It was prepared by a working group of members of the IFLA Public Libraries Section Committee. These factors present public libraries with a major challenge, and their response will determine the continued viability of public libraries.
Introduction
The public library, the local gateway to knowledge, provides a basic condition for lifelong learning, independent decision-making and cultural development of the individual and social groups.'.
Defining the public library
The purposes of the public library
- Education
- Information
- Personal development
- Children and young people
- Public libraries and cultural development
- The social role of the public library
An important role for the public library is to create a focus for cultural and artistic development in society and contribute to shaping and supporting society's cultural identity. It is sometimes called the 'community drawing room.' Using the library for research, education and leisure interests brings people into informal contact, which provides a positive social experience.
An agency for change
Freedom of information
The Australian Library and Information Association believes that library and information services have special responsibilities in supporting and preserving the free flow of information and ideas.
Access for all
Local needs
Local culture
The project was initiated by the Russian State Library within the federal target program "Culture of Russia". In Spain local history digitization projects funded by the Ministry of Culture include the OAI/PMH open repository and the Biblioteca Virtual de Prensa Historica (Virtual Library of the Historical Press).
The cultural roots of the public library
In each section there are lists of people and biographical information, along with up-to-date links to web resources and bibliography. The National Library of the Republic of Karelia is participating in a project to create a distributed system that identifies book monuments in Russia.
Libraries without walls
Australia's Gold Coast City Council was the first mobile library of its kind with three retractable pods that formed technology centers for adults and children. The mobile library gives residents of remote rural areas access to information and educational services, bridging the digital divide.
Library buildings
Bibliobus is the name of the modern mobile library center that usually provides up-to-date book collections, provides Internet access, specialized databases and audio-visual facilities for local educational and cultural events. The (more or less) bookless Danish children's library is designed with both children in mind and within the framework of today's knowledge society.
Resources
The Turku Main Library in Finland houses the 21st century architecture which enhances new innovative concepts for the library services provided. Hjørring Hovedbibliotek is described as Denmark's leading example of a public library in the 21st century, and the 'most spectacular and ultimate library place to be'.
Value of public libraries
IFLA/UNESCO School Library Manifesto. http://www.ifla.org/en/publications/iflaunesco-school-library-manifesto-1999 accessed http://www.ifla.org/publications/the-ifla-internet-manifesto. Copenhagen: The Swedish Library Agency. http://www.bs.dk/publikationer/english/library_policy/pdf/dlp.pdf can be accessed.
Introduction
The public library and government
Alternative structures
Therefore, non-governmental organizations or private foundations take on the practical operation of public library services. However, to ensure sustainable development and its role in the information network, the public library must be closely linked to and financed by the appropriate level of government.
National information policies
The ultimate goal should be to bring public libraries into the formal government structure operating under national law and with appropriate levels of funding. Argentina has established public libraries and makes them available through non-governmental organizations or organized communities regulated by national law.
E-Government services
Public library legislation
Related legislation
They also need to be aware of global trade negotiations that may result in policies and agreements that could seriously affect public libraries. In such cases, librarians should take every opportunity to inform the public and policymakers of the effects of such policies on public libraries.
Copyright
Library managers must be familiar with all legislation affecting the operation of a public library. After discussions with the Ministry of Culture and the Culture Committee of the Czech Parliament, changes were introduced in favor of libraries.
Public lending right
In the Czech Republic, the library association SKIP participated on its own initiative in the preparation of copyright legislation.
Funding
- Priorities
- Partnerships & collaborations
- Sources of funding
- Charging the customer
- Funding for technology
- External funding
This reduces access and therefore violates the fundamental principle that the public library should be available to all. They should be seen as a temporary situation rather than a permanent feature of public library funding.
The governance of the public library
For example, commercial organizations may offer funding on terms that could compromise the universal nature of the services provided by the public library. The public library in Tarragona, Spain, received funding from the city's companies to run a commercial and economic information service.
The administration of the public library
The concept of a 'library charter', which identifies and publishes the level of service provided by the public library, has been developed in some countries (see Appendix 3 for an example charter). State Library of Queensland, Australia, outlines standards and guidelines for a minimum set of operational services that enable the community to effectively access library facilities and the services and collections they offer (see Appendix 6).
Publicity and promotion
The public library as a gateway to the information society: revision of the IFLA guidelines for public libraries, proceedings of the IFLA/UNESCO Pre-Conference Seminar on Public Libraries, 1997. The public library network must be designed in relation to national, regional, research and special libraries as well as universities, colleges and schools.
