Public Library Sector Research Articles

Introducing our Publications and Editorial Board

She started her publishing career at ProQuest, as Strategic Marketing Manager for the ChadwyckHealey portfolio, where she was responsible for managing established products and helping to develop and launch new databases. This experience gave Hannah a thorough grounding in digital products in both academic markets and the public and corporate library sectors. She later took on responsibility for international business development for technology products including Serials Solutions and an institutional repository offering.

Informing the public health

Why with an increase in the amount of health information, and ways of accessing it, so many people experience poor health? What is the role of health library and information professionals in improving public health? These questions are of great interest to me. There are many examples of initiatives, particularly in the public library sector, which address health issues, however they are often very local and best practice is not always shared. Clearly changing the health status of a population requires more than information, but information is clearly an essential component. If health information is to be effective in improving public health then we need to address health literacy, and this is where health library and information professionals can play a significant role. Through this journal and the other activities of the Health Libraries Group I hope we can share good practice and explore new ways that health library and information workers can improve the health of individuals and communities.

The Importance of political and strategic skills for UK library leaders

The main purpose of this paper is to discuss the political and strategic skills needed by library leaders in today’s library environment. The discussion is based on a small scale research project focused on opinions of skills needed by library leaders. The survey involved a questionnaire of librarianship students and library practitioners as well as interviews with established library leaders in both the academic and public library sectors in the United Kingdom. This is supported by an analysis of relevant literature. Analysis revealed some disagreement between the three groups of respondents on the importance of some of the leadership skills discussed, particularly those focused around ‘political awareness and sensitivity’. It is suggested, however, that these skills are becoming ever more vital as libraries need to prove their worth to funders in increasingly difficult financial circumstances for publicly funded institutions.

Evaluating the strategic plans of public libraries: An inspection-based approach

For public libraries, as with most organizations, effective strategic planning is critical to longevity, facilitating cohesive and coordinated responses to ever present and ever changing political, economic, social, and technological (PEST) forces which shape and influence direction. Strategic planning is widely recognized as a challenging activity, however, which can be both time consuming and unproductive, and there exists limited guidance regarding how to evaluate documented and disseminated strategic plans, particularly within the not-for-profit sector. In response, this research proposes and tests an inspection-based approach to the evaluation of strategic plans, based upon a rubric specifying the key attributes of each of the core components of a plan, combined with an appropriate assessment scale. The rubric provides a method to identify and assess completeness of strategic plan, extending to qualitative assessment of communication aspects such as specification and terminology, and synergistic aspects such as cohesion and integration. In the most comprehensive study of its kind to date, the method is successfully trialed across the devolved Scottish public library sector, with the strategic plans of 28 of the 32 regional networks evaluated. Of the 28 plans, 17, or 61%, were found to be incomplete and/or to contain contradictory or uncoordinated components. It is recommended that Scottish public libraries improve not only completeness of plans, but also their precision, specificity, explicitness, coordination, and consistency, and overall mapping to library services. Recommendations are made for further widespread application of the rubric.

Summary from The Committee on the Public Libraries in the Knowledge Society

This article describes the strategic and political work in the public library sector in Denmark resulting in a strategy report The Public Libraries in the Knowledge Society, published in 2010. This report provides a framework for understanding the current situation of the libraries and gives recommendations for library leaders and policy makers in the field.

Methods for demonstrating the value of public libraries in the UK: a literature review

This paper summarises the findings of a report commissioned by the Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals' (CILIP) Library and Information Research Group (LIRG) to produce a comprehensive review of existing quantitative and qualitative evaluation methodologies for demonstrating the value of public libraries in the United Kingdom (UK). 
 A thorough literature review of existing research was carried out and an investigation into best practices for evaluating impact was conducted. A wide range of journals and books published within the fields of library and information science and social research have been consulted. Relevant White Papers and Reviews; such as those published by the Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals (CILIP), the Scottish Library and Information Council (SLIC); the Museums, Libraries and Archives Council (MLA), the Department of Culture, Sport and Media (DCMS); and the American Library Association (ALA) have been analysed. Additional online searches helped to identify models of best practice; and the most up to date methods currently in use for measuring value outside of the UK. 
 During the early stages of the literature review it became clear that a limited amount of research has been carried out in the UK field of public library valuation. Although academic researchers at Loughborough, Sheffield and Strathclyde University have published various journal articles and reports on this topic there is a lack of evidence that local authorities have been implementing the methodologies that the academics have recommended. Although it is possible that some local authorities may be working in isolation to implement bespoke evaluation methodologies it has been difficult to uncover examples of best practice in the UK. Therefore, as the literature review progressed the author expanded beyond the UK public library sector, and into the broader areas of economics, sociology and psychology. This enabled a more thorough understanding of the increase in evaluations, incentives, benchmarking, objective setting, accountability; and social and economic auditing. 
 It is anticipated that the findings of this research will help the sector to develop more appropriate models for demonstrating the value of public libraries in the 21st century. 
 The original report was compiled in June 2010.

