Public Relation Practices in Polytechnic Libraries for Effective Service Delivery in North-Central,Nigeria

This study investigated public relations practices for effective service delivery in polytechnic libraries in North-Central,Nigeria.The study was guided by two research questions.The descriptive survey research design was adopted for this study.The population of the study was 107 library staff consisting of both federal and state polytechnic libraries in North-Central,Nigeria.There was no sampling as all the population of the study was used as sample.Two sets of instruments were used to collect data for the study:questionnaire for library staff and interview guide for the polytechnic librarians.The instruments were subjected to face validation by two experts.Quantitative data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics while the qualitative data were transcribed,coded,and analyzed through document analysis as confirmatory to the quantitative data collected.The formulated hypotheses were tested using t-test.The findings revealed that public relations practices used by librarians were attending to users’enquiries on the public information desks and providing suggestion boxes to collect users’opinions,etc.(X=3.20,Sd=0.77;X=3.10,Sd=0.73);Projectors and bulletin boards were the facilities employed in public relations practices(X=3.21,Sd=0.86;X=3.18,Sd=0.69).Based on the findings,it was recommended that,the library management should create awareness on the public relations practices used for effective service delivery through such fora as workshop,orientation,and seminar to educate library users on the relevance of public relations;also librarians should use every possible avenue to be abreast with state-of-the-art facilities that can be employed in public relations practices in polytechnic libraries for effective service delivery,among others.

The Role of Library and Information Science Education in the Development of Community Health Information Services for People Living with HIV/AIDS: Perspectives of Directors and Managers of Public Libraries

This article identifies the role of library and information science (LIS) education in the development of community health information services for people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA). Preliminary findings are presented from semi- structured qualitative interviews that were conducted with eleven directors and managers of local branches in the Knox County Public Library (KCPL) System that is located in the East Tennessee region in the United States. Select feedback reported by research participants is summarized in the article about strategies in LIS education that can help local public librarians and others in their efforts to become more responsive information providers to PLWHA. Research findings help better understand the issues and concerns regarding the development of digital and non-digital health information services for PLWHA in local public library institutions.

Public library services to older adults in China:An empirical study based on content analysis

Purpose:The research is undertaken to help the Chinese public libraries answer the growing needs for library services to the elderly.Based on an investigation of the current situation of the services to older adults in China and a comparative analysis of the services in the U.S.,we attempt to explore what improvements the Chinese public libraries can make to better serve the needs of older adults.Design/methodology/approach:We empirically analyzed the older adults services of 271public libraries in China from 2002 to 2011 via content analysis of both the print materials such as the regulations and policies released by these libraries and the related information on the libraries' websites and the Internet Web pages.Findings:Great strides have been made in the Chinese public libraries' services to older adults in constructing service systems,providing facilities and equipment,exploring cooperative programming,and planning diversified and regularly scheduled activities.Compared with American counterparts,however,the Chinese public libraries need to catch up in understanding the elderly people as library users,planning customized services,formulating service guidelines and evaluation systems,and working with other local agencies for cooperative programming for seniors in communities.Research limitations:It is hard to collect more data covering more geographical areas and longer periods of time.The content analysis of libraries' policies and regulations is a very rough approximation of the libraries' 'real' services.The study should be extended to visits to public libraries in the future.Practical implications:This study provides useful information for the Chinese library policymakers to formulate regulations and policies to provide services to older adults.Originality/value:To the best of our knowledge,the comprehensive survey reported in this paper is the first in-depth investigation of the current situation of public library services to older adults in China,providing the analysis framework for more in-depth surveys in the future.

Current Status and Analysis on Space Service in East China Public Libraries: A Case Study

This paper provides references for the space service of public libraries in China. 51 public libraries in East China were investigated in terms of space type, space facilities and space service reconstruction;the current situation of space service was analyzed and some problems were revealed. Based on the investigation, the characteristics of public libraries’ space service in East China are summarized from the perspective of space type, space service concept and space service mode. And the problems in the aspects of new space service level, space service facility construction and space service evaluation mechanism are pointed out. Through the analysis, space service strategies of public libraries in China are proposed: libraries’ overall quality should be strengthened;space service based on information technology should be promoted;users’ needs should be respected and evaluation mechanism should be developed.

On Public Library Service Brands

This paper makes a comprehensive analysis of the building of public library service brands in China since the initiation of the reform and opening up in 1978 and anticipate their future development in five aspects,i.e.,critical interpretation of its established culture and analysis of its characteristics,logic of the time,vivid practice,virtuous approaches,as well as future development.

A survey of public needs for digital information service in libraries and museums

Purpose:The purpose of the research is to investigate public needs for digital information service in the Chinese libraries and museums and seek ways to help these public service institutions improve their service to meet user needs.Design/methodology/approach:An online questionnaire survey was used to study the publicneeds for digital information service provided by libraries and museums.A total of 474 valid questionnaires were retrieved for analysis.Findings:The primary purpose of using the digital library and museum service was for knowledge acquisition,followed by work or class assignment and leisure and entertainment.Users need one-stop information service that provides information and service in a more integrated form and allows cross-database searching as well.Research limitations:A majority of the respondents were young and middle-aged people who often use the Internet.We would need to increase our sample size and include different groups of users such as children and retirees to make the sample more representative.Practical implications:Libraries and museums should collaborate to provide the users with one-stop digital information service.Meanwhile,the research can serve as a reference source for the future studies of digital library and museum service.Originality/value:Few studies were published on the public needs for digital library and museum service in China.This study bridges the gap and contributes to our understanding of the Chinese users’ needs for digital information service in libraries and museums.

