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Library and information science practice and research have transitioned from positioning the user in the life of the library to placing the library in the life of the user. A review of OCLC Research themes during the past twenty years identifies a shift in focus from the optimization and quantitative analysis of library collections, systems, and services to the study of the needs and expectations of users of library collections, systems, and services. Just as libraries operate within local and global networks and ecosystems, users, with diverse needs and expectations, are embedded in communities in various ways. This new environment changes the focus from individual decision making to collaborative decision making, centering and emphasizing the importance of relationships and experiences. OCLC's research has addressed these trends, providing a path for library leaders and staff to create their New Model Library that focuses on agility, collaboration, virtualization, and space within their work, collections, and engagement experiences. This framework offers a way to navigate the transition to the library in the life of the community. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article argues that if libraries are to take leadership in conversations about the ethics and application of machine learning (ML) to cultural materials, they must move beyond the "perpetual future tense" of most library ML proposals and experiments, narrowing the gap separating promises that ML will enhance discoverability for library materials and the library systems through which most users encounter those materials. Even as ML methods have grown more powerful, nuanced, and sophisticated, ambitious hopes that ML might help better identify and describe vast library collections have been largely unmet, at least from the perspective of library patrons, researchers, and students. To address this gap, the article argues that libraries and ML researchers should work together to develop iterative, experimental, and even speculative interfaces that allow users to explore collections through ML-derived patterns that can enhance library data while educating users about ML processes, decisions, and biases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Due to the increasing availability of digital content and systems improvements that have accelerated physical delivery, academic libraries are afforded opportunities to more efficiently provide users access to library materials. A theory for efficient provision of information resources, and thus more efficient use of financial resources, was proposed by one of the coauthors in "The Future of Academic Library Materials Expenditures: A Thought Experiment." The strategies on which the theory is based include purchase on demand, library publishing, and improved open access discovery. This article details the theory and then examines IUPUI University Library's experience of implementing strategies based on this theory. The authors analyze the effectiveness of the theory and offer guidance for libraries considering a similar path. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Practicing librarians, library science researchers, operations researchers, and economists have documented their extensive efforts to ensure that libraries serve users effectively and efficiently. The measures and methods used have, in some ways, grown substantially more complex and sophisticated. Such tools include development of statistical models describing the use, and predicting future use, of resources (largely books and journals), as well as incorporating more variables to better explain the use. The cost-per-use metric, however, has become ubiquitous and nearly universal for evaluating resources, especially renewable resources such as journals and databases. Composed of only two factors, cost and use (and, by implication, time), this measure provides context missing from either metric alone, yet is simple enough for most practicing librarians and the library stakeholders to instantly comprehend. This article provides a background to the forces that led to the development, use, and gradual acceptance of this metric, and concludes with a case study of its application in different collection development decisions at the author's institution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The goal of the administrative team of the Milwaukee Public Library (MPL) is to create policies that ensure successful use of the library services and collections on an uninterrupted basis by all the members of their community. The team has pursued strategies over a period of years to address potential barriers to use caused specifically by overdue materials and subsequent fines. The latest of these strategies produced a data set, available to MPL through the shared Milwaukee County Federated Library System, that allowed authorized MPL staff, in partnership with the School of Information Studies of the University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee (SOIS), to engage fine-constricted patrons in a review of library policies. Utilizing a telephone survey and focus groups, MPL/SOIS identified a constellation of issues that affect patrons' use of the library beyond the single question of fines to engage the broader question of the impact of policies. Patrons indicated a desire for more communication strategies initiated by the library and an elimination of the collection agency and the associated fee, as well as a concern about who benefits from the fines that are collected. They also identified an underlying value for the library that supports that use. This dialogue produced a study that extends beyond simply the elimination of "barriers to use" to a more affirmative approach of supporting not just access, but relationship between the library and their patrons. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A bstract Community college libraries provide many different types of supports on their campuses. Are patrons with disabilities aware of the kinds of support and services a library provides? To answer this question, we created and administered a survey and held a focus group. Our results showed that in some ways patrons with disabilities used the library differently from patrons without disabilities. Our focus group revealed the importance of including the voices of patrons with disabilities when discussing the library-user experience. Most importantly, our research was conducted as part of a partnership between the library and the disability-services office on campus. This collaboration will increase access and communication between the library and patrons with disabilities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the first decades of the twentieth century, the Chicago Public Library employed a brand of casual candid censorship embraced by its peers. In 1910 the Chicago Tribune favorably reported on a so-called "Book Inferno" in the library; a metaphorical pit where works of questionable merit were hidden from immature readers. Patrons, especially juveniles, needed to convince a librarian of their honorable intentions before being granted access to works in the Inferno. By 1936, the same institution issued a forceful Intellectual Freedom statement that affirmed the right, and the obligation, of the library to provide access to books on any subject of interest to its readers, including controversial works. An examination of the treatment accorded controversial works in the Chicago Public Library in the decades preceding the 1936 Intellectual Freedom statement reveals both continuity and change in attitudes towards censorship. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Children and teens are living in an increasingly digital world, and libraries struggle with ways to continue to be relevant to the younger generation. One way libraries can bring children and teen patrons in the doors is by offering gaming programs. These programs appeal to children and teens and can lead those patrons to become steady library users. This article includes information that any librarian can use to set up a gaming program at his or her library, including reviews of current video game systems and suggested video and board game purchases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Next-generation catalogues are providing opportunities for library professionals and users to interact, collaborate, and enhance core library functions. Technology, innovation, and creativity are all components that are merging to create a localized, online social space that brings our physical library services and experiences into an online environment. While patrons are comfortable creating user-generated information on commercial Web sites and social media Web sites, library professionals should be exploring alternative methods of use for these tools within the library setting. Can the library catalogue promote remote readers' advisory services and act as a localized "Google"? Will patrons or library professionals be the driving force behind user-generated content within our catalogues? How can cataloguers be sure that the integrity of their bibliographic records is protected while inviting additional data sources to display in our catalogues? As library catalogues bring our physical library services into the online environment, catalogues also begin to encroach or "mash-up" with other areas of librarianship that have not been part of a cataloguer's expertise. Using library catalogues beyond their traditional role as tools for discovery and access raises issues surrounding the expertise of library professionals and the benefits of collaboration between frontline and backroom staff. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

