Branch Libraries Research Articles

Small town leadership with big impact: Improving internal communication at a small public branch library

Effective communication among library staff is essential for fostering efficient operations, improving staff morale, and offering the best possible patron service. This paper reviews several strategies that were implemented at the Orange Park Public Library in order to improve internal communication. These include (1) identifying stakeholders, (2) developing communication systems, (3) implementing effective meetings, and (4) cross-training staff.

Book Review: “Octavian Goga” County Library Cluj, The National Association of Public Librarians and Libraries in Romania, Cluj Branch Library, Library Science for Beginners, 2018, Casa Cărții de Știință, Cluj-Napoca.

The handbook Library Science for Beginners is definitely a much-needed appearance in our editorial landscape. Coordinated by the Centre for Professional Development from „Octavian Goga“ County Library Cluj, the handbook contains chapters and subchapters written by librarians with experience, such as Diana Baciu, Aura Câmpan, Delia Chira, Ghizela Cosma, Tatiana Costiuc, Ana Maria Dudescu, Simona Floruțău, Octavia Hulpoi, Floarea Elena Moșoiu, Anca-Maria Pop, Monica Sărăcuț, Luminița Sima, Georgeta Topan, Liana Vescan, Adriana Zotea and last, but not least, by the manager Sorina Stanca. The volume was published with the help of the Cluj County Council. [...]

Paradigm of interaction between the Siberian Scientific Agricultural Library and agrarian research and educational institutions of the Siberian region

The article covers the main directions of joint work of scientific-research institutions (SRI) of agricultural profile in the Siberian region and Siberian Scientific Agricultural Library (SibSAL) functioning within the structure of the Siberian Branch of VASKHNIL (Russian Agricultural Academy) since its establishment in 1969 up to the reorganization period of science reform (2013-2021). The specificity of library and information activity of departmental library and multilevel model of interaction with institutes to satisfy information needs of scientists and specialists of agrarian research institutes in pre-reform period is presented. The results of monitoring the state of library and information activities in the institutes that have influenced the development of the new concept of interaction with SRI are presented. Based on the analysis of reorganization processes, a new structure of scientific organizations of the agricultural profile of Siberia is presented, which is the basis for the development of a new paradigm of interaction between research teams and the Siberian Scientific Agricultural Library, which received the status of a branch of the State Public Scientific and Technical Library of the Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences as a result of the reorganization. The analysis carried out in the conditions of reform and reorganization changes on the basis of a questionnaire shows new trends in expanding the range of interests of scientists to the possibilities of the information potential of the SibSAL as the largest branch library in the region. In the context of the change of management and the destruction of organizational and functional ties of agricultural research institutes that have become part of the regional centers of the SB RAS, the orientation to the development and strengthening of communications with the central academic libraries of the regions and the restoration of interaction with libraries of agricultural education on a new basis is noted. The definition of the system structure of agricultural research institutes and educational institutions of the region within the new boundaries of departmental relations of the Ministry of Agriculture, the Ministry of Science and Higher Education will allow establishing the vector of interaction of the SibSAL as a system-forming link. This will enable the development of the main functional areas of library and information activities in the Siberian region.

Legal and regulatory frameworks of library branch organizations in Ukraine

Legal and regulatory frameworks of library branch organizations in Ukraine

May I Borrow a Stapler? Is This All Students Ask at the Service Desk in a University Library?

Objective – The objective of the study is to increase the knowledge about what questions students ask at the library desk and what the purpose is of their use of the desk. Our focus has been on the physical meetings with the students. The aim is to contribute to the discussion on the future development of the library service desk. Methods – We recorded questions asked at the desks to explore how students use the library service desks. The recording, where library staff sorted questions into predefined categories, took place over four weeks between the years 2017–2018. Results – Our recording showed that 63% of the questions asked at the library service desks were about loan services, document delivery, and access to physical and electronic collections. Practical things such as opening hours, lost and found items, and the location of the group study rooms, accounted for 16% of questions. Questions about information technology (IT) made up 8% of questions. Finally, the results showed that 8% of the questions from the four weeks of counting were counselling and guidance questions, and 2% were about literature lists, reference management, and reference management tools. We found more questions about counselling and guidance in the spring weeks and more practical questions in the fall. We did not find any clear connection between the number of questions and the size of the branch libraries. Conclusion – By conducting this study, we have learned more about why students use the library desk. Our study shows that students come to the library desk to ask about a lot more than just borrowing staples. The results from the study will inform the development of the library desk service going forward.

May I Borrow a Stapler? Is This All Students Ask at the Service Desk in a University Library?