Introduction
Public library services are provided on the basis of equal access for all, regardless of age, race, sex, religion, nationality, language or social status. Library services must be adapted to the different needs of rural and urban communities."
Identifying potential customers
The library must establish priorities based on an analysis of actual and potential customer needs and related to their access to alternative services.
Analysing needs within the community
Services to customers
- Service provision
- Services to children
- Services for young adults
- Services for adults
- Lifelong learning
- Leisure time interests
- Information services
- Services to community groups
- Services to special customer groups
- The library in the community
- Reading promotion and literacy
- Information literacy
A list of some of the resources that the library must provide is detailed in Paragraph 4.3.1. The public library must be the center of the community if it is to play a full role in its activities.
Customer care
Customer participation
Customer education
Co-operation and resource sharing
- Formal links
- Relations with schools
- Resource sharing
- Bibliographic records
- Borrowing from other libraries
The library should facilitate access to online catalogs of other libraries through its own online catalog/OPAC through links to trusted sites, e.g. regional library systems and the national library website. To meet the information needs of users, the library must borrow materials from other libraries within the same organization and outside.
Electronic networks
- Customer access
- Remote access
- Staff access
- Information navigator
The library must provide free public access to the Internet/World Wide Web to enable all citizens, regardless of economic means, to have access to information available in electronic form. Library staff must have access to the Internet/World Wide Web to enable them to provide better reference and reader advisory service to patrons.
Access to services
Location of service outlets
Opening hours
Library buildings
- The function of the library
- The size of the library
- Designated spaces
- Design features
- Accessible shelving
- Signage
- The ambience of the library
- Electronic and audiovisual equipment
- Safety
- Parking
A sign indicating the opening hours of the library must be clearly visible from the outside of the library. The climate in the library should be maintained at a comfortable temperature by using efficient heating and air conditioning.
Resources
Introduction
The public library should provide equal access to a range of resources that meet the needs of its patrons for education, information, recreation and personal development. The library must provide access to the heritage of its society and develop diverse cultural resources and experiences.
Collection management policy
- Content of the policy
The policy should define the purpose, scope and content of the collection as well as access to external resources. This is not an exhaustive list, but an indication of some of the topics that may be included.
Range of resources
- Collections
- Formats
- Selection Aids
Customers of the Badalona Can Casacuberta Library can follow the library and learn more about it on various social networks. Tarrant County Library Cards provide online access to the college admissions practice and licensure exams; talking, animated fairy-tale books via the library's website; and portable audio books.
Collection development
- Criteria for collections
Cambridge University Library in the United Kingdom (UK) has published collection development policies for a combined public and university library.
Collection maintenance principles
- Acquisition and deselection
- Reserve stocks
- Interlending
Deselecting materials frees up space for new materials, and helps maintain the overall quality of the collection. Material that contains outdated information or is in poor condition and could be replaced should be discarded and not kept in a reserve stock.
Standards for collections
Comparisons with many existing libraries serving communities of similar size and composition can be used to establish a target number for the size of the collection and the resources needed to maintain it.
Standards for electronic information facilities
Collection development programme for new libraries
- Establishment phase
- Consolidation phase
- Steady-state phase
- Content creation
The interlibrary loan system should be at its peak during this phase to supplement the developing collections. The particularities of the population are taken into account, and collections are developed to meet the more profound needs of the population being served.
Acquisition and deselection rates
- Small libraries and mobile libraries
- Special collections
In these cases, acquisition rates, renewal rates, or exchange rates should be based on pool size rather than population served and be on the order of 100% or more per year. The general purchase and disposal rates may not be relevant for some parts of the collection or for particular special collections or when special circumstances prevail.
Digital collection management
Guidelines for library services for young adults The Hague: IFLA. http://www.ifla.org/en/publications/revised-guidelines-for-library-services-for-young-adults. accessed 01/01/2010). International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions (IFLA). http://www.ifla.org/files/statistics-and-evaluation/publications/bibliography-impact-outcome.pdf accessible accessible.
Introduction
The general library must be organized efficiently and professional standards of operation must be maintained.
The skills of library staff
Staff categories
- Qualified librarians
- Paraprofesional staff
- Library assistants
- Specialist staff
- Support staff
- The composition of the staff
A librarian designs, plans, organizes, implements, manages, and evaluates library and information services and systems to meet the needs of customers in the community. They perform important functions that contribute to the smooth running of the library service.
