Library Service Model Research Articles

AnyAbility: creating a library service model for adults with disabilities

PurposeThis paper aims to illustrate the importance of a cultural shift to fully embrace and serve persons with cognitive, intellectual or physical disabilities into the library community.Design/methodology/approachThrough a combination of staff training, age- and ability-appropriate programming, accommodating service models, management-led expectations and partnerships, Anythink Libraries in Thornton, Colorado, implemented AnyAbility – a program designed especially for adults with disabilities – in April 2014.FindingsAnyAbility’s success has led to a number of positive impacts, including increased services and collaboration, shifts in user patterns and independent visits and a more inclusive library environment in which staff have increased awareness and a stronger interaction with this population.Originality/valueThe program has transformed the lives of the staff who work at Anythink Wright Farms and the community of Anythinkers who use transformations, the AnyAbility programming has been offered at multiple Anythink locations and libraries from across the country have contacted Anythink for inspiration and advice on programs and training on this topic. Most importantly, this approach has transformed the library experience for customers, specifically adults with cognitive disabilities.

Serving Underserved Populations: Implications from a Model of Successful Services for Deaf Children in Public Libraries

There is a current movement in public libraries towards increasingly inclusive programming. This research presents the findings from a study of library programs for deaf and hard of hearing (D/HoH) children. Using the grounded theory approach, it highlights the successful practices of U.S. public libraries working with D/HoH children. Nearly five hundred mediumand large-sized libraries were contacted; fifteen librarians volunteered to be interviewed and eleven were ultimately interviewed. Interviews were analyzed using open and axial coding. Based on the empirical data, the Model of Successful Library Services for D/HoH Children was developed. The model explains the services, early literacy instruction, and programs offered by public librarians to D/HoH children and identifies four stages of service delivery which highlight: (1) staff attitudes; (2) impetus for providing services for D/HoH patrons; (3) accommodations through inclusive programming, American Sign Language (ASL) programming, or visual phonics; and (4) outcomes of this work in terms of educating both hearing and D/HoH individuals and of building a sense of community. This paper focuses on the Model of Successful Library Services for D/HoH Children to determine whether its four stages of service may also be applied to other marginalized populations in order to facilitate successful library programming.

Converged and professional: the model of archive, library and museum services at the University of Edinburgh’s Centre for Research Collections

This paper considers a practical example of the benefits of close cooperation between the different professional disciplines of archives, librarianship and museum curation. In 2008 the University of Edinburgh opened a new Centre for Research Collections in the Main Library, to bring together for the first time all the main heritage collections and make them available to users in the same space. The benefits of co-location were much greater than anticipated from the perspectives both of users and of staff development. User demand has increased from around 8,000 consultations per year to around 25,000, with a high level of support for being able to access different collection formats through the same on-site or online journey. Staff from different professional backgrounds work together on project development, service improvements and with the integrated open digital collections. Specific benefits to the archives have included a strong presence in the Centre’s exhibitions, working with the museum professiona...

Creating a Father-Friendly Library: An Examination of the Importance of Fatherhood Support in Today's Library Service Model

Creating a Father-Friendly Library: An Examination of the Importance of Fatherhood Support in Today's Library Service Model

能動的図書館サービスモデル，エンベディッド・ライブラリアンをめぐって：:アメリカにおける展開と日本における同様事項の追究（特集・第58回研究大会グループ研究発表）

能動的図書館サービスモデル，エンベディッド・ライブラリアンをめぐって：:アメリカにおける展開と日本における同様事項の追究（特集・第58回研究大会グループ研究発表）

Embedding library services in research stages: Chinese subject service and the research lifecycle model

Through in-depth interviews, we analyzed user needs at different stages of scientific research, and constructed a library service model that can be practically integrated into all research stages. This article highlights the subject service model in use in Chinese academic libraries and demonstrates how it can work to support researchers across the research life-cycle.

