Author Archives: richards

Building Connected Communities

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The Urban Libraries Council has just released a ULC Leadership Brief Building Connected Communities which focuses on how libraries are bridging the digital divide through free and open access to current and emerging technology and related resources.

Libraries bridge the digital divide, build digital literacy skills, and improve the quality of life in communities. Building Connected Communities demonstrates how public library technology is used for education, innovation, workforce development/entrepreneurship purposes and health/wellness.

Included in the Brief are examples from leading US libraries. These snapshots show ways that libraries are playing a central role as technology leaders in our communities. This critical role is highlighted by quotes from government leaders’ recognizing the many contributions our libraries make.

Winners of IFLA Marketing Awards Announced

Sunshine Coast Libraries, Australia

Sunshine Coast Libraries, Queensland, Australia

IFLA’s Management and Marketing  Section has announced the winners of the 13th IFLA BibLibre International Library Marketing Awards. This includes public libraries in Canada, Columbia and Australia.

Altogether M&M received 71 applications from 26 countries, in 6 languages from all over the world. How fabulous.

[2016 Winner!] Vancouver Public Library Inspiration Lab Launch Campaign – Canada
[2nd place] Tuan Time – Each library experience is a memorable treasure – Xiamen University Libraries – China
[3rd place] Sunshine Coast Libraries Pop Ups! – Sunshine Coast Libraries – Australia

Find more information about the Award, the winners and the Top 10 projects here.

Love is in the air!

February has long been a time to celebrate love (think Valentine’s Day), but increasingly it’s also a time for the community to demonstrate love for their library.

National Libraries Day

In the UK the 6 February is National Libraries Day. Now in its fifth year, the annual celebration highlights the importance of libraries as vitally important public services which are loved by individuals and communities everywhere.

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Meanwhile in the US February is Library Lovers Month based around Ilovelibraries.org, an initiative of the American Library Association (ALA), designed to keep America informed about what’s happening in today’s libraries. Ilovelibraries.org promotes the value of libraries and librarians, explains key issues affecting libraries, and urges readers to support and take action for their libraries.

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In the southern hemisphere Australian librarians  have claimed Valentines Day (14th February) and made it their own – Library Lovers Day ! They argue that not everyone receives flowers and chocolates on Valentines Day but everyone can use their library. This year Library Lovers Day will celebrate 10 years since it was launched.

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The IFLA Section on Metropolitan Libraries and AIB (Associazione Italiana Biblioteche) have the pleasure to announce A Corto di Libri, AIB/IFLA International Short Film Competition about Libraries for 2016.

A Corto di Libri honors short films which focus on libraries and the profession of librarian. Four winners will be chosen in the Fiction, Documentary and Advertising sections, and in the new IFLA prize “Metropolitan Libraries” whose main subject must be public libraries of large urban areas.

In addition to the awards for the sections winners, €1000 of video-making equipment will be awarded to the winner of the IFLA  “Metropolitan Libraries” category.
Deadline: April 30, 2016

Find all the information about the award guidelines, application form etc here

 

Two new Australian reports

Two new Australian public library reports were released by the State Library of New South Wales (NSW) late last year. NSW is Australia’s most populous state whose capital is Sydney.

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Building on the bookends scenarios explores how the future of NSW public libraries might unfold over the next twenty year, specifically examining how longer term developments in the external environment may impact on the provision and perceived value of public library services. This builds on an earlier project undertaken in 2009 and highlights the rapid change during this time.

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The State Library also commissioned a project to explore the mobile and outreach services that are currently offered by NSW public libraries. The report identifies the range and scope of NSW public library mobile and outreach service models; explores the strengths, weaknesses, benefits and opportunities of different outreach models and provides good practice guidelines for outreach service models in NSW public libraries.

 

 

Report on the State of Libraries in Germany – English version released

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From Guido Jansen, Head, International Cooperation with the German Library Association comes news of the release of an English translation of the latest edition of the German Library Association’s Report on the State of Libraries.

This concise yet authoritative publication assesses the status quo and lists the German Library Association’s related positions and demands.

In addition to offering selected facts & figures, the report highlights the most urgent issues libraries are currently facing in Germany, suggests appropriate measures and solutions and provides supportive statements by politicians from the federal and European level.

Topics covered include e-books, media & information literacy, school libraries, library services for refugees, improved public library funding for the provision of social services and the design of a sustainable library landscape.

 

Evaluating Public Libraries

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The main theme of the 10th Croatian Conference on public libraries, held in September/October 2015, was Evaluation of public library activities. Sessions differed, from those focusing on the measuring of public library performance and libraries’ impact on the community to the development of a standard quality assurance system for library services. Croatian librarians also had an opportunity to attend a lecture by Lotte Hviid Dhyrbye and August Becker on The Economic impact of public libraries in Denmark in November.
It is beyond any doubt that public libraries play an important role in contemporary society, but in order to maintain their social position stable it is necessary that they keep conducting systematic surveys, collect data on library performance and the impact that they have on both individuals and communities and regularly present all the results of such monitoring procedures to policy- and decision-makers, who, based on their insight into all these statistics and indicators, may make sure that libraries are provided with sufficient financial resources.
Do you know of any other studies on the impact of public libraries? How do public libraries in your country measure their impact and do they present their results to wider public? Can you see any changes afterwards?