If the public library catalogue is to continue to have relevance to its users, it needs to move beyond its current inventory model, where all content is designed and controlled by library staff and client interaction with catalogue content is limited, to a social catalogue, where users can contribute to, and interact with information and with each other. The goal of this report is to present the results of an analysis of four months worth of log analysis of two social discovery systems used in two Canadian public libraries to examine: (a) how public library users interact with social discovery systems; (b) how usage compares between the two social discovery systems; and (c) whether the use of the features in social discovery systems is consistent over time. Results suggest that clients are making limited use of the social features of the system that allow them to interact with the catalogue records and with one another. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

One of the presumed advantages of next-generation library catalogue interfaces is that the user experience is improved--that it is both richer and more intuitive. Often the interfaces come with little or no user-facing documentation or imbedded "help" for patrons based on an assumption of ease of use and familiarity of the experience, having followed best practices in use on the Web. While there has been much gray literature (published on library Web sites, etc.) interrogating these implicit claims and contrasting the new interfaces to traditional Web-based catalogues, this article details a consistent and formal comparison of whether users can actually accomplish common library tasks, unassisted, using these interfaces. The author has undertaken a task-based usability test of vendor-provided next-generation catalogue interfaces and Web-scale discovery tools (Encore Synergy, Summon, WorldCat Local, Primo Central, EBSCO Discovery Service). Testing was done with undergraduates across all academic disciplines. The resulting qualitative data, noting any demonstrated trouble using the software as well as feedback or suggested improvements that the users may have about the software, will assist academic libraries in making or validating purchase and subscription decisions for these interfaces as well as help vendors make data-driven decisions about interface and experience enhancements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The assumption underlying parliamentary libraries is that Members have a fundamental need for high-quality information services to support their decision-making processes. This assumption can be questioned. The historical importance of the parliamentary library is assessed as a necessary myth projecting the modernity of the parliament and the legitimacy of its decisions. The standard narrative of parliamentary library history—that the evolving visions of parliamentary libraries are responses to the needs of Members—is not supported by the evidence. The origins of the service visions lie more in the copying of other services, responses to expert opinion, and wider professional developments. The library no longer signifies modernity and the myth has become a liability. An alternative paradigm of Members' information work is proposed, based on the concept of bounded rationality and, in particular, the work of Gigerenzer on "fast and frugal" decision making. Recent research confirms the importance of heuristics in decision making by Members. In this model of decision making, the parliamentary library makes its impact through improved environmental understanding and the framing of matters for decision, rather than the delivery of information at the point of decision. Giving easier access to information, and focusing on information for specialist Members, may have more impact on the quality of information actually used than efforts to improve product quality. A focus on the deployment of library competences in new areas of parliamentary information work is part of a vision for the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Parliamentary libraries serve parliamentary institutions on a national or local level. Usually they are founded at the same time as the parliament itself and organized according to the parliamentary model of the country in which they are located. The parliamentary library's mission is to support and facilitate parliamentary activities and make available all useful sources of information to the parliament as a whole. Thus, the parliamentary library is a specialized library from the point of view of the collections' coverage and of patrons as well. Today, parliamentary libraries are at a turning point in their history. All over the world they are radically changing their nature and are reinventing themselves. They are facing two main challenges: the convergence toward a digital and networked society and the changing role of parliaments themselves. Parliamentary libraries are heading in two main directions: they are becoming documentation centers by integrating their services with other parliamentary offices and departments, meaning that they sometimes give up their physical structure; and they are extending themselves beyond their traditional roles by also serving the general public, by acquiring the status of national libraries, or by becoming central research libraries for a specific field such as political science and law. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In today's rapidly changing world of technology and information, libraries find themselves trying to understand more about their users. The results of a qualitative survey of 184 women library patrons give insight into why and how they use library and information technology and how they learned to use that technology. Women discuss what services they particularly value, including traditional services like printed books and reference, but also their appreciation and use of the Internet, including the library's Web site and databases. Trends showed that women are still the ones who bring children to the library and encourage their use of books. They also value the library as a place of solitude where they can find books or just be by themselves. Women use a variety of resources outside of the library to locate information as they make choices about how to find information in everyday life. It will be important for public libraries to discover ways to increase their role in educating women about library use, particularly electronic resources, and how to effectively locate and evaluate information from the Web and other resources so libraries can remain a vital part of lifelong learning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although from its inception in 1850 the public library in Britain displayed all economic dimension, attempting to respond in relatively general ways to technical, scientific, industrial, and commercial needs, it was not until the First World War that the institution's "materialist" role achieved anything like the standing of its traditional sociocultural function. The war generated a series of economic, social, political, and technological problems and proposed solutions. There was considerable anxiety concerning the anticipated escalation in postwar international competition arising from the loss of foreign markets. The war brought into sharp relief Britain's relatively poor scientific and technological infrastructure, Total conflict engendered extensive social and political disaffection and an accompanying fear of impending radical change. In addressing these problems and tensions, the government initiated a policy of reconstruction in the second half of the war. One element of this policy was a planned extension of public library services, including an tipgrading of technical and commercial information provision through the establishment of new "dedicated" departments. In the closing years of the war and in its immediate aftermath, public technical and commercial libraries (generically termed "technical libraries" in this article) emerged in some of Britain's large cities. An analysis of plans and statements from librarians, the business world, and political elites in support of these new "workshop" libraries throws light on contemporary discourses concerning the future of the economy and sociopolitical ideas. However, outside the grand issues of economic policy and social and political stability, discussion surrounding the intended purpose and practices of technical and commercial libraries reflected debates and tensions in the library and information world concerning the nature, status, and identity of librarianship, its relevance to information work and documentation, and the future of the public library in the postwar world. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For the last decade and a half, Geographic Information Systems (GIS) services in academic libraries have been developing, and GIS librarians have been experimenting with different ways to provide these services. However, there has been virtually nothing in the literature with respect to GIS consultation statistics. One goal of this article is to discuss a four-year case study on the use of GIS consultation statistics to give a better understanding of what GIS librarians might typically expect as far as number of patrons, their characteristics, amount of time spent with them, and the amount of data distributed to them while running a GIS service at an academic library. Techniques for reducing the amount of time spent with patrons while developing a higher degree of efficiency and effectiveness in conducting GIS consultations will also be explored. Finally, a juxtaposition of GIS consultations with other types of library reference services will reveal significant differences between them. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses geographic information systems (GIS) services in libraries. During the 1990's, librarians developed and researched information on how to further incorporate GIS in libraries. While librarians have educated themselves in GIS services, the amount of literature available in libraries remains scarce. The distribution of geospatial data to library users is contingent on various factors that include restrictions, size, and format. Building relationships with data producers can help librarians' further implement GIS services and make them readily available.

