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Purpose: The research was undertaken to explore the role of the UK public library as a public sphere and the ways in which this role relates to the epistemic, community and political functions of public libraries. Design/methodology/approach: A longitudinal, multi-location focus group approach was developed and deployed in three phases. Data were collected from 53 active public library users in a total of 24 focus groups conducted in eight different public library services in England and Scotland in 2015–2016 (Phase 1), 2016–17 (Phase 2) and 2017–18 (Phase 3). Data collected were transcribed and coded using NVivo 10- for thematic analysis. Findings: The public library's role as public sphere aligns closely with its epistemic functions, adding a dimension to information services provision beyond access to "traditional" print and online sources. New information and knowledge emerge through the person-to-person interactions in public library space. Through such exchanges, the community function of public libraries is made evident, notably as a platform for citizens to participate actively in society, including its democratic processes. Originality/value: Unlike much extant prior work on public library value dominated with accounts of societal and/or economic impact, w hich is frequently based on the analysis of quantitative data, here the fundamental epistemic value of public library services is demonstrated. This research also adds an important perspective to the domain of Information Society Studies where, to date, the place of the public library as public sphere has been treated as peripheral. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Drawing on the survey of Spanish-speaking immigrant and migrant readers in Canada and the US, this study pursues three goals: (1) examine the image of the library held by these readers and trace the change of this image after the international migration; (2) use the study findings to revise and update the currently existing typologies of the image of the library; and (3) understand ethical and effective research practices in the studies of immigrant/migrant communities whereby researchers are external to communities in question. Design/methodology/approach: The data about immigrant/migrant readers were collected through a self-administered survey questionnaire that was available both in print and electronically, both in Spanish and English. The data analysis was guided by hermeneutic phenomenology, as explicated in the article. Theoretical examination of the image of the library relied on the earlier typology developed by V. Stelmakh. Findings: The study elucidates perceptions of libraries and librarians in both North America and countries of origin held by Spanish-speaking immigrant/migrant readers, and highlights changes that occur in the image of the library as readers move across geographic borders. Building on the empirical data, the article develops a new typology of the image of the library. It also offers insight into ethical and effective ways of engaging with immigrant communities that should be upheld by researchers from outside the communities in question. Originality/value: It is the first known study that systematically traces the changes in the image of the library which occur alongside geographic and sociocultural migrations. It is also the first known study that focuses specifically on readers rather than library users in general. The new typology consists of four different elements – the cultural image; the functional image; the humanistic image; and the ideological image of the library – and is accompanied by detailed definitions of each. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Virtual reality (VR) is becoming a more available technology including in public spaces like libraries. The value and role of VR as a tool for learning and social engagement are unclear. The purpose of this paper is to explore the ways in which library patrons and librarians perceive VR and experience VR through library drop-in programs. Design/methodology/approach: This paper is based on research conducted in seven Washington State Libraries where VR was adopted for drop-in programming for the first time. Data was collected between March and June 2018 and involved interviews with librarians and patrons, a patron user experience survey, and observational field notes from researchers on site during library programs. Findings: Findings are presented in relation to user perceptions of VR compared to their actual VR experiences, and in relation to informal learning and social engagements. The authors frame the analysis and discussion in relation to sociotechnical imaginaries – culturally situated ideas about the relationship between society and technology, and considering the larger cultural landscape that informs collective views about the present and future. Social implications: The paper discusses pending and potential inequalities related to gender, race and class in conversation with technology industry and VR. Issues discussed include unequal access to technology in public libraries and representation of minoritized groups in VR. Originality/value: This work takes a critical perspective considering the inequities in relation to mainstreaming VR through public spaces like libraries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Google Maps is a web platform that allows users to review businesses and services, including libraries. Given the impact of online reviews on the corporate reputation of companies and institutions, it is important to understand how library users disseminate and process reviews on online sites. This study explores whether Google Maps is being used by users of public libraries in the city of Barcelona (Spain) to share their views on libraries' facilities and services and what perception of the library they transmit. Design/methodology/approach: Records corresponding to the 40 public municipal libraries in Barcelona were retrieved from Google Maps. For each library, the average "rating" (a quantitative assessment of the library) and a sample of the ten most recent "reviews" (a text and/or photograph(s) that accompanies the rating) were analysed. Reviews were categorised into eight categories: "children's areas", "collections", "location", "facilities", "general reviews", "opening hours", "staff" and "technology". Findings: All of the city's 40 public libraries are