Developing sustainable leadership capability in the Victorian State and public library sector

There have been substantial changes in the labour market over the past few years and survey results indicate 60% of staff will leave public library service over the next decade. While this creates opportunities for library staff, limited training budgets and a focus on compliance and specific library skills training have led to a gap in the formal development of leadership skills. This paper explores the impetus for action and describes the strategies implemented to develop and support leaders for the future at the State Library of Victoria and within Victorian public libraries. It also considers the impact of these initiatives and the learnings. More specifically, it details the establishment of the Shared Leadership Program in 2006 by the State Library. The library recognised that leadership, at all levels of the organisation, was essential to successfully deliver a new extensive program of work and to prepare the workforce to adapt to changing roles and expectations. Learning Forums were also implemented to provide further opportunities to grow individual and collective leadership capabilities. In 2009, the Shared Leadership Program was extended to the Victorian public library network.

Training needs of general library workers Part 2:challenges facing the public library sector in South Africa

This academic peer-reviewed journal consists of articles related to information literacy, library management, information management, knowledge management, children's literature, ethics, globalisation, impact of the digital divide, technology, scholarly comminication, indigenous knowldege systems, open scholarship,etc.

Laser Foundation. Libraries Impact Project. PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, July 2005.

This report was commissioned by the Laser Foundation and carried out by PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP 'in response to the perceived urgent need for the public library sector to be able to demonstrate to local and national government the scale of its contribution to the interests of society'. The general aim was to define and measure in a reproducible way the full impact that libraries have in influencing and supporting their local communities and to ensure that robust data would be available to confirm evidence of impact.

Academic libraries and social and learning space

A key area of debate within the public and academic library sectors across the world is use of physical space. Changing ideas about what a library should be, coupled with the growth of digital collections, has raised fundamental questions about how library buildings are used and the role of space in library services. Alongside these drivers is the need for libraries to produce data on services to inform their future development and design. This article is a case study from Loughborough University in the UK to evaluate the use of a large open learning/social space in the library. The investigation employs an ethnographic approach to gather data, a method little used in the field. Findings are explored under the following themes: collaborative study, individual study, social space, intrusions and interruptions, use of technology, diversity, library staff/library materials and spatial organization. The role of ethnographic studies within the library context is considered alongside the broader theoretical considerations of the use of physical space.

The entrepreneurial library

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to provide an overview of the recent Axiell conference on entrepreneurial activities in relation to libraries in the public sector.Design/methodology/approachProvide an overview of the conference.FindingsProvides an overview of the conference.Research limitations/implicationsProvides an overview of the conference subject to the author's interpretation.Practical implicationsProvides case studies and thoughts on entrepreneurship from the public library and other sectors which could be used to spark ideas for libraries in the public sector and beyond to help reinvent their services and offerings in the wake of Google, Amazon and other “competitor” services.Originality/valueOf interest to librarians in the public sector and beyond, in the UK and Nordic countries and further afield. A shorter version of this paper appears on the Axiell web site.

Membership of the Library and Information Association of South Africa (LIASA) among library and information science workers in KwaZulu-Natal

A study was undertaken in 2007 among library and information service (LIS) workers in KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) to investigate LIASA membership trends. The objectives of the study were to investigate: 1) the extent to which workers in library and information services in KwaZulu-Natal are members of LIASA; and 2) the reasons for non-membership, if there are substantial numbers of LIS workers who are not members. The purpose of this paper is to report on the main findings of this study. The study surveyed three types of library services in KwaZulu-Natal, namely, academic, public and special libraries with 330 LIS workers participating in the study. A census was done of LIS workers in special libraries and in academic libraries of public higher education institutions in KZN. Simple random sampling was used to select public libraries in KZN for participation in the study. All staff in the selected sample of public libraries were surveyed. A self-administered questionnaire was used to gather the required data from the target population. It was established that a significant number of LIS workers in all three types of libraries surveyed in KZN are not members of LIASA for various reasons. LIASA has been unable to draw significant membership from the support staff category in LIS services despite its constitution claiming to embrace all LIS workers. The study recommends that LIASA market itself more aggressively to increase membership levels particularly in the public library sector and among support staff in all LIS services. It also recommends that LIASA should consider involving itself in the industrial concerns of the LIS sector.