Ethical standards
The duties of library staff
Staffing levels
Education of librarians
Training
- Mentoring
- Contacts
The mentor must be able to advise the new employee on issues related to his work and employment. A training checklist provided by the mentor should be maintained to ensure its effective implementation.
Career development
This level of funding for training should be maintained in times of budget cuts as the need for a well-trained staff is very important in such circumstances. In addition to in-service training, personnel should be given opportunities to attend short courses in person or via the Internet, and conferences relevant to their ability to perform their jobs.
Working conditions
- Health and safety
- Problem customers
Staff should be trained in how to handle such situations and have internal communication systems that can alert other staff. A system should be developed to support library staff who can deal with these situations by involving other staff such as security guards or public social work.
Volunteers
Resources for Administrators: A Model Public Library Policy and Tips for Development. http://midhudson.org/department/member_information/library_policies.htm available. A clear policy needs to be formulated that defines objectives, priorities and services according to the needs of the local community.
Introduction
Management skills
- Leadership and motivation
- Relationships with governing and funding bodies
- Planning and policy development
- Operational planning
- Green (environmentally friendly) libraries
The head of the library is responsible for motivating the staff and bringing energy, vitality and strength into the library system and its staff. As head of the public library, the director of the library should have direct access to and involvement in the board or committee that is directly responsible for library service.
Building and maintaining library networks
Financial management
Management of library resources
Staff management
Planning and development of library systems
The library manager is responsible for ensuring that the correct systems are in place and, where necessary, employs specialist staff for their development. Personnel should be adequately trained in the use of such systems, the effectiveness of which should be regularly assessed.
The management of change
- Planning for the future
Delegation
The planned delegation system makes the best use of the skills and experience of a wide range of staff and provides opportunities for professional development. It also increases the number of people fully involved in the development and operation of the library service, improves job satisfaction and prepares staff for promotion when opportunities arise.
Management tools
- Environmental scanning
- Community needs analysis
- Monitoring and evaluation
- Performance indicators
- Performance measurement
Community needs and satisfaction surveys and performance indicators are valuable tools for monitoring library performance. The following key performance indicators can be used to evaluate and monitor the achievement of the library's objectives.
Introduction
Marketing tools
- Marketing research
- Marketing segmentation
- Marketing mix strategy
- Promotion plan
- Marketing evaluation
Market research of society as a whole regarding potential customer demographics, trends in health, sexual habits, entertainment and sports is important in assessing the informational, educational and entertainment needs of the library population. Although the mix is the most prominent part of the marketing model, it is not exclusively the most important.
Marketing and communications policy
One is to assess customer behavior (i.e. how many signed up for virtual reference, what time of day are questions asked the most, what subject areas are most popular?). The other seeks to measure customer satisfaction (ie, how well does the service meet customers' needs, what benefits are received, and how likely are they to use the service again?).
Public relations
- Working with the media
- Community support
- Gaining community support
- Advocacy
- Working with governing bodies
- Participation in community life
Community support also depends on the library delivering promised services. Getting people to talk positively about the library and its services is one of the most effective marketing tools.
Objectives
Arranging library and information services
In a bilingual municipality, the needs of both language groups must be taken into account equally. In the municipalities in the Sami home area, the needs of both the Sami and the Finnish language groups must be taken into account equally.
The library and information service network
Library services free of charge
Evaluation
State administration of library and information services
Miscellaneous regulations
The library may issue library rules that contain provisions on the use of the library and the rights and duties of the library user. Violations of the library's rules are subject to fines corresponding to the violation.
THE FINNISH LIBRARY DECREE (1078/998)
Functions of the Central Library of Public Libraries
The municipality receives a government grant for the costs of building and renovating a library under the Education and Cultural Funding Act. Further provisions regarding the application of this law are given by law.
Functions of a Provincial Library
Functions of the State Provincial Office
Qualification Requirements
Entry into Force
Transitional Provisions concerning Personnel
Transitional Provisions concerning the Completion of Studies
- Building size determined by major components
The IFLA/UNESCO School Library Manifesto. http://www.ifla.org/en/publications/iflaunesco-school-library-manifesto-1999. Libraries for the Blind in the Information Age: Guidelines for Development. http://www.ifla.org/en/publications/ifla-professional-reports-86).
