共查询到20条相似文献，搜索用时 46 毫秒
1.
Mark A. Giesler 《Journal Of Access Services》2017,14(4):188-214
Labeled “third-sector” community organizations, public libraries serve homeless individuals by default. Using focus group interview data with library personnel, this qualitative study explored how public libraries in 8 urban and suburban communities in one Midwestern state perceived and served homeless patrons. Three themes emerged: (1) the recognition that libraries serve as makeshift shelters, (2) the inconsistent implementation of code of conduct policy regarding homeless patrons; and (3) innovative “under the radar” responses by administration and staff to resolve the tensions enacted by the presence of homeless persons in library facilities. Recommendations for staff training, internal policy revision, and enhanced collaboration between social service agency and public library staff are provided. 相似文献
2.
In this qualitative study exploring the content of social interactions between library staff and patrons, interviews were held with 15 library staff members in three neighborhood branch libraries in a large American midwestern city. An analysis of the interviews suggests that public libraries may contribute to social capital through the relationships and interactions that occur between staff and patrons. Some of the ways in which these relationships and interactions may contribute to social capital include: building patrons' trust in the library and its staff, connecting people to both community and library resources, providing social support for patrons, reducing social isolation, helping patrons gain skills to function in an increasingly online world, and providing a positive place for neighborhood residents to gather. The kinds of social interactions occurring in libraries that may help to build social capital are highlighted. 相似文献
3.
《The Reference Librarian》2013,54(75-76):45-54
Summary Difficult patrons have been considered primarily from the perspective of the problem behaviours they present in libraries. Many have attempted to define the problem patron and to provide advice and develop guidelines for frontline public service staff. To understand the difficult patron in academic libraries we need to answer three questions-How well do we know our patrons? Do we unwittingly create difficult patrons through our failure to appreciate their needs? Do we regard patrons as difficult because the way they use libraries and conduct their information research does not match our idea of how it should be done? The answers to these questions suggest that we need to reconceptualize both our patrons and the services we provide. Library staff need to see difficult patrons not as problems but as challenges to the service ideas and standards we hold. A paradigm shift is necessary if we are to reconstruct our beliefs about our patrons, their information seeking behaviours, and the services we provide to meet their needs. Some strategies for developing the skills of library staff to work effectively with difficult patrons are presented. 相似文献
4.
《The Reference Librarian》2013,54(67-68):257-271
Summary The Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA) motivated libraries all over the United States to evaluate their accommodations and services to patrons with disabilities. This article presents a case study of the Texas Tech University Libraries project to meet the needs of their patrons in relation to ADA. The study focuses on including adaptive technologies in the library environment to aid blind, hearing, visually and physically-impaired patrons and increasing library staff awareness of the needs of patrons with disabilities. Findings from the study will also benefit school, public, and special libraries that are evaluating their access for patrons with disabilities. 相似文献
5.
Health Index Plus, a consumer health information CD-ROM database, was field-tested by staff and patrons at a public library in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. Ease-of-use, database content and quality, and appropriateness for audience were evaluated. Overall, patrons found the database simple to use. The contents focus on topics of popular interest and provide access to scientific material that is normally not available or comprehended by many public library users. Although some indexing problems and other shortcomings were noted, the database is recommended for public and other libraries providing consumer health information. 相似文献
6.
《Legal Reference Services Quarterly》2013,32(2-3):41-73
Abstract Historically, non-lawyer patrons in law libraries have been viewed with discomfort, and library services, even in libraries open to the public, have been geared toward members of the legal community. However, changes in both the needs of the public and in the demographics of library patrons are challenging the traditional allocation of services in public law libraries. This article discusses the reasons for the traditional allocation of services, the cultural and economic forces that are bringing the public to law libraries in greater numbers, and new modes of service that can better meet the needs of public patrons. 相似文献
7.