Leveraging Librarian Liaison Expertise in a New Consultancy Role

ABSTRACT This paper presents a case study of an advisory role that librarians successfully developed with faculty editors to increase the visibility and readership of an open access scholarly publication. The study represents an example of how expertise among liaison librarians and other library service professionals can be leveraged in new consultancy roles in support of evolving library service models. It also depicts local application of a hybrid model for librarianship that combines the functional specialist and subject librarian liaison roles in implementing advisory activities and recommendations. The liaison librarians successfully used their knowledge of scholarly communications and applied innovative bibliometric analysis to help enhance the discoverability and user experience of an online journal publication. The librarians made specific recommendations for optimizing journal website content organization, search functionality, metadata standards and marketing opportunities that were subsequently implemented by the editors and platform managers. The faculty editor places a high value on these recommendations, and the librarian advisory role continues to develop. Our study also outlines many of the essential considerations that scholar-editors and librarian advisors can use to help implement open access scholarly publishing projects successfully.

Who was to Blame? The Genealogy of the “Anglo-American” National Library Service Model

As the emerging nations of Anglophone Sub-Saharan Africa achieved political independence, most of them attempted to create national library services that would, from a central headquarters located in the capital city, develop public libraries, first in the provinces or regions and then at district or branch level. This “national library service” model, which has been generally considered to be an “Anglo-American” import, has been widely condemned as one of the factors inhibiting public library development in Africa. From a historical perspective it offers an interesting example of colonial and post-colonial influence. Although the idea of the free public library is undoubtedly of Anglo-American origin, nation-wide public library structures have neither British nor US antecedents. Who, therefore, should be credited with, or blamed for, this idea? In this paper there is considered a number of “suspects”, with emphasis on the influences converging at, and radiating from, the 1953 Ibadan Seminar on the Development of Public Libraries in Africa, before concluding that the wide dissemination of the model in Anglophone Africa cannot be attributed to the influence of a few prominent library personalities, to the Seminar, or to the authority of UNESCO or IFLA alone. Rather, it must be seen in terms of pragmatic, albeit ideologically coloured, responses to the colonial situation, developed in the context of the decolonization process, the Cold War, and contemporary understandings of development.

Book Review: Academic E-Books: Publishers, Librarians, and Users

In their introduction to Academic E-Books: Publishers, Librarians and Users, editors Ward, Freeman and Nixon list the potential promises of e-books to libraries: they cannot be lost or damaged, they do not require staffing to check-in and out and shelf, they take up no space, they can be purchased on demand, they can be checked out by multiple users, and they are often searchable. These promises are particularly enticing when so much scholarship is done through online journal databases and when library service models are shifting from a focus on physical collections to an emphasis on creating spaces for collaborative scholarship. However, e-books also present challenges that the editors summarize in two statements: “1) lack of sufficient content and 2) users’ stated preference for print books in many cases” (2). The Academic E-Books contributors flesh out these issues through specific examples from the publishing industry, libraries, user experience and case studies. They also demonstrate how libraries are combatting challenges to successfully integrate, and in some cases replace print with, e-book collections.

Social networks and relational capital in library service assessment

Purpose – Researchers and administrators have struggled to fully understand the value of library human resources for decades. There are many approaches to counting the activities of library staffs, but less is understood about the value of developing and maintaining relationships. Given the growing importance of engagement-focussed, expertise-based service models in research libraries, the failure of library assessment models to account for the relational value of librarian activities is problematic in justifying and incentivizing new strategic activities and understanding the importance of libraries’ relationships with users and other stakeholders. The social network perspectives now commonplace in organizational studies to provide relational and contextual understandings of organizational behavior could be applied to library performance measurement and evaluation, providing a fuller picture of library impact. The purpose of this paper is to address this conceptual gap in the evaluation of library services. Design/methodology/approach – The first part of the paper will present a content analysis of recent literature on emerging service models in academic libraries to identify relational aspects of the models. The relational elements will then be mapped to major concepts and methods from the social network analysis literature. This will include, as appropriate, basic network properties such as transactional content (e.g. exchange of power, services, etc.) of the relationship, nature (e.g. intensity, reciprocity, embeddedness) of the relationship, and structural characteristics of library networks. It will also identify more advanced areas of analysis such as the development of social capital, diffusion of innovations and contagion, and the role of networks in providing access to organizational resources. After mapping relational elements of emerging library service models to social network theory, a research agenda for better understanding library social networks and their value will be proposed. Findings – Social network theory offers a rich conceptual and methodological framework for understanding the relational value of library services, particularly in emerging engagement-centered views of librarianship. Although activity- and outcome-based models of assessment are still important in the assessment of library activities, a social network view of library relationships is an essential complement in providing a more complete view of library value and will complement other work in this area such as human capital valuation and the relational capital components of the values scorecard. Originality/value – This paper presents a unique theoretical and methodological viewpoint on the assessment of library services. This will contribute to the understanding of a vexing problem in library assessment, the value of library human resources, by providing a framework for the measurement and evaluation of relational aspects of librarianship that are often viewed as intangible and unmeasurable.