Objective – The objective of the study is to increase the knowledge about what questions students ask at the library desk and what the purpose is of their use of the desk. Our focus has been on the physical meetings with the students. The aim is to contribute to the discussion on the future development of the library service desk. Methods – We recorded questions asked at the desks to explore how students use the library service desks. The recording, where library staff sorted questions into predefined categories, took place over four weeks between the years 2017–2018. Results – Our recording showed that 63% of the questions asked at the library service desks were about loan services, document delivery, and access to physical and electronic collections. Practical things such as opening hours, lost and found items, and the location of the group study rooms, accounted for 16% of questions. Questions about information technology (IT) made up 8% of questions. Finally, the results showed that 8% of the questions from the four weeks of counting were counselling and guidance questions, and 2% were about literature lists, reference management, and reference management tools. We found more questions about counselling and guidance in the spring weeks and more practical questions in the fall. We did not find any clear connection between the number of questions and the size of the branch libraries. Conclusion – By conducting this study, we have learned more about why students use the library desk. Our study shows that students come to the library desk to ask about a lot more than just borrowing staples. The results from the study will inform the development of the library desk service going forward.

Local Content In Information Management

This article is an opinion paper on the pride of place of the nationally and internationally patronised and hence, celebrated contents of the Kenneth Dike Library (KDL) of the University of Ibadan, the first university library in Nigeria. The work traced the history of the Library from inception till date, emphasising the rarity, age, uniqueness and the yet relevancy of its contents in the face of the modern and emerging Information and Communications Technologies. The contents discussed include print and non-print materials (for instance, electronic resources and the institution’s repository, among others), artefacts, realia, pictures, drawings, processes, services, capacity, architecture, management and personnel deployed in the main and branch libraries of the University of Ibadan Library System. The author proffered reasons why the KDL is perceived the best among other university libraries in Nigeria and highlighted ten ‘firsts’ recorded by the Library in recent time which have further enhanced its reputation as the first and the best. The work concluded with a call on the private sector and good spirited individuals to support the federal government and the University of Ibadan towards achieving all the laudable goals of the KDL for now and the future.

What is a Library Website, Anyway? Reconsidering Dominant Conceptual Models

In late 2019, Thompson Rivers University embarked on a multi-phase website usability project beginning with a website user survey, to be followed shortly afterward by usability testing and interviews. While the survey was completed as planned, the COVID-19 pandemic closed the library and interrupted the usability testing phase. This interruption and the frantic website changes that followed led me to consider survey findings within the context of differing conceptual models of the library website as a whole. This study explores a number of conceptual models of the library website in further depth, considering evidence from both the existing literature and the user survey in addition to the researcher’s own experience making post-COVID website updates. Particular models that are examined include Website as Research Portal, Website as Extension or Representation of the physical library, and Website as Library Branch. Each of these conceptual models has different implications on priorities, structure, purpose, and resource allocation. Rather than considering the models of library employees superior or more advanced than those of students, I contend that an awareness of myriad ways to understand the website can best bridge the gap between library employees and other users. The study concludes that while there is no perfect model of the library website, considering and communicating our models may sharpen collegial decision-making structures and create greater unity of purpose within the library.

Терминология библиотечно-информационной сферы: современные тенденции

Some aspects of formation of Ukrainian library and information terminology and its transformation in modern conditions are considered, in particular tendencies of changes in terminology in the context of reforming of library branch in the conditions of informatization and its reorientation to the electronic environment. The need for normative regulation of the library and information sphere in accordance with international standards, development, harmonization and implementation of unified scientific terminology is noted.

Information seeking behavior among public library users: Understanding nature of information searching

Aim: The behavior of information seeking is the product of the need perceived by the information user, who makes demands for either formal or non-formal information sources or services, leading to attainment or failure. People look for information and use it to fulfill their assigned task while they engage in information finding activity. As an information providing agency, the mandate of the public library is to meet the needs of the public for information. The primary goal of the public library is therefore to provide information and services in a variety of media to meet the needs of individuals and groups. The Public Library is an organization that, through some other form of communal organization, has established, promoted and funded by society, either local, regional or national, or national government.Methodology: The study is designed to understand the behavior of users of public libraries in Kalutara, Horana, Sri Lanka and research samples comprising users of the one main library and three branch libraries. In this study, the survey method was used to select the participants, and the non-probability sampling method of the convenience sampling method was used. The response rate was 87 percent (n = 348).Findings: It is revealed, based on the current study findings that many public library users belong to communities of young age and students by occupation. Also, results indicate that most of the students were regularly visited by the public library in the metropolitan area of Horana. Their information-search activity therefore is primarily restricted to the curriculum and instructional purposes of the school. Therefore, library programs can be developed on the basis of youth categories.Implications/Novel Contribution: Present study has shown that inadequate material at the library is adversely affected by the way information is found and the use of the public library is obstructed. The current study found that the public library administrations would establish mechanisms for upgrading reading services, updating books, increasing existing capacity, attracting new service members, and offering e-learning resources to improve users’ ability to access information more efficiently. In order to establish a positive approach to consumers, staff should be well trained. The results of this research would provide a thorough understanding of the essence of public library users’ information searching activity. This would help scholars in identifying methodological gaps that they will follow up on in future studies.

