so that librarians can assist library users. Function of the spaces; Description of the spaces.

Focuses on the importance of the sanctuary in libraries. Reason for using public and academic libraries; Risks associated with offering an intellectual sanctuary to library users; Significance of a library sanctuary to individual users; Disadvantages of the absence of the sanctuary of a library; Benefits from using libraries.