present in Google Maps and have been reviewed by users, usually with high ratings. The number of replies to users' reviews by library managers is negligible. Reviews with low ratings tend to be longer than those with high ratings. In the reviews, children's areas, collections and library location are given positive ratings. Facilities also receive positive reviews, although to a lesser extent, and two issues receive criticism: noise and lack of seating space for studying. Three aspects of the libraries attract similar numbers of positive and negative reviews: staff, opening hours and technology. The study concludes that Barcelona's public libraries should devote more resources for keeping the information in their profiles updated. They should also monitor users' opinions and create guidelines to offer feedback, especially to negative reviews. Research limitations/implications: The research is limited by being restricted to a single platform (Google Maps) and a single city (Barcelona). Those writing reviews in Google Maps may not constitute a representative sample of library users. "Local guides", who tend to award higher ratings than other users, participate in a programme that allows them to earn points that may be exchanged for benefits. Therefore, it is possible that at least some "local guides" publish reviews on public libraries they hardly know (if at all) just to obtain benefits. Similarly, the large number of users commenting on study spaces suggests that young people may be over-represented. Originality/value: Many studies have analysed transaction data in online library settings, including visits, searches, downloads, etc. but there are no examples of analyses of user-generated content such as texts or photos uploaded to review sites and social media. The results of this study will help to improve the understanding of how library patrons see public libraries and to design effective strategies to respond to and generally manage their suggestions and complaints. Peer review: The peer review history for this article is available at: https://publons.com/publon/10.1108/OIR-09-2019-0291 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to explore topics of Facebook posts created by public libraries using the bi-term topic model, and examine the relationships between types of topics and user engagement. The authors further investigated the effects of three library factors, namely, staff size, budget and urbanization degrees, on Facebook content and user engagement based on multilevel generalized linear modeling. Design/methodology/approach: This study suggested a novel method, a combination of the bi-term topic modeling and MGLM, to enhance the understanding of social media in the context of public libraries. Findings: The findings revealed that posts related to community events, awards and photos were likely to receive more likes and shares, whereas posts about summer reading programs received relatively more comments. In addition, the authors found that a larger staff size and the inclusion of multimedia had positive impacts on user engagement. Originality/value: This study analyzed the content of public library-generated social media based on text mining. Then, the authors examined the effects of contextual library-level factors on social media practice in public libraries. Based on empirical findings, the study suggested a range of practical implications for effective use of social media in public libraries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to explore the implementation of self-service at public libraries from the perspective of their users. The implementation of self-service is related to a diverse societal context including, for example, an overall digitalisation, budget constraints and political expectations on public libraries to contribute to marketing the local community.Design/methodology/approach Semi-structured interviews with users and observations have been undertaken at self-service libraries in the south of Sweden. The material is analysed by means of a theoretical framework consisting of previous critical LIS-research, Fairclough’s critical discourse analysis and Habermas’ theory of the colonisation of the life world.Findings The implementation of self-service is affecting the users’ library practices as well as their expectations on the library. These expectations are shaped by various and sometimes competing discourses.Social implications To support public libraries’ role as democratic, public spheres, the complexity of the users’ understandings should be taken into consideration when implementing self-service.Originality/value The differing expectations articulated by the users, and the various discourses they can be related to, implicate a hegemonic struggle, corresponding to a changing view on public libraries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to compare the perceived benefits of public libraries between five culturally different countries: Finland, Norway, the Netherlands, South Korea and the USA. Design/methodology/approach – The data were based on representative samples of Finnish, Norwegian, Dutch, Korean and American adult library users. In Finland a mail survey was used and in other countries web surveys were used for data collection. The distribution of the proportion of those benefiting from the library in various areas of life at least sometimes was compared across countries. The pattern of benefits was compared across countries by forming four outcome indexes from the 19 benefit areas. The differences in the outcomes between the countries were explained by demographics and library use variables. Findings – The intensity of perceived benefits differ considerably, with the Finns and Americans reporting a higher level of benefits than the South Koreans, who in turn derive more profit than the Norwegians and the Dutch. The large difference in library supply between Finland and other countries may explain the differences in the perceived benefits in part of other countries but the USA. Research limitations/implications – The study covered only some socio-economic and library usage factors as independent variables explaining the variation of benefit patterns. A more thorough analysis of library supply between the countries may explain some differences in perceived benefits. Practical implications – The policy implications of these findings are discussed. Originality/value – This is the first across-country study