RFID in Australian Academic Libraries: Exploring the Barriers to Implementation

Since 2002, radio frequency identification (RFID) systems have been installed in a growing number of Australian libraries. The institutions embracing the technology are to be found in the public, school and special library sectors. As of February 2008, no Australian academic library has installed a RFID system. This article briefly introduces RFID and outlines the benefits offered to libraries and suggests a range of factors that might contribute to the lack of the technology’s penetration into the Australian academic library sector.

Developing public library managers as leaders

PurposeThe paper's aim is to present findings of the recent evaluation of the Leading Modern Public Libraries development programme with reference to the management versus leadership dynamic. The programme provided a strategic intervention to address a perceived weakness in leadership development within the public library sector in England.Design/methodology/approachDrawing on recent examples from the literature, the theoretical differences between the concepts of management and leadership are discussed and used to inform consideration of the programme's effectiveness. Evaluation methods included participant observation, interviews, focus groups and a questionnaire survey, each administered at various stages of the programme with a representative sample of programme participants. Verbatim quotations from evaluation respondents are included in the analysis.FindingsThe research reveals that the programme has had a positive impact in enabling and developing leadership capacity within the sector, particularly in terms of developing participants' confidence and other interpersonal traits associated with effective leadership, including creativity and risk taking. Perceived benefits and limitations of the public library context in which the course was delivered have also been identified.Practical implicationsImportant considerations on the transition from effective management to leadership, and the identification, support and development of future leaders within organisations are presented, with implications for current public library leaders, trainers and facilitators within the field.Originality/valueThe paper shows that the programme and its evaluation represent a strategic development initiative on an unprecedented scale in the public library sector.

Reading Africa: Presentation at the Scolma Annual Conference 7TH June 2006

1. Introduction Reading Africa began as a project support the publicising of the list of Africa's 100 Best Books with an event held at the British Council on the 30th January 2003, generally regarded as having been very successful, which had the main aim of contributing to raising awareness of, and interest in, African writing and publishing and encourage reading of African books in the and which was supported by four specific objectives: 1. To publicise the list of Africa's 100 Best Books of the 20th Century 2. To raise awareness of the potential of the list for reading promotion, learning about Africa and African writing and publishing, and encouraging the wider dissemination of African-authored books 3. To bring together key players in achieving the dissemination and promotion of African-authored books, including publishers, writers, booksellers and distributors, librarians, book and reading promotion organisations, educators and African-interest groups 4. To facilitate and encourage networking and the emergence of practical marketing, promotional and educational initiatives The Reading Africa programme was developed by SABDET. Working with the British Council and in consultation with Book Aid International (BAI) a number of project areas were defined. 2. Reading Africa project areas The main project areas developed were as follows: 1. Reading Promotion - selecting titles and targeting their take up by readers in the context of encouraging engagement with the process as a whole 2. Linking UK and Africa - developing activities which can be implemented in parallel in both the UK and Africa 3. Literary Festivals and Book Fairs - encouraging commitment including African writers and African-authored books in their programmes 4. Seminars and Conferences - developing professional awareness of Reading Africa and consideration of specific elements The Reading Promotion was intended have the most significant and widest impact, but the integration of all the elements into a concentrated strategy of profile raising and audience development was important. Achieving synergy and multiplying effects throughout the programme was a key aim. 3. Reading Africa A very effective Reading Africa promotion package was produced. 30 titles of adult literary fiction by African writers were selected and presented in a handy 32 page booklet together with banners, A3 and A4 display headers and showcards and postcards. The design and quality of production were positively received wherever they were shown. Good design, high quality production and efficient distribution were originally thought be critical and the results fully justified this. Take up by the public library sector in the UK fell short of the original aim of 50% of the 208 Public Library Authorities in the UK (149 authorities in England, 22 in Wales, 32 in Scotland and 5 Boards in Northern Ireland). 47 libraries ordered a total of 60 sets. Only 2 libraries in Scotland and 1 library in Wales placed orders and there were no orders from Northern Ireland. Orders in England tended come from libraries in the major urban areas. Rather than run the promotion as a specific event libraries tended integrate it with Black History Month events and it was viewed as very effective and useful in this regard. Working with the material was reported be of great benefit by the librarians. Promotion take up in Africa through the British Council exceeded original projections. The British Council actually purchased 40 sets of the promotion against the 20 originally envisaged. All British Council libraries in Africa received the promotion although the number of partner public libraries in Africa was reduced six. The British Council reported a very positive response the promotion from all libraries. 4. Linking UK and Africa An important element in Reading Africa was the linking of activities in the UK with Africa and the linking of readers and libraries in the UK and in Africa. …