A survey of public needs for government information service in libraries

Purpose:This paper describes a comprehensive user survey carried out in China to investigate public needs for government information service in libraries.It is expected to provide insights into the ways to help public libraries meet the user needs.Design/methodology/approach:The paper is founded on a survey among library users,librarians and non-library users.Paper questionnaires were distributed in the National Library of China and 32 provincial public libraries in China and electronic questionnaires were sent to non-library users.A total of 909 valid questionnaires were collected.Findings:A lot of attention is paid to policies,laws and regulations relating to common people’s work and lives such as science,technology,education,culture,finance,market supervision,health care,sports,urban construction and environment protection.A wide variety of government information resources is needed and information delivered to users shall be accurate and timely.Internet has become the main means of accessing government information and mobile phones the preferred Web access channel,while printed materials are considered important information sources.Users need assistance and training in the use of library information resources and services.Research limitations:The sample was limited to respondents from provincial-level public libraries,but city and county-level library users were not included.Practical implications:The survey results are beneficial for the Chinese public libraries to design service programs and improve their services.Originality/value:The paper is one of the comprehensive surveys on public needs for government information service in the Chinese libraries and some of die findings will be of wider interest for other libraries.

A discourse on creating and rendering educational and cultural enrichment services to rural migrant workers by public libraries

As far as China's enormous success in her economic reforms and development is concerned,Chinese rural migrant workers indeed have had their biggest share of contributions.Yet ironically in return,they have only received a disproportionate meager share of benefit rewards.These people represent a huge economically deprived group at the bottom of the social totem pole in China's metropolises.On the whole as a social group,their educational attainment is relatively low as compared to their average urban coworkers.As such being the case,their rights to access some of the cost-free cultural and educational enrichment programs in the society are limited and not always assured.Nevertheless and in general speaking,they manifest a strong and consistent desire to acquire all sorts of new and practical knowledge by means of accessing the resources and facilities of their local public libraries.It is suggested in this paper that public libraries are in a good position to give strong support to the central government's strategic planning for the development of a public culture service systema).In implementing such a government initiative with an unswerving purpose of advancing social justice and equality,public libraries should strife to provide as many as possible their library services at no cost to the public,especially to those socially deprived rural migrant workers.

Research on the Path to High-Quality Development of Grassroots Libraries in the Era of Artificial Intelligence in Henan

Since the age of digital intelligence,the government has introduced policies to actively promote the intelligent transformation of grassroots public cultural services.Based on the investigation and analysis of the development status quo of grassroots libraries in Henan Province,we put forward the path of high-quality development of grassroots libraries in Henan,namely,improving the mechanism and system,leading with digital intelligence technology,empowering by Yellow River culture(the heritage and values rooted in the history and traditions of the Yellow River region),and driven by users’demand.

A brief introduction to the development of the public librarianship in China

This paper briefly introduces the development status,background and prospect of the public librarianship in China.It contains a brief analysis of the basic situation of the public library in China at present according to the data announced by the government,and gives an explanation about China's public library orientation,working condition,service characteristics and existing problems.In addition,the author provides a detailed description of the library's present working emphasis in order to present readers with an overall view of the basic condition of China's public library development at present time.

A questionnaire survey on reading and public library utilization of the disabled in Beijing

To investigate the reading activities and library use of the disabled, the authors conducted a questionnaire-based survey among 306 disabled people in four districts of Beijing. The result shows that the disabled mainly take reading as a way of self-education and leisure. They have interest in reading but spend little time on it. Moreover, their age and education level have certain influence on their reading time and effect. Libraries play an important role in the reading activities of the disabled, who have a very strong interes in using libraries, but are limited by such factors as long distance between their home and the libraries, their misperception of libraries, and lack of barrier-free facilities in the libraries. Therefore, public libraries are highly recommended to improve their layout resources, and facilities to provide better services for the disabled.

美国公共图书馆“Seed Library”服务实践

文章介绍了近十几年来在美国公共图书馆中逐渐开展的"Seed Library"服务项目,首先阐述了其提出背景、在公共图书馆中的缘起;而后介绍了这一服务的主要运作模式,并以皮马郡公共图书馆为例,描述其"Seed Library"开展步骤;最后对服务实践的开展进行思考并提出公共图书馆应努力保持与社会发展的相关性、承担更多社会职责、注重用户体验、引导用户自主学习能力的提升、积极寻求社会协作的建议。

Mobile library service of the National Library of China and the provincial public libraries

Based on the methods of online investigation,questionnaires and effectiveness tests,we investigated the National Library and thirty-one provincial public libraries for evaluating current status of mobile library.Comparative analysis of mobile service was carried out between the public libraries of China and the top 25 US public libraries.The results reveal that:currently,mobile service in China is less widespread and the modes of mobile service mainly focus on WAP and APP;mobile libraries provide diverse mobile services and abundant library resources,and services are personalized and interactive.However,the process of mobile library service is not perfect.Mobile services lack innovation,and appear low awareness and insufficient effectiveness.Both Chinese and American public libraries have some advantages.Public hbraries in China provide more rich services and resources.Mobile services among US public hbraries possess more humanization and refinement,integrate with mobile terminals in better ways,and have a rich display collection information.