English

Traditional models of libraries offering information services are not working for current generation of students. Thecurrent generation of library users can be termed as‘digital natives’. These digital natives have grown up in an environment surrounded by rapidly evolving technologies. This means that today’s academic library users think about technology and information differently than previous generations, and expect instant access to information. They can also be called ‘netGen’ users. With this kind of environment and expectations, academic libraries need to evolve by changing to offer user-oriented services and following users into their social spaces by allowing users to participate in the creation of content, keeping the users constantly updated and building services based on their feedback. To achieve this, libraries need to incorporate web 2.0 tools in the way they provide services. Some of the tools to take advantage of include creation of blogs, wikis, flickr, youtube, facebook, RSS feeds, socialbookmarks, microblogs, mashups and slideshare among others. Another obvious change noted today and especially in Kenya is the development of university campuses all over the country. For most of these campuses, one will find small rooms as libraries; with minimal resources and a few staff members. This is a challenge and library 2.0 being a combination of both physical and virtual spaces and services can offer solution to such campuses. In addition, many universities are offering distance learning and evening programmes to cater for the working class people who want to advance their careers. Do they have to come all the way to visit the library to get information for their studies? No. Library 2.0 is their way out and therefore academic libraries have to invest in these tools, in addition to off-campus access to e-resources. This paper will discuss library 2.0 as the new model of information provision to library users and especially in the academic world. The library 2.0 tools and technologies will be discussed and how they can be applied in an academic library. Keywords: Library 2.0, Web 2.0, academic libraries, library service models, information services.

Strategic Management in Academic Libraries with Reference to Users Perspective

The rapid growth of digital technologies and electronic communications in academic libraries has dislocated the model of traditional library service, which was a long hold from the past century. The arrival of internet technology and the explosive growth of electronic content available on the web made the services of the academic libraries uncertain and creating challenges in rendering users services as per their requirements. This article attempts to provide a strategy for academic libraries applying principles and practices of strategic management highlighting the Ansoff matrix (model) in order to face the impediments coming in the way of providing better services to their users.

Tracking the Impact of Changes to a Provincial Library Service Model: The Results of Two Satisfaction Surveys

<strong>Abstract: Introduction:</strong> Alberta Health Services (AHS) was created in 2009, merging 12 former health regions and three provincial health authorities. Library services that had previously operated independently across the province were amalgamated into a single provincial entity, Knowledge Resource Service (KRS). A survey of library services was conducted in 2011. Subsequent to that survey, the provincial library service underwent major changes, which culminated in the launch of a provincial library website in August 2013. Another survey was conducted in 2014 to determine the impact of these changes. <strong>Methods:</strong> AHS staff and physicians were surveyed in 2011 and 2014 using an electronic survey tool. The survey results were analyzed using descriptive statistics and the results reported as percentages. <strong>Results:</strong> This paper addresses the questions that are comparable between the two surveys. There were 1195 responses to the 2011 survey and 721 to the 2014 survey. Respondents in 2014 had less difficulty accessing the library website. Additionally, more respondents reported that using library resources prevented the occurrence of adverse events, from 13% in 2011 to 36% in 2014. <strong>Discussion:</strong> The drop in respondents reporting difficulties accessing information via the library website suggests that the new service model is effective in removing access barriers, enhancing the effectiveness of information resources for AHS staff and that the easier to find resources are helping to prevent adverse events.

The Construction and Research of Library Service Based on the Cloud Service

Cloud computing is still in the stage of rapid development. So in this article the origin and concept of cloud computing will be summarized in detail, the character, basic structure of the cloud computing and its application and impact in each field will be analyzed strongly. In the cloud computing environment, the construction and service of digital library has changed greatly. The cloud storage based on digital library,the digital library infrastructure integration and construction based on cloud service, and even the library automation based on cloud computing, all of these need to research deeply in library field in the cloud computing. Besides,the changes of digital library service model based on cloud computing are also the one of the important content. In this article three kinds of service model is proposed:personalized cloud platform service model based on the needs of the users, user active push-service model and sharing cloud platform service model. Structure model is designed respectively, the working process and model of service model is explained, and their application scope is analyzed in this article.

