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The article outlines the primary role of the Georgia Library Association (GLA) Advocacy Division in fostering relationships between libraries and legislative efforts, notably through initiatives like Print Day at the Capitol. Topics include legislative updates, successful advocacy against bills detrimental to libraries, and budget allocations for library projects and staff salaries.

Issues associated with lack of civility, less than ideal functionality, and employees that may not self-reflect as much they should are all challenges in the modern workplace and libraries are no exception. The purpose of this study was to determine which issues associated with a lack of civility such as mobbing, bullying, workplace dysfunction, and lack of abilities regarding self-reflection were found in the library workplace and to what extent. The data represents the feedback of 4,168 library employees through a self-reporting survey instrument designed by the authors with the help of the American Library Association. Data is both quantitative and qualitative and seeks to examine the issues addressed across all types of libraries. While useful for all library employees, this study and report are especially relevant to the modern library administrator. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

The rise of data-driven research and discovery may be one of the greatest strategic opportunities to confront academic libraries in a generation. The argument advanced in this article is that the data science opportunity is about data curation AND data analysis. Thus the development of a holistic data science strategy ought to include both elements. Up until now, academic libraries have largely responded to the data science opportunity from a curatorial and archiving perspective. However, this is beginning to change. The case for crafting a holistic data science strategy is presented in six parts in this article. In part one, a broad overview of the data science opportunity is presented, followed by a definition of data analysis and data curation in part two. The traditional academic library response (curation) and a reframing of it to include data analysis are then presented in two separate parts. And finally, part five reports findings from a recent survey conducted at the University of Florida (UF) which indicates robust demand for training in analytical tools and technologies. The article concludes with some thoughts on the challenges of offering data analysis services, using the UF experience to highlight key issues. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

The incorporation of Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics (STEAM) into library programming is a continuing trend in the United States. At the Mount Prospect Public Library (MPPL) in Illinois, there are many STEAM programs in-house that focus on science and technology, but we were looking for ways to add it to outreach programming. Our receipt of the Association for Library Service to Children's (ALSC) Building STEAM with Día grant allowed us to build upon an established Día de los Niños, Día de los Libros (Día) program. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

A Reach Index was developed in 2015 to find out the proportion of the Singapore population that the National Library Board (NLB) serves. This Reach Index is intended to ascertain NLB's unique reach among Singapore's resident population over a 12-month period. The composite index comprises five indicators: unique physical visitors to its libraries, active members, participants of its programs and/or exhibitions, users of its digital platforms, and volunteers who assist in library operations and the running of programs. At the end of the exercise, the Reach Index was able to help NLB identify the segments of the population that are well-reached as well as under-reached on an annual basis. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

To assess the relevance of the Public Library System in the political agenda, programs presented by the Political Parties competing in Regional and Local elections in the Spanish Region of Castilla-La Mancha were analyzed and the proposals about these library institutions were identified. All Regional programs were collected and also an ample sample from the Municipalities for the 2007 and 2015 elections, trying to find the differences influenced by the impact of the financial crisis and recession on the public-library policies. The conclusion arrived at was that, although the Public Libraries may be reasonably present in the studied programs, there is a low awareness by the Political Parties of the main problems. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

The introduction of electronic legal deposit is arguably the greatest transformation which national libraries have undergone in our professional lifetimes. This article argues that many institutions have successfully implemented technical, structural, and cultural transformative change, while there is more to do, and challenges remain. When it comes to transfer however, the ability to give users meaningful access to the legal deposit collections, the picture is rather different: much good work is being done, but the transformative potential of electronic legal deposit has not been realised for our users. The article explores the broader cultural background specifically in the United Kingdom against which the relevant legislation was shaped to understand better what steps could be taken in the future to redress this imbalance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Individuals need access to government information to become informed and engaged participants with governments. E-government, however, has led governments to move information about their activities, services, and resources to government websites, which limits access for millions of individuals who lack sufficient Internet and technology skills. These individuals often rely on public libraries for internet access and help; however, public libraries do not receive sufficient support or resources from federal, state, or local governments to adequately provide these services. This article examines federal and state government library networks to understand the structure of and relationships between the networks and how the networks are positioned to help public libraries facilitate government information access for those who need it. This article also provides recommendations on how federal, state, and local governments can strengthen these networks and improve support for public libraries in the provision of government information access for the communities they serve. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article looks at the legacy of library science scholar and outgoing "Library Quarterly" editor John Carlo Bertot, focusing on his work in the area of research aimed at having an impact on public policy in areas such as library funding. It discusses Bertot's studies of the extent of Internet connectivity and access at public libraries beginning in the 1990s. Topics include how research used to affect policy decisions differs from research with purely academic purposes.