From its beginnings as the Library of the Army Surgeon General to today's Internet-driven information environment, the U.S. National Library of Medicine (NLM) has served a variety of audiences. As NLM strives to provide the best possible service to health scientists and consumers, the form of that service has changed depending on resources available and the state of technology. Throughout its history, NLM has adopted innovative programs and technology at the earliest sensible moment that would serve its patron needs. Today, NLM is a leader in providing electronic biomedical information to health professionals, researchers, the public, and anyone else with access to the Internet. These services have evolved in response to available technology and the demands of the various audiences, from clinicians to consumers. To serve the needs of this variety of patrons, NLM connects health information resources in ways that enable each audience to find the information appropriate to their need. NLM continues to improve this organization as the audiences demand and technology and resources allow. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although the majority of joint use libraries in educational establishments provide at least an adequate level of service for their school, college, or university users, the standard of service they provide for members of the public is more questionable in many cases. This article considers the benefits and problems of joint use libraries from the perspective of their public users, providing examples from the UK and elsewhere to demonstrate how these occur in practice. A number of success factors are identified that need to be considered if a joint use library is to be successful as a community library, perhaps the most important of these being the need to involve the local community in the development of the library from its earliest stage. Gaining the support and active involvement of the local community is crucial; only then can the true benefits of joint use libraries, as locations for intergenerational activity and lifelong learning, be realized. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

THE CHANGING INFORMATION ENVIRONMENT and the changing expectations and demands of library users are forcing libraries to reassess their role in the digital age. Amidst this change there is a fundamental constant-the need for access to high-quality research materials. Success in the new environment will require learning much more than we now know about the use of digital resources, their preservation, and the training needed for operating the library of the future. This article examines three essential questions and suggests areas for research in each: 1. How are digital resource users best served: What resources will they want? How will they want to use them? And, what services will most enhance use? 2. What elements are required for a coherent preservation strategy covering resources both digital and traditional? 3. What kinds of education will "librarians" of the future need? [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

INCREASED RELIANCE ON ELECTRONIC RESOURCES requires examination of the roles of librarians in several key ways. This paper addresses the need for further research into three important areas of electronic publishing. How is the change to digital information sources affecting the scholarly work of college and university students? Previous research shows that students rely on Web and online resources and ask for less help from librarians. We do not know, however, how these changes will affect the learning and scholarly work of college and university students. Research is also needed to determine how the differences between separate article and full journal databases affect the way research is done. What are the implications lot scholarship of decisions being made about what publishers publish and what librarians purchase? Finally, are librarians--as intermediaries to the search process--still necessary in a digital age? Online systems are designed to be used independently but that may not always yield the best results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

THIS PAPER DEALS WITH FOUR SIGNIFICANT UNANSWERED QUESTIONS related to children's and young adult services in public libraries: 1. How have public library services to children and young adults developed over time? 2. How and why do young people use public libraries? 3. How can we evaluate the effectiveness of public library service for young people? 4. Why should policymakers fund public library services for children and young adults? After reviewing the existing knowledge base that can serve as scaffolding for the needed research, the author suggests strategies for refining and implementing this research agenda. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Focuses on the benefits of reference services technologies. Advices for reference librarians; Improvement on the delivery of information to library users; Improvement on the acquisition and the delivery of data; Issues to be addressed by reference librarians.

Focuses on a study which examined a user-based relevance criteria in information services and systems in libraries. Background on the concept of relevance; Methodology; Results of the study.

Provides information on a study which developed performance and learning goals for academic libraries in the United States. Information on the development of cooperative partnerships with customers; Details on the LibQUAL+ instrument; Conclusions.

Provides information on a study which examined the usage of academic libraries in Eerie, Pennsylvania. Review of literature; Details on research data and constructs; Research methodology.

Provides information on a study which examined the perception of users in North America on library service quality using the LibQUAL+ instrument. Problem statement; Methodology; Participants in the study; Role of the library Web page; Conclusion.

Provides information on a study which examined user needs, satisfaction, and performance of the University of Washington Libraries in Seattle. Details on library user surveys; Methodology and design of the user survey; Results of the survey.

Discusses how a philosophical analysis of the moral value of information can help librarians rethink some aspects of the professional values especially their commitment to neutrality. Role of information in an individual's and community's efforts to lead a productive life; Behaviors in library patron interaction; Discussion of the values in the use of technology.

An introduction to the articles contained in the June 1, 2006 issue of "Library Trends" is presented. The author discusses the shift in focus within the library and information science field which began in 1977 when B. Dervin suggested such professionals adopt a user-centered approach rather than focus on quantifying their services. Consequently, the discipline has adopted research methods from other fields which are used to gauge user needs and satisfaction. Each article in the issue is devoted to exploring a different method employed by information professionals to that end.