Libraries in Operation

Objectives
 To appreciate some different definitions of a
library. Exactly what is a library?

 To understand what takes place in a typical

library to enable information services to be
offered to users.

 To become aware of current trends affecting

libraries.

 To identify and examine different types of

libraries.

2
 What is a Library?
Shorter Oxford English Dictionary (1973)

 “A place set apart to contain books for reading,

study or reference.”
(Same definition found in Oxford English Dictionary 2nd Ed. 1989)

 “The books contained in a library; a large

collection of books.”

3
 What is a library?
Some more definitions . . .
 “Keepers of books, keepers of print and paper on the
shelves…keepers also of the records of the human
spirit.” (Archibald MacLeish, Librarian of Congress, 1941)
 “A collection of people whose aggregate function is
that of acquiring, organizing and disseminating
knowledge and/or entertainment.” (B. Shuman, 1992)
 “. . . a place that contains collections and staff
dedicated to selecting, acquiring, making accessible,
and preserving those collections and to providing
services (assistance and instruction) that enable the
optimal use of those collections.” (M. Gorman, 1998)
 “…we assert that the library is, at root, a collection of
information selected for use of, and made useable for,
a particular community…That is, proverbially like
politics, all collections are local.” Keller, Reich, Herkovic
(2003) 4
 What is a Library? (ODLIS)
http://lu.com/odlis/index.cfm

From the Latin liber, meaning "book" . . . A collection or

group of collections of books and/or other print or non-
print materials organized and maintained for use
(reading, consultation, study, research, etc.).
Institutional libraries, organized to facilitate access by a
specific clientele, are staffed by librarians and other
personnel trained to provide services to meet user
needs. By extension, the room, building, or facility that
houses such a collection, usually but not necessarily
built for that purpose. . .

5
9 Basic Functions of Information Transfer

 Identification  Storage
 Selection  Interpretation
 Acquisition  Utilization
 Organization  Dissemination
 Preparation

Evans, G.E., Intner, S.S., and Weihs, J. (2002) Introduction to technical

services. 7th ed. Greenwood Village, CO: Libraries Unlimited.

6
Basic Functions of Information Transfer
 Identification
◼ Location of items to add to collection
 Reviews
 Publishers
 Vendors
 Jobbers
 User requests

7
 Selection
◼ Deciding which items will be added
◼ Budget
◼ Circulation statistics
◼ User needs—popularity6
◼ Subject needs
◼ New items (editions)
◼ Quality—Impact factor
◼ ILL-is it available elsewhere?
◼ Local items
◼ Reviews 8
 Acquisition
◼ Securing the items
◼ Jobbers
◼ Donations/gifts/grants/fundraising
◼ Collection policy
◼ Vendors
◼ Budget
◼ Space/physical restrictions
◼ Subscriptions/licenses (electronic resources)
◼ Technological capabilities
◼ Legal issues 9
Basic Functions of Information Transfer
 Organization
◼ provision of intellectual access to local and
remote collections
◼ Cataloging
 Copy cataloging
 Original cataloging

 Combination of both

◼ Indexing—pathfinders
◼ Display

10
Basic Functions of Information Transfer
 Preparation
◼ Readying the items for storage that will allow
easy retrieval.
 Spine labels
 Security cases for media
 Security magnetic tape
 Binding journals/soft covers
▪ Covering dust jackets
 Identification stamp
 Repairing
 Archival preservation
 Barcodes/date stamp cards
 Punch cards
11
 Magazine sleeves
Basic Functions of Information Transfer
 Storage
◼ Housing the prepared items.
◼ Bookshelves/media storage shelves/display
shelves/display cases
◼ Servers for databases
◼ Map cases
◼ Magazine racks
◼ Filing cabinets
◼ Microfilm readers
◼ Annex