The article looks at the work of library science scholar John Carlo Bertot, outgoing editor of "Library Quarterly." It focuses on his work in assessing public libraries' Internet connectivity and engaging in a range of efforts to promote Internet use and digital access for the public through libraries. Topics include the 1990s Maryland state library network called Sailor and partnerships between libraries and related entities at the local, state, and national level in the U.S.

The article presents personal narratives in which library leaders from the Johnson County Public Library in Overland Park, Kansas and the Novi Public Library in Novi, Michigan discuss how they work with the community and local governments to achieve success.

Public libraries are heavily affected by political and policy-making processes that shape the funding, activities, and roles of libraries in society, with the explosion of information policy decisions in the past two decades significantly increasing the responsibilities of libraries while also increasing limitations on their activities. Research in library and information science, however, has paid scant attention to these issues over time. If libraries are to be able to effectively advocate for the interests of their institutions, patrons, and communities, researchers need to more strongly engage problems of politics and policymaking that impact libraries. With greater amounts of data and analysis in this area, libraries will be better situated to advocate for their needs in political and policy-making processes, as well as better able to articulate their positions to members of the public. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An editorial is presented on the changes that have taken place to scholarly periodical "Library Quarterly" during the 21st century. The authors announce that an article from the publication has been awarded the Jesse H. Shera Award for Distinguished Published Research, discuss the importance of the journal for library researchers, and explore new features of the periodical that will focus on library history and policy.

During the last two decades many Hungarian libraries have developed considerably, beyond what was considered possible prior to 1989 and the beginning of events signaling the end of Communism in the country. Some of the modernization of library services has been realized through participation in cooperative agreements. Many smaller and larger consortia have been organized in Hungary since 1991. There are some consortia based around specific vendors, e.g. EBSCO and ProQuest, but the most important consortia were four state supported programs: FEFA (Orientation towards European Development Fund), OTKA (Hungarian Scientific Research Fund), EISZ (Electronic Information Service), and TÁMOP (Social Renewal Operative Program). Through these programs, access to the most important scientific and multidisciplinary databases was provided for the Hungarian academic and research community. They assisted libraries to create a well-functioning Information Technology (IT) infrastructure in addition to a rich collection of electronic sources. What has been achieved so far has been beneficial; however, an extension to the number of accessible databases would be advantageous. This might be possible if more government ministries were involved in the financing of a library consortium based on a national license. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