comparing and explaining the patterns of perceived benefits between culturally different countries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to investigate tool lending library patrons’ perception of their tool borrowing, in order to explore the role of a public lending service in the context of their lives. It addresses the research question, why do patrons borrow tools from the library? Design/methodology/approach – A case study was conducted, consisting of semi-structured interviews with patrons of a tool lending library. Led by a phenomenographic approach, the interviews focused on participants’ recounted experiences. Transcripts were structured into major categories and underlying themes. Findings were discussed from a perspective taking departure in Wiegand’s notion of “the library in the life of the user,” and summarized with regards to sustainable community development. Findings – Participants are found to talk about their tool borrowing from two main viewpoints. First, reasons for making the decision. This involves weighing practical considerations, e.g., cost, storage, access, and frequency of use. It also includes ideological motivations, and sympathy with the concept. Second, effects of their borrowing, interpreted as how it enables them. This enablement includes inspiration, learning, support to self-employment, and strengthening of community. Patrons focus on local aspects of social and economic development, rather than global or environmental motivations. Research limitations/implications – A single and in part unique setting was studied. The findings provide foundation for a developed discussion on the societal role of public libraries providing “non-traditional” materials such as tools, with particular regards to community settings and sustainability. Originality/value – Addresses knowledge gaps on borrowing and tool lending libraries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to explore the relationship between different aspects of public library use with elements of economic growth and development. Design/methodology/approach – Statistical correlations were performed to uncover statistically significant relationships. Findings – Relationships are not uniform: strongly positive relationships exist between education and visits, circulation and library programmes, savings and visits and circulation and programmes, and a strongly negative relationship exists between health and circulation. Research limitations/implications – Only one proxy variable for each of the economic development indicators was used, including the fact that others might have revealed other information. Social implications – The revealed relationships should be kept in mind by librarians and policymakers as decisions to change library services that might trickle down to citizens through economic growth and development. Originality/value – This paper brings together a variety of economic growth and development factors and several aspects of public library use in a single framework. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose – Considering the perceived significance of librarians and information experts as professional information seekers and information seeking educators and of the institutional setting of information work, very little is known about the information practices of librarians and information professionals, their contexts and implications for libraries and their users. The aim of this study is to explore the information interactions of library professionals within and in relation to the context of the setting of the library. Design/methodology/approach – The analysis is based on a qualitative case study of a large North European city library. Material was collected using information seeking diaries, interviews and ethnographic observation in the library space. Findings – The information practices of librarians are contextual to the setting of the library within which the meeting of the assumptions of library users, of the use of that particular system plays a significant role. The systemic interplay of librarians, library users and other parts of the system constrains the breadth of the available information at libraries, but at the same time, keeping to a particular set of shared norms and practices of library use also facilitates the use of the system. Research limitations/implications – The generalisability of the findings is limited by the fact that they are based on an individual case study. Practical implications – The systemic nature of library and its reproduction in a process of structuration underlines the need to develop information services in libraries from a holistic perspective that takes into account the practical implications of the shared norms and assumptions of how a library should work. Originality/value – There is little earlier research on the information practices of library and information professionals, particularly with specific reference to its implications for libraries and their users. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose – Lending novels is the major service provided by public libraries. The efforts in developing search systems have been focused on retrieving non-fiction. There is a need for designing systems to support fiction searching in libraries. The aim of this study is to analyze readers' methods of accessing fiction in a public library for informing the design of fiction search systems. This study seeks to find out which attributes of books readers perceive as indicators of a good novel, and what kind of tactics they use for finding these good novels in the public library. Design/methodology/approach – The authors observed 16 adult library users by semi-structured interviews eliciting information about their literary competence, what characterizes a good novel and how they accessed and identified good novels in the library. Findings – Based on the data this paper developed a tentative reader typology, which differentiated the attributes of good novels and major tactics for accessing them. Practical implications – The typology was used for inferring user models and design ideas for systems supporting fiction searching. Originality/value – This is the first empirical study to inform how readers' literary competence is associated with the tactics used and indicators recognized in books for finding and selecting good novels to borrow. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to examine the way that Scottish public library authorities are implementing filtering software as a public access internet management tool. The aim of the study is to determine the extent to which filtering systems are used as a public access internet management tool and to examine the nature of this implementation. This constitutes an analysis of the actual policies and procedures in place within each library authority to manage public access to the internet. Design/methodology/approach – The paper utilizes a literature review and an analysis of data supplied by the public library services. The data required was gathered through Freedom of Information requests sent to all Scottish public library authorities. Findings – A total of 31 of the 32 public library services operating within the 32 Scottish local authorities utilized some form of filtering software to control internet access. The main justifications cited for this were to prevent access to illegal or inappropriate materials; however it was found that in the majority of cases the decision to implement the software was not made by the management of the library but external IT staff. This raises major issues related to the historical role of the librarian as selector of content for their community. Research limitations/implications – The paper presents results from a subset of local authorities in the UK, thus cannot claim to be anything more than indicative of the geographic sample. Practical implications – The findings can help inform the rationale utilized by public library services in implementing filtering policies. Originality/value – This paper is the only paper to directly address the issue of internet filtering in all public libraries in Scotland. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to emphasize some of the qualitative results from the data collection throughout the second year of the Biblionet Program in Romania. Design/methodology/approach – Concentrated here are the conclusions drawn from reports of the County Coordinators, online questionnaires, quantitative and qualitative research reports, and information from colleagues in the Biblionet team. Findings – The results and findings have been grouped under the four key objectives of the Biblionet Programme: the citizens' information needs are better fulfilled with the help of public libraries; librarians provide better services to communities; for the National Association of Librarians and Public Libraries in Romania (ANBPR) to improve its capacity to provide services to members; and public authorities to increase their support for library development. Originality/value – A wide range of improvement examples are provided that can be easily transferred to other countries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to demonstrate the value of French School Regulation theory for questions of relevance to researchers and practitioners working in the field of information policy in general and public librarianship in particular. Design/methodology/approach – The paper is divided into two parts. Part one outlines Regulation theory's twin analytic tools of Fordism and post-Fordism and its value for questions about the evolution of the public library. Part two provides an example of the approach's explanatory potential when applied to a series of public library planning documents produced by the Government of Ontario, Canada from the 1950s. Findings – An interpretation of the evolution of the identity of the library user from patron to customer to information producer-consumer is proposed at the intersection of the neoliberal state's austerity in social spending, the ubiquity of the new information and communication technologies, and fundamental changes in libraries as sites of waged-work. Research limitations/implications – The research facilitates the development of a political economy of the contemporary public library of potential value to the international public library community. Also, conceiving of the public library as first and foremost a site of productive work forces one to re-engage with the meaning of shifting relations between the library user and the institution on working conditions. Originality/value – The applicability of a relatively under-utilized theoretical framework is modelled that enables one to ask new questions of relevance to the field of library and information science. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose – This study seeks to examine, from the viewpoint of 12 adult fiction readers who are members of book clubs, how they go about selecting fiction books to borrow from the public library. Design/methodology/approach – Each participant took part in an individual, semi-structured, face-to-face interview. Using Williamson's Ecological Model of Information Seeking and Use as the conceptual framework, the study examined the role that fiction readers' "internal environments" and "external contexts" played in their book choices. Findings – The selection of fiction books at the public library occurred, to a large extent, outside it. Fiction books were selected as part of everyday life information seeking, influenced by study participants' personal characteristics and circumstances as well as sources from their everyday lives, which typically included family, friends, book club and the mass media. While the public library was the main means by which study participants obtained their fiction books, it was not the first source to which they turned for ideas on what to read. Originality/value – The study moves from a preoccupation of readers' actions at the public library to examine, more holistically, how everyday life information sources influence their choices of fiction books at the public library. It highlights the purposive and serendipitous dimensions of book selections and also underscores the importance of recognizing trust as a determining factor in book selection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose – While the great recession may have concluded more than a year ago, the lingering effects of state and local budget contraction and austerity are having a highly negative impact on libraries and librarians. The future for publicly funded libraries as institutions that promote learning, literacy, knowledge creation and entertainment is increasingly doubtful as publicly funded libraries across the country are seeing unprecedented levels of budget cuts. While the immediate cause of such reduced funding seems rooted in