Balancing Print and Electronic Collections in Public Libraries: Perspectives for a Changing World

Public libraries are of vital importance to their communities, providing access to information, shelter, services, and serving as an anchor for economic and social growth. As public libraries adapt to an increasingly digital world, they must address the balance of print and electronic materials to ensure that users have access to what they want and need. While public libraries’ print collections are decreasing at a slower rate than those of their academic counterparts, they are also facing increasing pressure to offer materials electronically. Public libraries must address challenges in tracking usage statistics as well as their users’ attitudes towards ebooks and print materials. Resource issues must be addressed, including costs and staffing. An increased desire for flexible space within library branches may also be a consideration impacting print collections. In addressing issues of accessibility, both print and electronic materials may create barriers in some instances while increasing access in others. The closure of many public library spaces during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 has introduced new issues, including limitations to access of print materials, new ease of access to online materials, and additional resource limitations as libraries work with limited budgets and staff. While the shift to online services during the COVID-19 pandemic has likely sped up the transition to increasing availability of online resources in public libraries, an appetite for print materials remains.

The Blossoming of the Library Garden: How One Library Is Engaging Families Outdoors

As twenty-first-century libraries create programming, they are finding innovative ways to engage children and families in lifelong learning through hands-on experiences.Outdoor nature spaces and gardens at public libraries are ideal environments for both formal and informal learning. In underserved, urban communities where greenspace is limited, providing a learning garden as a resource is especially valuable.Using Cuyahoga County Public Library’s (CCPL’s) Warrensville Heights (WVH) branch library as a case study, this article explores how a library in a low-income inner-ring suburb installed a children’s garden that led to numerous positive impacts. In October 2015, Sari Feldman, then executive director of Cuyahoga County Public Library in suburban Cleveland, Ohio, approached the staff of the WVH branch with the idea of developing a children’s garden at the branch. In Warrensville Heights, a community with a population of roughly thirteen thousand, many families live in apartments and lack access to green space. The area is aptly described as a “food desert,” where residents have little access to fresh produce.

‘Steady Ships’ in the COVID-19 Crisis: Australian Public Library Responses to the Pandemic

ABSTRACT This paper reports on part one of a multi-part research project investigating Australian public library responses to the requirement to close their physical sites due to the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. The aim was to examine how Australian public libraries responded to the crisis during their periods of closure in terms of services and resources, the challenges they faced, and the role locality played in their response. In total, 212 public library authority managers completed an online questionnaire survey in August 2020 representing 695 public library branch locations. The results showed that during their periods of closure of their physical sites, libraries established new services (e.g. wellbeing phone calls, delivery of craft kits to users) and expanded several existing ones, especially those related to e-resources. The biggest challenge reported was managing staff working arrangements. While most libraries kept permanent staff and fixed-term staff on full hours, most completely cut volunteers and casual staff hours. There were some geographic differences in the response of libraries to the crisis. Overall, however, whilst metropolitan, regional and remote public libraries faced immense challenges, especially regarding staffing and human resources, they were also able to respond rapidly and with agility to the challenges brought about by COVID-19.

Joint-use Libraries: Co-operation Between Public Libraries and School Libraries in Theory and Practice

Exploitation of school libraries by public libraries is strongly promoted by (local) politicians and decision makers. In the Netherlands this is influenced by a reform in the educational system in the 1990’s and the reconsideration of public libraries in the local area. The school library has become a marketing target. Public libraries and school libraries have varying roles. These roles are not similar but complimentary. Key factors for successful co-operation are the recognition of the role of the school library in the educational process and the competencies of the school librarian. As an example of a cooperation process, the establishment of a joint-use library in the brand new public library branch in the new district Ypenburg, will be described.

Welcome from the Editors

Welcome from the Editors

The Whole Campus Is the Library: A Four-Entrance Management Strategy of a Library

Discarding the traditional one-entrance design, the AHS library provides four entrances for readers. This multi-entry design brings challenges to the library management. However, with the school rationale and vision, freedom, autonomy, creativity, and energy, this new design tries to promote the use rate, to meet the demand of multi-learning, and to prepare all the students for further study. With the promotion of character education and with the trust on the students’ self-discipline, the AHS library insists no detection system be set by the entrance; thus the library becomes the field of learning how to behave themselves. To promote the use rate, the AHS library adopts digital and non-digital devices to extend its territory. The establishment of wireless network and the MOD system enable the teachers and students to access the needed information at every corner, the classroom shelves and reading groups erect a library branch in each space. Therefore, the conflicts of hybrid environments are reduced and the four entrances stand for not only the concrete entry but the multiple accesses to the library.