This article presents results from an IMLS-funded project to evaluate the current state of collections in Florida's libraries, archives, and museums, current practices to preserve and conserve these collections, and perceived needs to maintain and improve these collections for future generations. The survey, modeled after the Heritage Health Index national survey, demonstrated that many of Florida's collections are in desperate need of conservation and preservation and indicate a clear need for an increased effort to guarantee the continued safety of and access to these collections. In addition to providing data on Florida's collections, the results of this study have national implications that will help researchers, professionals, administrators, government agencies, and the general public better understand the nature of collecting agencies and the long-term requirements for the continued preservation and conservation of the nation's natural and cultural heritage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Librarians have long recognized the importance of privacy to intellectual freedom. As digital technology and its applications advance, however, efforts to protect privacy may become increasingly difficult. With some users behaving in ways that suggest they do not care about privacy and with powerful voices claiming that privacy is dead, librarians may question whether privacy is worth protecting. This article reviews some of the extensive scholarly literature on privacy from disciplines outside the field of library science, including anthropology, law, philosophy, political science, psychology, and sociology, and it identifies fourteen reasons privacy matters to individuals, relationships, and to society. It also discusses the challenge of defining privacy and addresses the question of how the concept of privacy spans cultures. Librarians may find this broader understanding of the value of privacy useful in affirming and defending their commitment to the privacy of library users. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Colorado State University Libraries has been creating digitized collections, primarily from its Archives and Special Collections unit, since 2000. These projects involved collaboration among Archives, Cataloging, and Digitization; the most recent and ambitious project, digitizing 13,000 historical images of the university dating from the 1880s into the 1930s, required closer collaboration than any previous project. The three authors, each with a distinctive role in the project, use this case study to illustrate and discuss in detail the different professional and technical skills and perspectives that each brought to the project and how they learned from each other. The authors present lessons learned in how to effectively build successful internal partnerships to further digitization projects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Though the Children's Internet Protection Act (CIPA) established requirements for both public libraries and public schools to adopt filters on all of their computers when they receive certain federal funding, it has not attracted a great amount of research into the effects on libraries and schools and the users of these social institutions. This paper explores the implications of CIPA in terms of its effects on public libraries and public schools, individually and in tandem. Drawing from both library and education research, the paper examines the legal background and basis of CIPA, the current state of Internet access and levels of filtering in public libraries and public schools, the perceived value of CIPA, the perceived consequences of CIPA, the differences in levels of implementation of CIPA in public libraries and public schools, and the reasons for those dramatic differences. After an analysis of these issues within the greater policy context, the paper suggests research questions to help provide more data about the challenges and questions revealed in this analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article reports on patterns of links from and to the Web sites of 100 U.S. academic and public libraries with regard to the originating and targeted URL domain categories. Libraries, grouped into small and large by their collection size, were found to have numbers of inlinks proportional to their size, but public libraries, and particularly the smaller ones, hosted relatively fewer outlinks. While public libraries link largely to and attract links mainly from the .com and .org domains and U.S. regional sites, academic libraries link to a variety of domains, including .edu, .com, .org, and some overseas sites. Academic libraries also draw inlinks mainly from .edu and .com sites. The results reveal that there is little interaction between public libraries in the United States and U.S. universities, and this calls attention to the need for more collaboration between the two types of organizations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As authentication and access management systems and procedures in libraries have transitioned from paper to digital and have become more ubiquitous, new considerations regarding the ethical implications of these systems have arisen. Digital authentication and access management raises concerns about privacy, identifiability, and disclosure of patron-related data. Library patron confidentiality is protected by law in a number of states. But privacy considerations have often been missing from technical and other authentication discussions, possibly due to a general lack of best practice guidelines addressing these challenging issues. This article analyzes the privacy and ethics issues that authentication and access management in libraries raise, reviews applicability of the canon of Fair Information Practices for ethical guidance in library policies, and discusses best practices for libraries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Drawing upon findings from a national survey of U.S. public libraries, this paper examines trends in Internet and public computing access in public libraries across states from 2004 to 2006. Based on library-supplied information about levels and types of Internet and public computing access, the authors offer insights into the network-based content and services that public libraries provide. Examining data from 2004 to 2006 reveals trends and accomplishments in certain states and geographic regions. This paper details and discusses the data, identifies and analyzes issues related to Internet access, and suggests areas for future research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper examines the future of government libraries in an information landscape which increasingly differs from that which preceded it. Several of the changes are discussed, such as the growing prevalence of privatization and outsourcing, as well as the increasing availability of e-books and e-journals, and the impact these have on collection development and composition. Tile increasing desire on the part of government customers to achieve some method and manner of information security are highlighted, along with ways in which government libraries may meet this need. And, finally, this paper suggests that budgets will continue to be unstable for at least the next several years, and recommends ways in which vendors and government customers may mitigate the resulting effects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pennsylvania public libraries began receiving increased allotments of state aid in 2000. In the first two years of enhancement aid, total state aid received by Pennsylvania libraries more than doubled. This reversed the trend of little growth in the years preceding 2000. The enhancement aid program also redesigned certain categories of state aid to increase incentives for local government support. Based on the principles from the economics of grants literature, an empirical model was employed to test the effect of state aid on library expenditures in Pennsylvania counties. Grant response was estimated by employing two separate equations in which library expenditures and state aid were simultaneously determined. It was found that expenditure response was significantly higher in the first two years of enhancement aid than it had been previously. Further, state aid stimulated increased local revenue financing in most years and in most counties. However, the degree of stimulation decreased in many counties during the enhancement period, thus providing them with tax relief. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Many libraries are expending an increasing part of their collections budgets on electronic resources. At the same time many libraries, especially those which are state funded, face diminishing budgets and high rates of inflation for serials subscriptions in all formats, including electronic resources. Therefore, many libraries need to develop ways to evaluate and perhaps cancel, their subscription electronic resources, while still maintaining a viable research collection. The authors describe the quantitative decision grid evaluation process used at the University of Maryland at College Park Libraries to successfully complete a major electronic resources review and cancellation project. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Every democratic society relies on deliberation and dialogue between social groups with varying perspectives to provide for the representation of the diverse members of the society. Meaningful deliberation is based on open access to information by individuals and free exchange of information between different social groups. Policy developments in the United States since September 2001, however, have altered the roles of information in many social contexts, with impacts on information access and information exchange between social groups. These changes have the potential to be of great consequence to social and political uses of information in society. Libraries, as established guardians of diverse perspectives of information, are in a unique position to protect and preserve information access and exchange in this new policy environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The E-rate program has provided tremendous benefits to libraries, allowing many libraries and library systems to acquire technological equipment and services that would otherwise be too expensive, increasing the availability of public Internet access through libraries. This article analyzes the data related to the E-rate program and the discounts that it has provided to libraries and library systems between 2000 and 2004. By examining the E-rate data in a longitudinal manner, this article explores the trends in the application for and the provision of E-rate discounts to libraries and library consortia at national and state levels. The data suggest that, despite a number of controversies over the years, the program has provided a significant level of support for libraries and library consortia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article examines the changing image of academic libraries in Lithuania as of 2004. According to the Law of Libraries, there are several types of libraries represented in the Lithuanian library system. By the end of 2002, there were a total of 3,571 libraries in Lithuania comprising of the Martynas Mazvydas National Library of Lithuania, 5 other libraries of state significance, 1,405 public libraries, 15 state university libraries, 2,052 other libraries in educational institutions, and 93 other special libraries. Although all these types of libraries belong to different ministries, the Ministry of Culture is the institution authorized to regulate state administration of libraries in the republic of Lithuania. The Library Council of Lithuania is an institution that acts as an expert and consultant on the most important issues of library activity. If a Lithuanian academic librarian in Soviet times had been asked what his library was famous for, most of them fits of all would mention a big and rich collection that allowed the library to provide each student with a copy of the most needed textbooks. The modern library world was opened after the proclamation of independence, and since then many foreign librarians have visited Lithuania for the first time.