12
Basic Functions of Information Transfer
 Dissemination: Establishing a system that
allows for the use of items.
 Network
 Catalog/classification system
 Signage/map of library
 Reference librarian
 Brochures
 Sectioning of physical space
 Website
 Inter Library Loan
 Circulation
 Computer work stations
 Disability assisted devices (e.g. reading machines, 13
etc.)
 Interpretation: Assisting end-users in locating
appropriate materials to meet their needs
◼ Reference librarian/virtual chat/School library media
specialist
◼ Technology professional
◼ Subject librarians
◼ Workshops/tutorials/classes
◼ Story hour
◼ Book clubs
◼ Brochures/flyers/exhibits/displays
◼ Visiting authors/speakers
◼ Website
◼ Bibliographic instruction
14
Basic Functions of Information Transfer
 Utilization
◼ Providing equipment and space to allow staff and
end-users to make effective use of the items in the
collection
 Computer hardware
 Schedules
 Tables, chairs, desks, couches, etc.
 Stationery supplies
 Designated areas in the library
 Video equipment
 Carrels
 Equipment for special groups (e.g. toys for children)
 Photocopier/printers/fax machine 15

 Book carts
 Technical Services: Some
Definitions
 “...services that provide access to
information existing in some published
form.” Horny (1980) qtd. in Godden, P. (1991, p. 1)

 All the tasks carried on in a library that are

concerned with the processing of library
materials in order to make them accessible
to the users of the library.” Gorman, M. (1998, p. 3)

16
Basic Functions of Information Transfer
Identification
SELECTION
Document Retrieval

Securing Items
ACQUISITION Collection Development

Cataloging/Indexing

ORGANIZATION Processing

Storage

Interpretation
DISSEMINATION
Utilization 17
 INPUTS
Selection
Human
Finance Resources
Acquisition

Organization

Dissemination Library
Management Services

OUTPUTS 18
What is a Library?

 Utilitarian
 Study hall
 Research center
 Activist/advocate
 Information dissemination

19
Other Issues to Consider…

 Acquisition

 Preservation

 Storage

20
 Library Jobs:
 Boards (of various kinds)
◼ Set policy, formulate strategic plans, may
fund raise

 Administration
◼ Responsible for operation of library:
personnel, finances, planning, policy
implementation

21
Library Jobs: Public Services
Provide direct service to users
◼ Reference
◼ Subject specialists
◼ Circulation
◼ ILL
◼ Special departments (eg, a/v)
◼ Programming (Intranet, etc.)
◼ ???

22
Library Jobs: Technical Services
 Technical services
 Collection development
 Acquisition

 Processing (e.g. cataloguing, indexing)

 Current Awareness Service

 Conservation/preservation

 Systems

23
Library Jobs—Support Services
◼ Maintenance – heating, lighting, plumbing,
cleaning
◼ Personnel – hiring, training
◼ Public relations – marketing, etc.
◼ Security

24
 Trends Affecting Libraries:
 Budgetary issues
◼ Downsizing of staff and/or services
◼ Outsourcing of tasks

 Paradigm shifts
◼ Progress in development of electronic access

25
Paradigm Shift: Technology Issues

 Technology has changed the way

technical services operate but not
their basic functions!

26
 Paradigm Shift
Technology: Possible Results
 Results: Positive
 A larger pool of information
 Easier access to information—electronic resources
 Faster
 Wider audience/different audience
 Cheaper—e.g. copy cataloging
 Social networking—globalization
 Saves on physical space
 Benefits of multi-media learning

27
 Paradigm Shift
Technology: Possible Results
 Negative
 Learning curve
 Misinformation
 Marginalization or disregard for other formats
 Digital divide
 Replacing jobs previously done by humans
 Less face-to-face contact/less sense of
community
 Plagiarism/intellectual property/copyright issues

28
Budget Issues: Possible Actions & Results

Action: Outsourcing
 Cataloging
 Processing of items (e.g. binding, barcodes, etc.)
 Self-checkout—circulation
 Reference

Possible Results:
 More free time for other duties
 Saves money

 Quality control
 Language barrier

29
Types of Libraries

 National
 Public
 University/college
 School
 Special

30
Libraries in the U.S.: Some Statistics
 Estimated 122,356 libraries

 Approximately 9,000 public libraries

 Branches: 7,500+

 Over 3,600 academic libraries (affiliated with

post-secondary institutions)
 Less than 4-year (approx, 1,300)
 4-year+ (approx 2,200)