budgetary pressures, the reality is that library financial support is traditionally premised upon a publicly held assumption of goodwill for libraries and the societal benefits they represent. In order for libraries to survive the economic downturn and austerity measures put in place by government budgets, they need to rethink the role, purpose and benefits of library marketing in favor of a more sophisticated approach that conveys the unique value of their library and its offering to their specific user population. This paper aims to address this issue. Design/methodology/approach – Informed by the author's extensive experience in marketing information services, the paper discusses the current trends in library marketing, especially those aimed at conveying the value of libraries, and ties them to relevant scholarship in the areas of services marketing and value creation. Findings – Assumed goodwill is inadequate to the task of competing for financial support in a post-recessionary environment where expenditure of public funds is highly scrutinized. In order to survive long term, libraries of all kinds must take on a more sophisticated view of library marketing that focuses on value creation. Eliminating the old model of presumptive value in favor of one that utilizes the marketing process in order to communicate the competitive viability of libraries as place and content providers to their users in the form of targeted benefits that convey value, is critical. Simply put, if libraries hope to receive continued support in today's challenging fiscal climate they must elevate marketing to a critical operational function while focusing that marketing effort upon communicating the library's benefits and value to the users it serves. Practical implications – As a librarian, adjunct professor of marketing and former sales and marketing manager for a large information company, the author relies on his years of experience to convey a more purposeful sense of library marketing that is directed at communicating a library's unique value or worth to its users based upon an understanding of their needs, the benefits to them specifically as well as the competing options available to them in terms of information acquisition. Originality/value – The paper shares specific ideas regarding the purpose, role and benefits of library marketing that are connected to improving perceptions of the worth of libraries and the perception of value to a specific community as a means of engendering future support for them. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose - Despite a growth in demand that public libraries be accountable to citizen needs, basic research into the socio-cultural context in which libraries operate, particularly cross-culturally, is still needed. Durrance and Fisher have argued that libraries have too long relied on output measures to indicate library efficiency (and to justify funding) but that such measures do not reflect the social, cultural or other values actually held or gained by library users. This observation begs the question, what socio-cultural functions do public libraries actually have? What values do they reinforce? What needs are met? How do public libraries fit into the larger social fabric of public and private institutions? And how might these functions vary from one society to another? This paper aims to address these issues. Design/methodology/approach - The questions are similar in scope to those found in museum studies (for example, see the book series Museum Meanings edited by Eilean Hooper-Greenhill and Flora Kaplan), but have been rarely applied to libraries. In an unusual research collaboration we explore these questions relying on both qualitative and quantitative methods to gauge some of the socio-cultural functions of a public library in Japan. Findings - Of primary concern is the methodological problem of developing questions that draw out values and concepts of which the visitors themselves may not be explicitly aware. In this research the paper attempts to draw out not just the satisfaction levels of patrons, but to delineate something of the patrons' own conception of their public library. Studying a rather unusual library by Japanese standards, it is found that some patrons have responded to the particularly strong community focus of the library director. Originality/value - Socio-cultural studies of the functions of libraries are rare. This study therefore can act as an exemplar for further international studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose - This study aims to investigate the discourses surrounding the provision of internet access in Singapore through the public library system and to consider what the government, librarians and members of the public consider are the legitimate uses of the internet in Singapore's public libraries, how these compare with what the librarians see as their role in facilitating access and to what extent the internet as an educational tool features in public libraries according to users. Design/methodology/approach - A discourse analysis of public documents and semi-structured interviews with ten senior librarians, managers, and 40 members of the public were conducted. Observation was also conducted of library users and of their usage at the computer terminals in the library. Findings - Findings from the study throw up very different definitions of what constitutes learning through the internet within the context of a public library. This reinforces conclusions from previous studies that what is termed learning through the internet is variously constructed, and understood in multiple ways. This defies what is often presented of the internet as a technical quick fix of policy makers to help its population leap frog into the future. Research limitations/implications - While the study provided a glimpse into the discourse surrounding the internet in one country, similar work should be carried in more Asian countries to provide a more comprehensive survey of the region and compare this with findings conducted in an Occidental setting. Originality/value - The study provides an Asian perspective that complements findings on the various discourses that had surrounded internet technology in the USA and Europe. It also calls for a new spirit of awareness on the part of librarians to the views of library users with regard to internet access. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose - The purpose of the paper is to review UK government policy on public libraries since 2003, and to examine its relationship to other forms of demand for public libraries Design/methodology/approach - The published literature from government and professional bodies is reviewed, alongside published statistics on library use. Findings - Since 2003 public libraries have been the subject of sustained interest from UK government, in the form of a range of policy initiatives and incorporation in the Best Value and more recent Common Area Assessment monitoring frameworks. Alongside this, professional bodies and other commentators have put forward views on the role of libraries, but even taken together it is not clear that these represent the needs or aspirations of library service users. Originality/value - This paper provides an overview of the demand for UK public libraries, and its synthesis will be of value to librarians, government departments and professionals in this and related fields. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article focuses on the findings of library evaluation initiated by Global Libraries (GL), under its Biblionet Romania project, to guarantee adoption of a proper impact planning and evaluation program. The said project entails public access information and communication technologies (ICT) introduction through Romanian public libraries. The study used step-by-step methods involving librarians in decision making, double-check agreements and aid consensus. Results indicated various characteristics of library users and public access computing (PAC).

The article focuses on a study which provides a methodology for public library value assessment in Latvia. The study used different research methods such as quantitative research, qualitative analysis and service evaluation. The study cites another related research, which presents new indications of library use in Latvia and provides insights on the significance of public libraries in different countries, through the Global Libraries (GL) initiative of Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. Results offer aspects of library use in the country such as user information needs, cultural interests and the influence of public libraries on the leisure hours and educational support.

Purpose - There are two main purposes in this paper. The first is to explore possible relationships between adoption of management tools in a broad sense, the organisational culture and the character of leadership in libraries. This is a very important area because management tools are diffused, interpreted, translated and implemented in many other ways than intended. The second purpose is to present some major findings of nation-wide studies done on these topics to raise awareness about the complex relationships and context that influence chance processes in libraries. Connected to these purposes is also the intention to introduce elements of some institutional theories that have been rather neglected in the more rationalistic literature on, for example, performance measurement. Design/methodology/approach - The paper is based primarily on a comprehensive leadership survey conducted in Denmark in 2007 and on a qualitative study based on extensive interviewing of directors and staff members from 24 public libraries. Some supporting material from earlier leadership surveys is included. The theoretical frame for this paper is theories of isomorphism, management standards and recipes together with a model of organisational culture. Findings - The main findings supports some of the newer theoretical literature concerned with isomorphism, translation and diffusion of standards and recipes, namely that the variation is great and that some of the processes are heavily influenced by the organisational culture in which leadership plays an important role. It is also important that the paper emphasises that management tools, whether performance measurement instruments or technological devices, possess both a technical and a symbolic aspect. Research limitations/implications - The paper reports findings from both a survey and extensive interview research. This implies that only few of the results could be analysed and that the analytical level at some places takes the character of an analysis of tendencies. Originality/value - The paper reports on several leadership surveys conducted since 2001 in Denmark and the UK. The paper also reports qualitative interview research with 24 library directors and 75 staff members. This research is the first of its kind in Scandinavia and the theoretical perspectives make it also of interest to researchers and professionals outside Scandinavia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose - The purpose of the paper is to discuss the relationship between the concepts of social capital and organisational effectiveness in a library setting. Design/methodology/approach - The concepts are discussed in relation to two studies of information behaviour. One of the studies is a local public library study and the second is a nationwide survey into high school students' information behaviour. Findings - The data indicate a discrepancy between the development of (especially) public library services and the perceptions of a library in the mind of both users and non-users. Research limitations/implications - It has only been possible to raise a few questions on the basis of the two surveys. However, these questions relate to the theoretical concepts introduced in the beginning of this paper. Originality/value - The paper highlights discrepancies that need to be remedied if the trust that is so important for public institutions is to continue to be at a high level. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose — Aims to focus on the issue of value in libraries. Design/methodology/approach — Draws from research conducted to set up a conservative transportable cost-benefit analysis (CBA) methodology that could be applied to public libraries. The paper discusses the CBA-survey participant comments draws out the value themes that interviewees talked about as they answered various questions. Findings — There is a huge tendency in North America to talk about libraries as if they are secular churches and to impute spiritual values to them. This paper suggests that while library users may hold such feelings, that is not the first line of reasons for why they use their library. Originality/value — Shows how library communications needs to be framed in the practical as well as the ethereal, the practical along with the ideal. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose - The purpose of this article is to investigate how public and state libraries are responding to research recommendations that the usability of a web site for children is improved by involving a wide range of stakeholders and particularly the end-users, in its creation. Design/methodology/approach - The study employs a self-administered, structured e-mail questionnaire. Findings - The development of children's web pages is usually the responsibility of teams of internal stakeholders, with the librarians responsible overall for the library web site being involved most, followed by children's librarians. Other library staff, information technology staff from the parent organisation and external experts made smaller contributions. The target group of children were less involved and took informal, indirect roles, rather than the direct, formal roles recommended by research. Research limitations/implications - The sample size is small and includes only children's web pages in Australia and New Zealand. Originality/value - The paper presents a valuable analysis of stakeholder involvement in the development and maintenance of web sites for children among state and public libraries in Australia and New Zealand. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose - The purpose of this research is to explore usage of the People's Network in Conwy Public Libraries in Wales, concentrating on the motivation for use and users' reaction to general and specific issues related to the People's Network and the library environment. Design/methodology/approach - A mixture of qualitative and quantitative methods were used to build up a rounded picture of levels of usage as well as the subjective experience of the user. The prime instrument for data gathering was a self-completion questionnaire distributed to 82 users. Findings - Indicates that usage levels have increased and at times, demand is high. Data gathered as a base for the investigation shows that the computers are being used legitimately and purposefully. Although reactions to the People's Network are overwhelmingly positive, disadvantages such as disruption, lack of privacy, technical problems and having to wait for computers are identified. Practical implications - A useful exercise in measuring the reaction to the People's Network in one library authority, complementing similar studies in other public library authorities. Originality/value - This paper offers methods for evaluating user reaction to service development and highlights problems and solutions to the introduction of the People's Network in one library authority in Wales. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose - This paper aims to provide a business plan for libraries to offer profitable passport services to patrons. Design/methodology/approach - Gives an overview of demographic, financial, and management profiles of California libraries that offer passport services. Presents a plan for introducing passport service in two California libraries. Findings - Current political and demographic environments for the two libraries make the introduction of passport services a potentially lucrative opportunity. Research limitations/implications - Little to no correlation was found between patron demographics of libraries currently offering passport services and the amount of revenue the services produce. Practical implications - Passport services may provide libraries a simple but effective way to supplement their budgets. Originality/value - Suggests an innovative way for libraries to increase relevance to patrons through services as well as create a stable funding source. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose - This paper sets out to provide an overview of the current state of library services to the poor, and to suggest how it can be improved. Design/methodology/approach - Uses examples to illustrate the gulf between how public libraries often and the services to poor patrons, and the obstacles faced and services required for poor patrons to use the library. Findings - While many libraries think they are adequately serving their poorer constituents, often this is not the case. While one removes barriers to the traditional services one provides, determining the services they want or need is often neglected. Originality/value - Uses examples of how libraries can better serve poor patrons, and offers sound advice on establishing reasonable limits in developing such services. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to explore the impact of public digital services on urban/suburban residents, to uncover the current usage of public digital services and levels of satisfaction with the digital resources/content in urban digital libraries (networked computers with specific information infrastructure designed free for public use). Design/methodology/approach – A qualitative approach is used as a main stream in the research framework as the method of inquiry. Qualitative one-to-one interviews include surveying users who use public library websites, observing the users, consulting librarians about the users, and interviewing the users. Findings – Provides demographic patterns of the patrons' interaction with the digital services public libraries provide, and the satisfaction and compliances the residents have regarding information access through the digital technology in urban/suburban Connecticut. Practical implications – Because of the small number of participants, this study has limitations in being generalized to an understanding of overall patterns of urban residents using digital resources in public settings in the USA or elsewhere, however, it could be a good pilot study for a nation-wide survey with the methods tested. Originality/value – This study helps fulfill the scant empirical attention given to the impact access to public digital information or use of digital library services on the urban/suburban residents, offers new data that help public library administrators enhance the impact, efficiency and value of the public digital library services to improve the digital learning environments for life-long education at all levels in a broad community of urban/suburban users. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose - To highlight the new service model used by Harris County Public Library and point out what has been successful. Design/methodology/approach - Using a libraries new service model, key points are brought out to identify what has been changed, and why these changes are important. Findings - By changing its service model and design approach, Harris County Public Library has been able to maintain staffing levels and use space more efficiently as library use has increased. Originality/value - Uses examples that can benefit other libraries on using space and staffing efficiently. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose - To find new ways to finance the construction of new libraries in the State of New Jersey, this paper seeks to use advocacy as the operational lens to get new buildings delivered to library users. Design/methodology/approach - Using construction as a framework, the author gives a checklist of ten factors on which to develop one's advocacy program for construction. Findings - Funding for libraries is difficult and hard to secure and all types of government allocations are becoming increasingly competitive to secure. This look at finding alternative approaches, using bonds and other activities, will give librarians real solutions to crushing problems of facilities. Originality/value - The ten factors of advocacy, using construction as an example, such as when and how to do presentation and which contacts to develop and exploit, are part of the value of this paper. State resources are commonly a long-term process in securing, so librarians setting these factors in place could develop the needed long-term relationship for securing funds for new buildings or any other new activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose - To show that many of the old ways in which people think about libraries are not based on fact, but rather on fiction. Many ideas that library managers hold to be truths are, in fact, baseless assumptions about library operations. Design/methodology/approach - Uses six examples of how library management often applies old approaches to the detriment of the library's future. After describing these examples, the truth about them is revealed as each one is examined and their fallacies are laid out. Findings - There are many assumptions that play in managing a library. Some of these are not based on fact and, as such, need to be discarded. Originality/value - Challenges managers to seek out the facts rather than base library policy on assumed truths. Even paradigms that may have once been true are not necessarily valid in today's library environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Annual book issues from UK public libraries have been decreasing since 1980, due mainly to decreases in issues of adult fiction and, to a lesser extent, adult nonfiction. This paper describes an analysis of trends from 1980 to 1998 in annual book issues and selected factors that may have caused their decrease. Simple linear regressions were used to test predictors of issues over this period The factors studied were: decreased funding of public libraries and library book stocks; reductions in opening hours and numbers of public libraries; increased personal affluence and leisure opportunities; and increased book purchases by readers. Significant regression relationships were found between annual book issues and all the factors studied However, book issues showed the closest relationship to personal spending power, as measured by real households' disposable income, which explained over 96 per cent of the variation in issues. This compared with 92 per cent of the variation in issues being explained by the number of libraries open 45 hours per week, 80 per cent by real consumer spending on books and just 60 per cent by real book spend in public libraries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper discusses the consistency of fiction indexing of library professionals and patrons based on an empirical test. Indexing was carried out with a Finnish fictional thesaurus and all of the test persons indexed the same five novels. The consistency of indexing was determined to be low; several reasons are postulated. Also an algorithm for typified indexing of fiction is given as well as some suggestions for the development of fiction information retrieval systems and content representation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents information about the closure of a public library. Often, when a business closes, it is because business has fallen off and customers no longer want or need what is being sold. When it is a public library that is the subject of a closure, again it is usually because demographics have changed in an urban context, and merely a branch needs to close, or be relocated, or consolidated with another location. Rarely do one find a case where a library is closed solely as a result of a shortage of revenue, but that is exactly what happened recently in Salinas, California. Apparently, facing a 9 million dollars budget shortfall, the library failed to obtain the votes needed to institute. As a result, 33 librarians will be laid off, and three libraries closed indefinitely. The community didn't want the library to close as many users being from lower income families rely heavily on library services. Even the American Library Association adopted a resolution opposing the closure of the libraries.

The article examines that breakthroughs in news relating to dinosaurs will affect library collections much like ripples in a pond. Specifically, news releases on dinosaur discoveries in China. The news from China emphasized once more that the science of paleontology is not set in stone--it is merely written there. The first discovery, and arguably the more important of the two for librarians, is that a fossil of an early ancestor of Tyrannosaurus rex shows the existence of protofeathers--precursors to the feathers on modern birds. The new species, named Dilong paradoxus, marks the first time feather-like structures have been directly observed on a tyrannosaurid, and supports earlier predictions by several paleontologists. The second discovery is that of a sleeping dinosaur. From what is described as one of the most complete skeletons discovered, this dinosaur died a peaceful death while curled up with its head tucked under the forearm, similar to how modern birds sleep. These two discoveries are important because they expand our understanding of dinosaur behavior and appearance.