Traces some of the key changes in France's national library by detailing accounts given in popular and professional press about its transformation from Bibliotheque Nationale into Bibliotheque Nationale de France in Paris, between 1991 and 1993. Public debate over the evolution of the project; Changes in the collection focus; Cataloging and cooperation; Issues for librarians.

Public and school libraries in Brazil have not yet been universalized. Many are in a precarious state, and their functions are often confused. In order to demonstrate that such reality persists, some projects that were submitted to an Official Announcement (call for proposals), called "Construindo uma Minas Leitora" (Building an active reading Minas State), issued by the state of Minas Gerais, Brazil, for the establishment of public libraries, were selected and analyzed. Most of the projects evaluated showed that the function, target public, collection, and services offered by public and school libraries are often confused. Based on the literature and basic documents used in the formulation of the concepts of public and school libraries, it was found that the lack of public policies related to these two types of libraries leads to a vicious circle of lack of experience and knowledge in these libraries. Thus, the same precarious and inadequately structured existing models are used. Such situation, which results from the lack of public policies since the birth of the Brazilian nation, have persisted into the 21st century. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Discusses the correlation between information technology and the federal information policy. Reasons why information policy is important in shaping the evolution of societies; Complexity of information policy development; Need for insuring the public's right to transportation.

This paper presents the findings of research which explored Scottish school libraries' information provision and information literacy (IL) support in the run-up to two major political events: the 2014 Scottish Independence Referendum (SIR) and the 2015 General UK Parliamentary Election (GE). To do this, the project identified, through an online survey, what political information seeking secondary school students engaged in through school libraries, what information provision and IL support was available to students relating to political issues and events, and what barriers school libraries faced in providing these aspects of political education. It also identified what information seeking students engaged in, what levels of information provision and IL support relating to politics are provided by school libraries, and set out to explore the perceptions and experiences of library staff relating to work in this area. Analysis of the results indicates that there are mixed levels of provision across school libraries in Scotland and that this variation may be influenced by inconsistent policies from local councils and individual schools themselves, as well as variations in the experience and views of library staff. Key activities to support young people's political education are identified, and several reasons library staff do not engage in political work are discussed. The findings are linked to previous research, with a discussion of the need to encourage and support school library staff to contribute to the political education of students alongside teaching staff. Several recommendations for schools and library staff are made, relating to a consideration of the role of school libraries, how they can provide relevant political information, the importance of clear policies around political information provision and the support required for school library workers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Proposes some questions concerning national information policy (ies) as well as the application, implementation and effect of individual library information policies in the United States. Centralization at the federal government level; Purposes; Existing relationships; Impact on academic libraries.