This article is based on semistructured interviews with library staff members in order to explore both how they perceive the role of libraries in most deprived areas in Newcastle upon Tyne and how they relate with their patrons. We show that public libraries play a primary role in activating a virtuous cycle, in which infrastructures, skills, and increased ability of users to achieve their goals simultaneously result from and feed social inclusion strategies. However, some limits might be related to the availability of public economic resources that tends to affect the smaller libraries by reducing opening times and services provided. 相似文献
8.
《The Reference Librarian》2013,54(75-76):149-161
Summary Problem patrons are not a phenomenon exclusive to the public library arena. Academic libraries have throughout time had their own share of difficult patrons. This article focuses on problem patrons and reference staff in the academic library with a particular focus on electronic equipment and resources, particularly the Internet. Issues include viewing of pornographic images by patrons, plagiarism and the librarian's role, use of e-mail and chat, and cell phone use in the reference area. 相似文献
9.
Do public libraries contribute to social capital?: A preliminary investigation into the relationship
Public libraries have been held in high regard by communities since they were established in North America in the mid-19th century. Recently, with their diminishing informational role combined with the economic downturn, libraries have had to reassert their relevance to communities in a period of severely reduced municipal budgets. One role that is often assumed but rarely examined in depth is the library as a generator of social capital. This preliminary study investigates the relationship between public libraries and indicators of social capital using a questionnaire survey administered in three branch libraries in a large Midwestern American city. Library users had significantly higher levels of social capital in terms of community involvement and trust than a random sample of city residents. When frequency of library use was correlated with indicators of social capital there were mixed results. Library use was significantly associated with community involvement, but not with trust. Lack of trust in neighbors may be the incentive for people to become more involved in their communities in order to create a safer environment. The findings suggest that there is a strong relationship between public libraries and social capital but that further research is needed to broaden the base of the study and to include interviews with library patrons and staff so as to get a more nuanced view of how social capital is created. 相似文献
10.
Sarah LeMire 《Public Services Quarterly》2017,13(3):152-167
Veterans are a unique population that can be found in libraries across the United States. Libraries of all types are developing new approaches to the veterans in their patron populations in the wake of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. This study identifies several common strategies that libraries, especially public and academic libraries, are employing to support their patrons who are veterans, as well as distinctions in strategy according to library type. It further explores whether libraries are relying upon library staff who are veterans when developing services and programming for patrons who are veterans. 相似文献
11.
Mark A. Giesler 《图书馆管理杂志》2019,59(1):18-44
Public librarians are not always able or willing to embrace their role as providers of social and institutional capital for homeless patrons. Yet their position as gatekeepers impels them to do so. Through focus-group interviews with staff of homeless shelters in eight urban communities in one Midwestern state, this study explored the collaboration and communication between homeless shelters and public libraries. Findings indicate that homeless shelter staff recognize the value of public library services for their residents but do not engage in coordinated efforts to capitalize on it. Suggestions for enhanced collaboration between the two institutions are included. 相似文献
12.
《The Reference Librarian》2013,54(49-50):105-121
The Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA) prohibits discrimination with respect to the disabled in public entities and in "public accommodations and services operated by private entities." Passage of the ADA has prompted libraries all over the country to evaluate services to these users and has generated a vast number of resources on the ADA and on services to disabled patrons. This article examines the burgeoning literature and presents a case study of The University of Alabama Libraries' efforts to meet these users' needs. The case study focuses on the establishment of an adaptive technologies lab to serve the needs of blind, visually impaired and learning disabled students, and upon the continual efforts to heighten staff awareness. 相似文献
13.
Kristy Steigerwalt Lori Fitterling Mariah Harvey Sarah McQueeny Kartsonis Marilyn DeGeus Nora Franco 《Medical reference services quarterly》2019,38(1):1-21
Health sciences libraries are often challenged to make decisions regarding physical space allocation without quantitative data to support specific user preferences. This multisite, longitudinal study sought to answer the following questions related to academic health sciences libraries: (1) Which library spaces are popular with health sciences patrons? (2) How does time of day and allocated seating space affect patron choices? (3) What similarities and differences occur in space usage across four different health sciences libraries? Results suggest health sciences libraries must develop a nuanced understanding of their patrons’ preferences to best serve patrons’ needs regarding space allocation. Libraries can benefit from these types of methodological studies that target specific populations, supporting more informed space allocation decision making. 相似文献
14.