The review of the organization of library services for the blind and partially sighted in the selected countries

ABSTRACTPurpose: Models of organization of library services for the blind and partially sighted from the view of special and public librarianship in selected countries were examined. In addition, theoretical and legislative frameworks, professional guidelines and trends are explored. Some terminological inconsistencies and obstacles in performing the services are also presented.Methodology/approach: The explorative-comparative study carried in the years 2008-2010 includes the comparative analysis of data acquired by the survey and literature desktop research. The research sample included 14 countries – eleven European countries, USA, Australia, and Canada.Results: The findings show great varieties among the selected countries, however, there is the trend of moving the organization of services based on a private charitable association to the formalized state supported system. The majority of countries have applied the centralized model with one specialized (national) library. There is rarely a case of formal inclusion of public libraries in the organization of services. Recent major professional interests in the field of providing library services to visually impaired are broadening the copyright exceptions and user groups, and the implementation of information technology for bigger production of alternative formats and availability of library materials.Research limitation: The low rate of survey response and the differences in the organization of library services influenced on the lack of data and low level of data comparability.Originality/practical implications: The results are useful for designing a model of library services in Slovenia.

Getting Started with Cloud Computing: A LITA Guide

Getting Started with Cloud Computing: A LITA Guide

Using the results of a satisfaction survey to demonstrate the impact of a new library service model

In 2005, the University of Calgary entered into a contract to provide library services to the staff and physicians of Alberta Health Services Calgary Zone (AHS CZ), creating the Health Information Network Calgary (HINC). A user satisfaction survey was contractually required to determine whether the new library service model created through the agreement with the University of Calgary was successful. Our additional objective was to determine whether information and resources provided through the HINC were making an impact on patient care. A user satisfaction survey of 18 questions was created in collaboration with AHS CZ contract partners and distributed using the snowball or convenience sample method. Six hundred and ninety-four surveys were returned. Of respondents, 75% use the HINC library services. More importantly, 43% of respondents indicated that search results provided by library staff had a direct impact on patient care decisions. Alberta Health Services Calgary Zone staff are satisfied with the new service delivery model, they are taking advantage of the services offered, and using library provided information to improve patient care.

An Innovative Use of Instant Messaging Technology to Support a Library's Single-Service Point

A library service model that provides reference and instructional services by summoning reference librarians from a single service point is described. The system utilizes Libraryh3lp, an open-source, multioperator instant messaging system. The selection and refinement of this solution and technical challenges encountered are explored, as is the design of public services around this technology, usage of the system, and best practices. This service model, while a major cultural and procedural change at first, is now a routine aspect of customer service for this library.

Library 2.0 versus other library service models: A critical analysis

Literature on library service models is scarce and exists mainly in non-traditional formats such as blog entries and webpages. Nonetheless, the subject evokes heated debate among librarians with many supporting the model they are using, sometimes without understanding that there are other options which perhaps could be better for their circumstances. Through critical documentary analysis, this study explores the library service models that exist as well as how they compare with each other. The findings have revealed that although there are many library service models, it is not possible to get a clear-cut model which is exclusive of all the others in practice. It is also evident that the models are continuously evolving along general socio-economic and technological development patterns in society. Similarly, the study suggests that none of the models can suit all library service provision contexts. However, it is also apparent that some models may yield more benefits than others to specific library communities at a particular time. In deciding the model to apply, libraries should be careful to accommodate the prevailing characterization of their user communities and their contexts.

Investigating the information needs of nomadic students in Iran

This article reports on a study designed to find out the information needs of nomadic students in Iran in order to present a library service model to meet their needs. The results show that the preferred information format of the majority of students was print, especially books. Most of the students stated that they were in need of cultural and medical non-educational books. The study led to improved and expanded library services for respondents who are deprived of such services, including audiovisual services, extending the book collection, loaning books, advertising books and other publications, reference services, technical services and providing needed information to them. The paper presents for the first time a model for providing library services for nomadic students. Both practitioners and researchers in the nomadic library services domain will benefit from the synthesis offered in this paper, as it puts together convergent views on what nomadic students currently need.