31
 Libraries in the U.S.:
Some Statistics (cont’d)
 Over 99,000 school libraries
 Public: 81,920
 Private: 17,100

 Bureau of Indian Affairs: 160

 Around 11,000 special libraries (medical,

corporate, law, etc.)
 Special: 8,900+
 Armed Forces: 289

 Government: 1,150

Source: ALA Library Fact Sheet #1 (found at www.ala.org)

32
 National Libraries

 Found in almost every country

 National role
 National deposit/copyright
◼ http://www.copyright.gov/help/faq/faq-
general.html#what
 Selection/retention policy
 User community
 Research function pre-eminent

33
 Library of Congress: Mission

 The Library's mission is to make its resources

available and useful to the Congress and the
American people and to sustain and preserve a
universal collection of knowledge and creativity
for future generations.

Excerpt retrieved September 9, 2009 from:

http://www.loc.gov/about/

34
 National Library and
Archives of Canada
 To preserve the documentary heritage of Canada
for the benefit of present and future generations;
 To be a source of enduring knowledge accessible
to all, contributing to the cultural, social and
economic advancement of Canada;
 To facilitate in Canada cooperation among
communities involved in the acquisition,
preservation and diffusion of knowledge; and
 To serve as the continuing memory of the
government of Canada and its institutions.

Excerpt from NLC-BNC web site (http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/)

35
National Libraries: Roles & Issues

 Financial and physical challenges

 Preservation role
 Role as professional leaders
 Attitude towards professional librarians?

36
National Libraries: Challenges
 Budgets
 Costs
 Space
 It
 Security
 Access

37
 Academic Libraries
“…to advance learning, teaching, and research in
higher education.”
(excerpt from ACRL mission statement found at
http://www.ala.org/ACRL)

▪ Information
▪ Education
▪ Research

38
 Academic Libraries

 Support teaching
 Support research
 Provide study spaces
 Centralization versus area/branch libraries
 Preservation role
 Inter-institutional collaboration

39
School Libraries/Media Centers: Roles

 Curriculum support
◼ Projects
◼ Reading/language
◼ Educational

 Information literacy—Teaching role

◼ Access, evaluation, utilization of
sources.

40
School Libraries/Media Centers: Issues

 Importance of library to parent organization

(School Board)
 Lack of funding
 Role of volunteers
 IT: opportunity or threat?
 Censorship issues
 Access issues

41
Public Libraries: Roles

Multiple roles:
 Information
 Recreation
 Education
 Culture

42
Public Libraries: Characteristics

 Service to individual versus corporate

information services
 Local information services
 Library boards (exception: Quebec)
 Publicly funded
 Central library/branch libraries

43
Public Libraries: Issues

 Fiscal
 Censorship
 Problem patrons
 Volunteers
 Fees for services
 Usage levels
 Elected library boards

44
Special Libraries/Librarians: Roles

 …Special librarians are information resource

experts who collect, analyze, evaluate, package,
and disseminate information to facilitate accurate
decision-making in corporate, academic, and
government settings.

Excerpt retrieved September 9, 2009 from:

http://www.sla.org/content/SLA/AssnProfile/index.cfm

45
 Special Libraries
Variety – but normally serve a special and
restricted user community

 Corporate

 Medical

 Legal

 Government (could be a separate category)

 Miscellaneous

46
 Special Libraries: Issues

 Importance to parent organization

 Corporate culture

 Restricted budgets

 Copyright/ Intellectual Property issues

47
 Librarian Ranks (CLA)

 Librarians (professionals) – MLS

 Library technicians – library diploma
programs (CEGEP, Community College)
 Library assistants
 Library clerks - shelving, signing out
 Teacher librarians

48
Related Organizations: Collaborators
 Publishers
 Subscription agencies
 Book stores
 Library automation vendors
 Database producers
 Online vendors

49
Related Organizations: Competitors
 Internet (?)
◼ Reduces or eliminates need for libraries/
librarians?
◼ Incorporated into present library environment

 Book stores
 Video stores
 ???

50
 Related Organizations:
Parallel Organizations

 Archives
 Records management departments
 Information research organizations
 Information consultants

51
 Library Issues:

 Financial problems – in both public and private

sector (cost of resources)

 Information society – impact of electronic

information – threats and opportunities

 Library without walls

52