Hicken M 《Health information and libraries journal》2004,21(Z2):45-53
To deliver a comprehensive and efficient service to all the community, public libraries must first identify needs and allocate an appropriate level of resources. This article focuses on public libraries in England. It outlines: the Government's policy on social inclusion; the needs of the various socially excluded groups; partnerships and funding; staff training and motivation; and examples of good practice. 相似文献
15.
《Library & information science research》2019,41(4):100984
How public library policies, practices and services support the information needs of people experiencing homelessness was investigated using a qualitative-phenomenological design. Data were collected through semi-structured, face-to-face interviews with four homeless participants and seven librarians from four public library networks from a particular New Zealand region. The findings revealed that while none of the participating libraries had policies or services that were targeted at homelessness individuals, the libraries were perceived as providing services that largely met the information needs of their homeless patrons even if there were areas for improvement. It was noted that libraries could provide services that contribute to the strengthening of cultural identity and that policies and services should take relevant socio-cultural contexts into consideration. The findings inform public library policies and practices so that services could be developed and improved in order to enable equitable and effective use by homeless individuals, without unnecessarily segregating this user group. 相似文献
16.
《Journal of Business & Finance Librarianship》2013,18(3):19-35
The Business Resource Center represents the Aurora, Colorado Public Library's response to a tremendous growth within the business community over the past decade. This essay details what factors led to the decision that a separate service point was needed to meet this growth. Issues discussed include what statistical data proved helpful in developing a plan of action; collection development considerations; analysis of factors concerning library functions and service; and, initial reaction from patrons and staff. The study is also presented as a model for other medium-to-large suburban libraries intending to initiate a similar project. 相似文献
17.
Modern public libraries strive for inclusivity. Part of this effort involves enhancing staff capacity for engaging with socially vulnerable populations. This paper presents the outcomes of a study on library use by homeless adults, one of the most vulnerable of populations. The study employed a mix of methods. Part one was quantitative: a survey of library patrons. A second, qualitative phase involved focus groups – two of which were comprised of homeless patrons. Several areas of concern and need emerged, including physical space, safety, library services, and interactions with the library staff. 相似文献
18.
Cinthya Ippoliti 《Public Services Quarterly》2013,9(3):177-192
Customer service is a core component of user experience and an important element in making patrons feel welcomed and valued within our libraries. At the University of Maryland Libraries, we took on the challenging task of creating a customer service training curriculum for all staff working at public service points and offering a digital badge for successful completion of a non-credit course. This article will detail our sometimes difficult, often uncertain, but ultimately worthwhile process of determining training needs and creating this course as we incorporate customer service into the daily work of our employees. 相似文献
19.
《The Reference Librarian》2013,54(75-76):3-10
Summary Every type of library will inevitably have problem patrons, but this article focuses mainly on public and academic libraries. As the times have changed, so has the magnitude of the problem patrons. Problems of the past seem irrelevant compared to some of the problems we are currently facing. Discussed in this article are particular types of problem behavior, including, but not limited to anger, harassment of staff, and homelessness. The types of each category include examples to illustrate each concern, and possible remedies. 相似文献
20.
《The Reference Librarian》2013,54(33):191-205
Busy reference desks in academic libraries have more than enough to do to try to meet the information and reference needs of the students, faculty and staff in their own institutions. Any college or university library, however, that is located in an urban or suburban environment will undoubtably face a demand for service from high school students and their teachers, particularly in locations where increased emphasis is placed on research and independent study in the secondary school curriculum. The University of Waterloo Library responded to this need by working cooperatively with secondary school libraries and public libraries in the community through the creation of a Librarians' Liaison Committee. The ongoing work of this committee has resulted in the delivery of a highly successful service to this segment of the local population. 相似文献