Role of information technology & the future of librarianship

There is a growing concern by scholars in the field of library and Information science on the way technology is gradually taking over certain jobs performed by librarians and Information professionals. This may be the reason why many of the scholars have submitted that the discipline of librarianship may cease to exist in a couple of years if nothing is done to solve the problem. In the light of this, this article seeks to identify ways in which technology has taken over certain aspects of the field of librarianship with the aim of proffering solutions and identifying other means in which the 21st century librarian can make himself relevant especially with the current dearth of employment opportunities. libraries, appear to be facing a very perilous predicament. Two of their major job responsibilities, developing subject collections and providing face-to-face reference service, are in rapid decline. Budget cuts, publisher packages for books and a transition to cost-per-use evaluations for journal subscriptions all clearly diminish the need for active collection development. Meanwhile, because of changes in information gathering habits, users increasingly approach reference librarians as a last resort. In addition, there seems to be a growing inclination among library administrators to question the importance of subject librarians in branch libraries. This is due to the well known fact that users have come to rely completely on electronic databases, notably Google and Google Scholar, and electronic journals. Keywords: Information technology, Libraries, librarians and librarianship.

Music Reference Services Pre-COVID-19: A Climate Survey in the Recent before Times

In the fall of 2019, the Music Library Association's Reference and Access Services Subcommittee surveyed academic librarians as to the following parameters regarding their music reference services: delivery methods, physical locations, staffing models, approaches to training, perceived effectiveness of services, and changes over time. Findings suggest that despite technological advances, most music reference help is delivered through in-person, email, phone, and chat. Just over half of respondents have only librarians addressing reference questions, while the remainder also use students and paraprofessionals. There was no meaningful difference in perceived effectiveness between the various staffing models. While only 19 percent of participants are situated in branch libraries for music, these locations experienced a higher increase in reference transactions and more outreach and instruction over the last five years and also ranked their reference services with more effectiveness. Additionally, respondents identified training and outreach as integral to the effectiveness of reference services and communicated their experiences with changes to service and staffing models.

Aaron Douglas and Aspects of Negro Life

In 1934, Aaron Douglas created an epic four-panel mural series, Aspects of Negro Life (1934), for the branch library on 135th Street in Manhattan, now the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture. The panels answered a call, issued by the first major program for federal support of the arts in the United States, to represent “an American scene.” In them, Douglas traced the trajectory of African American history in four stages and across two mass migrations: from Africa into enslavement in America; through Emancipation and Reconstruction; into the modern Jim Crow South; and then northward with the Great Migration to Harlem itself. The narrative Douglas constructed was remarkable in both its historical sweep and as a story of America seen through Black eyes. This essay explores how Douglas's approach to the trenchant and understudied Aspects of Negro Life panels was shaped by rich conversations across a decade-about what it meant to be Black in America, how the “African” in “African-American” was to be understood, and what a distinctly African-American modernism might be-with an interdisciplinary nexus of thinkers, activists, and artists that included W. E. B. Du Bois; a co-founder of the NAACP and co-editor of the Crisis, sociologist Charles S. Johnson; poet-activist James Weldon Johnson; bibliophile Arturo Schomburg; and philosopher-critic Alain Locke. Looking at Douglas's visual narrative in this context offers insight into how parallel practices of archive-building, art making, history writing, and criticism came together not only to shape a vision of America but also to champion a model of Black modernism framed through diaspora.

Formation of the Library of the Ural Branch of the USSR Academy of Sciences in 1932—1940

The article considers organization of information and library services for scientists of the Ural Branch of the USSR Academy of Sciences during the formation of academic science in the Urals in 1932—1940. The author discusses the activities of the Library of the Ural Branch of the USSR Academy of Sciences (now the Central Scientific Library of the Ural Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, the Central Scientific Library of the UB RAS) against the background of the development of the Branch, which experienced repeated attempts to reform and eliminate in the first years of its existence. Financial and personnel difficulties of those years affected both the activities of the Ural Branch of the USSR Academy of Sciences as a whole and the development of the Library. The turning point in the history of the Library of the Ural Branch of the USSR Academy of Sciences was its integration in 1939 into the Ural Institute of Physics and Technology, which had considerable material resources and personnel potential.Based on the library and previously unknown archival documents, the author makes the conclusion on the simultaneous formation of both collections — the Branch library and the Institute library, which later formed the unified library stock of the Library of the Ural Branch of the USSR Academy of Sciences. The article studies the development of each of these collections during 1932—1940. The author describes contribution of individual scientists to the development of the Library, the history of the appearance of some private collections in its holdings. The article provides information about the first employees of the institution.