The State Library of New South Wales holds the world’s most extensive collection on the European exploration and colonisation of Australia and its region and the subsequent development of Australia. Much is held about the Indigenous peoples, some created by Indigenous artists and chroniclers, but the majority by others including explorers, government officers, missionaries and settlers as well as the more recent ethnographers, historians and writers. Many of the records are fragmentary and hidden within documents dealing with other matters. The State Library is working to make these records available in consultation with Indigenous communities. It also seeks to include more and stronger Indigenous voices to reflect on Indigenous experience and provide commentary on the material in the Library’s collections. The Library’s partnership with the New South Wales public library network offers a means for engagement with communities as well as an opportunity to provide better services to Indigenous people. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Three men were the driving force behind the passing of the New South Wales Library Act by the New South Wales Parliament in the early hours of 3 November 1939: John Metcalfe, Geoffrey Cochrane Remington and William Herbert Ifould. This paper explores the ways in which their differences and their similarities melded to make this happen. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Research problem: Numerous suggestions have been made to improve library services for immigrants, especially for their initial stages of settlement. However, long-term residents have different expectations as regular library customers. In New Zealand, so far no researcher has investigated Japanese customers' experiences and expectations regarding their local libraries. Methodology: Twelve semi-structured interviews were conducted in Japanese, with Japanese women who were selected by criterion sampling. Guided by the principles of phenomenology, this qualitative research describes their experiences and expectations. It also analyses their perceptions based on the theories of acculturation and social learning. Findings: Most participants feel 'at home' in New Zealand, while maintaining their Japanese cultural values. Generally, how they use libraries now is significantly different from how they did as new users. The factors that motivate or restrict their library use are based on their 1) traditional views and 2) sense of belonging. Implications: The recommendations made could be useful in reviewing policies and practices of public libraries. Further study is required for other language communities and this study could be used as a guide. The findings and discussion could be valuable for the practitioners and academics regarding immigrant customers' perceptions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tertiary students who are also sole-parents experience challenges accessing the library services they need to complete their course work. One-on-one interviews with student sole-parents illustrate that disallowing student's children in the tertiary library is for them, problematic in varying degrees. Circumstances that affect student's access to the library include whether they are studying full-time or part-time; their ages, hence dependency of their dependents; and availability of personal support to the student. For these students, access to the library is compromised by their obligations to care for their children. This compromised access to the library (1) poses a barrier to using library resources, (2) impedes access to services that facilitate and support study activities, (3) diminishes their ability to engagement with learning material, (4) obstructs their access to Librarian expertise, and (5) diminishes their study experience. This is a single, small qualitative study and the results only relate to Unitec Institute of Technology, Waitākere campus. The study increases our understanding of how a library's policy that disallows children in the library for extended periods of time impacts and affects student-sole-parents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Preserving and providing access to local archives is one of the roles performed by public libraries in New South Wales. This role is not mandated, nor is it a stated priority for public libraries. Local government records are regulated by legislation, but what of the other records documenting the lives of rural and city communities? In many cases the library’s local studies collection becomes the default home of the archives of local community organisations and of individuals whose personal papers are acquired by libraries. In some cases, the library shares the role of maintaining local archives with historical societies, museums and universities. The result is a functioning example of distributed custody, where public libraries and other local institutions take responsibility for local archives. This paper is a case study that draws on two major surveys of local studies collections undertaken by the State Library of NSW, the first in 1984 and the second in 2013–2014. It concludes that public libraries have been critical for over 50 years in ensuring that local archives have been acquired and managed, despite there being no explicit regulatory or policy frameworks for doing so. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article is the study of public libraries in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in the light of current resources and policies in the Province. This study identifies the historical development and financial factors which have made the library services available to the public. Public libraries from all over the province including the 14 branch libraries at district level working under Directorate of Archives and Libraries have been covered. The data has been obtained through questionnaires, field trips, government documents and Directories of Archives and Libraries (DAL). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article deals with a description of public policies for the book, reading, literature and library in Brazil, from the creation of the National Book Institute in 1937 until the creation of the National Plan of the Book and Reading in 2006. It aims, through exploratory nature and documentary research, to present the importance of the State action in social policies and policies for the book, reading, literature and library; and it discusses the importance of these policies for the development of a reading population in Brazil from a relationship between reading and citizenship. At the end, it is expected to show the importance of public policies for these areas in order to contribute to the civic education of the population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]