Alternative funding and the public library sector: an explanatory overview with reference to South Africa

Alternative funding and the public library sector: an explanatory overview with reference to South Africa

Unity reaps rewards: an integrated UK ILL and resource discovery solution for libraries

Purpose – The purpose of this article is to explain the developments which have led to the award of a UK wide resource sharing service to OCLC/PICA.Design/methodology/approach – Provides a narrative and descriptive approach.Findings – The UnityUK platform comprises three existing integrated software applications. The platform encapsulates the requirements of resource sharing, from discovery through to delivery. More importantly, it offers an end user interface for library borrowers, including the ability to authenticate and request an item from anywhere in the country.Originality/value – The article provides insights into the current complex and rapidly changing situation for interlending and resource sharing in the UK – particularly in the UK public library sector.

The central role of leaders in public libraries

PurposeAims to explore the topic of leadership as perceived and practised by public library leaders. Library leaders have a wide‐ranging impact on society but have been largely overlooked as the subject of serious study. The current study seeks to investigate the perspectives of public library leaders beyond national boundaries in order to develop an understanding of the perceptions of current leaders in the field of public librarianship.Design/methodology/approachA total of 30 senior public library leaders were selected for in‐depth face‐to‐face interviews in three national jurisdictions – Ireland, the UK, and the USA.FindingsThe study of the perceptions of senior public library leaders, across national boundaries, makes a theoretical contribution not just to leadership in librarianship, but also to the broader literature on organizational leadership. Nine main thematic areas emerged from the findings. One of these themes, the centrality of leadership to librarianship, is the particular focus of this paper.Practical implicationsThe findings support the centrality of leadership for optimal strategic and operational practices in the field of public librarianship. The challenge for the public library sector is to identify and consider the leadership skills and personal attributes that are essential to success.Originality/valuePresents a representative sample of insights, reflections and assessments from participating public library leaders regarding the centrality of leadership to librarianship.

The Nordic Countries: cultural and library cooperation

Denmark, Norway and Sweden form the region of Scandinavia, but they are also a part of the Nordic region, ‘Norden’, which consists of five countries and three autonomous areas. The Nordic countries established the Nordic Council, an organized cooperation on the parliamentary level, in 1952. Under the umbrella of ‘Norden’ there are a great number of institutions, committees and institutional bodies, many of them in the cultural field. The Nordic Literature and Library Committee (NORDBOK) supports various projects and initiatives aimed at promoting Nordic literature and gives translation grants for a considerable number of books each year. The library aspect of the committee’s work is directed towards the public library sector. At the top of the Nordic agenda in 2005 is the question of language. Eight languages are spoken in the region, but there is a Nordic linguistic community based on the three Scandinavian languages. The Nordic linguistic community provides a foundation for cultural cooperation and a necessary platform for collaboration in many other fields.

Branding in the United Kingdom public library service

Purpose – To provide an overview of branding activity in the UK public library service.Design/methodology/approach – A review of branding literature was undertaken. The primary research was conducted over a four‐week period and consisted of a questionnaire survey distributed to heads of services in order to gain data regarding branding of the service.Findings – The research indicated that heads of service do give consideration to branding in their marketing plans. Branding properly planned and developed may be one way in which the public library service can raise its image and allow employees to take ownership of the service.Research limitations/implications – Owing to the time element involved in the gathering of data responses were not as high as previously anticipated.Practical implications – A good insight into the application of branding in the UK public library sector which would interest practitioners and academics alike.Originality/value – Contributes to the domain of knowledge which is weak in th...