Living Library引入公共图书馆的必要性与可行性研究

Living Library服务已相继被引入中国高校、私人、网络和少部分公共图书馆领域,美中不足的是,公共图书馆引入此项服务,呈现出规模不大、参与度低、活动形式僵化、主题单一、Livingbook类型不丰富、活动缺乏持久性等缺憾。为了延伸现代图书馆的服务功能,建设和完善中国公共图书馆多元化的服务体系,笔者在系统梳理Living Library的缘起、意义以及国内发展现状的基础上,重点分析了Living Library全面引入公共图书馆领域并使之成为规范化、常态化服务的必要性与可行性,以期将LivingLibrary服务早日纳入中国公共图书馆读者服务体系中。

General review of National Digital Library development in the National Library of China

As an important part of National Digital Library(NDL),the National Digital Library Project(NDLP),which was launched in 2005,has attracted wide attention of the society in general.This paper introduces the general situation of the project from the following aspects,namely,the characteristics,objectives and contents.It also expounds on the basic ideas and the overall structure of the project and gives an introduction to the design of its basic platform,its application platform,its business management system and its standardization control system.In this paper,the digital resources construction and service delivery of the National Library of China(NLC)are introduced to cover both its present operation as well as those in conjunction with the opening of its new library building during its second-phase of library development.Finally,the most important and difficult point in the construction of the National Digital Library Project is analyzed from the following four perspectives:1)The long-term preservation of digital resources;2)the construction of knowledge organization system;3)the organic integration of the digital library and the traditional library;and 4)the risk of project management and system integration.

The Marketing Innovation of Library

The marketing innovation of library has become a focus problem in the construction of public cultural service system in China.The library carries the main content of public cultural services.How to effectively enhance the role of library in the construction of public cultural service system has become the core issue of both theory and practice.This article,through the analysis of the library in the process of building public culture service system of the status and role,present situation,and development trend,studies the main ideas and important point of view of the library in the construction of public cultural service system of marketing innovation service and puts forward the strategies and suggestions of the library in the construction of public cultural service system to realize the marketing on the development of innovation.

From institutional merger integration to institutional strategic transformation:A case study of the strategic management paradigm at Shanghai Library

This article attempts to apply the strategic management theory to the subsequent shaping up of a readjusted strategic development policy for Shanghai Library after its merger with the Institute of Scientific and Technological Information of Shanghai(ISTIS)in 1995.It also tries to analyze and explicate such an empirical implementation of institutional reintegration process through strategic management at Shanghai Metropolitan Library.By doing so,it aims to present an objective case study of activities based on the strategic management paradigm at a major Chinese metropolitan public library.

元宇宙赋能公共图书馆无障碍服务:壁垒突破、体系构建与路径探究

公共图书馆无障碍服务致力于帮助残障人士等特殊群体享受公共文化服务、共享数字生活,是无障碍环境建设的一部分。元宇宙为公共图书馆无障碍服务提供了新思路,注入了新活力。文章通过阐述公共图书馆无障碍服务在互联网不同阶段的发展与变化,总结元宇宙赋能公共图书馆无障碍服务实现的壁垒突破,构建无障碍服务体系,探究推进路径。公共图书馆无障碍服务建设应多点突破,以用户需求为主导,提供更便捷的均等化服务,在元宇宙相关技术加持下弥合数字鸿沟,促进社会包容。

基于扎根理论的公共图书馆数字文化服务绩效评价体系构建与实证研究

文章运用扎根理论分析了公共图书馆数字文化服务绩效评价要素,构建了基于投入产出的公共图书馆数字文化服务绩效评价体系,并以国内31所省级公共图书馆为对象开展实证研究,剖析当前我国公共图书馆数字文化服务绩效发展水平。研究结果表明,国内公共图书馆存在投入冗余和产出不足的情况,且部分在规模收益方面表现出递减特征。最后,从构建服务品牌、协调技术投入、完善管理机制和加强共享合作四个方面提出公共图书馆数字文化服务绩效的提升路径。

英国公共图书馆老年人与闭居者服务调查与启示

文章以19个英国公共图书馆为调查对象,采用网站调查法、邮件咨询法和文献调研法,对英国公共图书馆的老年人与闭居者服务内容进行探究。调查发现,英国公共图书馆的老年人与闭居者服务内容主要围绕着健康与医疗服务、无障碍服务、送书上门服务、特惠服务、休闲服务五个方面展开,并通过分析英国公共图书馆面向老年人与闭居者服务的现状、内容和特点,提炼出其对我国公共图书馆开展相关服务的启示。