The Challenges to Library Learning


Book Description

The Challenges to Library Learning: Solutions for Librarians offers practical strategies for librarians dealing with challenges including depleted training budgets, overworked staff, and rapidly-changing technology, that hinder the ability--and willingness--of employees to continue job education in library sciences.




The Challenges to Library Learning: Solutions for Librarians


Book Description

The volume on "Challenges to Library Learning: Solutions for Librarians" provides insight into practical philosophy for engagement that can be applied to address the growing obstacles faced by librarians, such as staffing shortages, reduced training budgets, longer working hours, increased workloads, and quickly evolving technology that prevents staff members from continuing their education in library science. The authors have experience in library administration, they provide an efficient strategy for motivating students to take a goal-based, individualized strategy to learning and assisting libraries in becoming more effective, productive, and user-centric. The Community of Learning Program (CLP) for library employees identifies the specifics of creating and implementing a training program, overcoming staff detachment, accepting e-learning as a regular learning model, teaching and evaluating information literacy training, and developing a flexible alternative staffing strategy which are among the topics covered. This volume is suitable for anyone involved in or interested in following a career in library administration and finding solutions for librarians. Reading should ideally occur in a quiet environment, at a consistent time each day so that library users become accustomed to the routine. Their consistent reading practice must be an institutional need, with more efforts made towards avoiding disturbance or cancellation.




The Dysfunctional Library


Book Description

Frankly, it’s not something we like to talk about. There is an unfortunate stigma to acknowledging workplace dysfunction, let alone trying to grapple with the problem. But negative behaviors such as incivility, toxicity, deviant behavior, workplace politics, and team and leadership dysfunction not only make the library a stressful workplace, they also run counter to the core values of librarianship. An important tool for library leaders and managers as well as library staff, this book examines these negative relationship-based issues and suggests practical, research-based solutions by discussing the importance of understanding oneself as related to the library workplace;identifying attributes specific to libraries that foster personal success;showing how organizational dysfunction is rooted in problems such as poor communication, inadequate leadership, and lack of employee engagement;breaking down relatable scenarios to analyze what’s behind them and how to defuse them, ranging from a gossipy coworker who fails to contribute to the organization to workplace bullying and mobbing;exploring causes, results, and potential solutions in the areas of cyberloafing, fraud, theft, and sabotage;delving into the importance of conflict management, surveying a variety of approaches and applications;examining the use of teams in libraries and the impact of favoritism, nepotism, and sexism; andproviding techniques for successful collaboration, leadership, organizational communication, and other key management topics. By tackling the dysfunctional library head on, managers as well as library workers who find themselves in a toxic situation will be poised to better meet library goals and move the library forward.




A History of ALA Policy on Intellectual Freedom


Book Description

Collecting several key documents and policy statements, this supplement to the ninth edition of the Intellectual Freedom Manual traces a history of ALA’s commitment to fighting censorship. An introductory essay by Judith Krug and Candace Morgan, updated by OIF Director Barbara Jones, sketches out an overview of ALA policy on intellectual freedom. An important resource, this volume includes documents which discuss such foundational issues as The Library Bill of RightsProtecting the freedom to readALA’s Code of EthicsHow to respond to challenges and concerns about library resourcesMinors and internet activityMeeting rooms, bulletin boards, and exhibitsCopyrightPrivacy, including the retention of library usage records




The Challenges to Library Learning


Book Description

The Challenges to Library Learning: Solutions for Librarians is an insightful volume that offers a practical philosophy of engagement that can be used to meet the growing challenges facing librarians, including staffing shortages, depleted or eliminated training budgets, longer hours, greater workloads, and rapidly-changing technology, hindering the ability—and willingness—of employees to continue job education in library sciences. With three decades of experience as a library administrator, author Bruce E. Massis details an effective plan for inspiring initiative in the learner to pursue a goal-oriented and individualized approach to learning – helping the library to become more efficient, productive, and user-centered. Topics discussed include overcoming staff disengagement, accepting e-learning as a routine learning model, teaching and measuring information literacy training, creating a flexible alternative staffing model, the Community of Learning Program (CLP) for library staff, and the details of creating and implementing a training program. The Challenges to Library Learning: Solutions for Librarians is a vital and practical resource for anyone actively involved or pursuing a career in library administration.




Lifelong Learning in Public Libraries


Book Description

Lifelong Learning in Public Libraries demonstrates that public librarians can promote learning by combining the elements of Information Literacy Instruction (ILI) with traditional practices of public libraries. This approach contributes to the information enfranchisement of patrons and enhances the fulfillment of the traditional goals and purposes of libraries. Donna L. Gilton provides background on ILI and current developments in public library instruction and also examines educational theories and practices derived from the fields of behaviorism, cognitive psychology, constructivism, and educational humanism. Additional chapters delve into practices developed to deal with diverse groups and translate the theories and practices that have been outlined into a well-coordinated plan. The final chapters survey the role of libraries as cultural institutions. This book introduces the field of ILI to public librarians in the context of their own traditions and shows the unique ways that ILI can be implemented in public library settings. It encourages librarians to rethink practices to incorporate the principles of ILI and will enable public librarians to extend and enrich their instruction on information use. Lifelong Learning in Public Libraries is a valuable resource for librarians, educators, and leaders of public organizations.




Librarians Serving Diverse Populations


Book Description

A qualitative and quantitative assessment and research study of the paths and experiences of librarians whose duties include serving diverse cultures. Through surveys, interviews, and evaluation of documents, the author explores issues and challenges raised by the results of the research study. Mestre provides recommendations for improvements to curricula and training at Library Schools, for libraries seeking someone to fill positions such as diversity librarian positions, for follow-up training and support after librarians are hired and for how to strengthen diversity efforts. Also included are two chapters that provide guidance for getting started as a liaison for diversity and cross-cultural efforts in academic libraries. This book is the first such research study in academic librarianship.




Envisioning Future Academic Library Services


Book Description

Edited by a thought leader with an international reputation, it brings together renowned authors from across the globe who are breaking traditional moulds and boundaries in a way that will have a profound impact on the way libraries and library services are conceptualized in the years to come. They represent the key links in the knowledge chain: authors, publishers, academics, community knowledge creators, librarians and institutions; the student perspective is also provided.




Information Seeking Behavior and Challenges in Digital Libraries


Book Description

Digital libraries have been established worldwide to make information more readily available, and this innovation has changed the way information seekers interact with the data they are collecting. Faced with decentralized, heterogeneous sources, these users must be familiarized with high-level search activities in order to sift through large amounts of data. Information Seeking Behavior and Challenges in Digital Libraries addresses the problems of usability and search optimization in digital libraries. With topics addressing all aspects of information seeking activity, the research found in this book provides insight into library user experiences and human-computer interaction when searching online databases of all types. This book addresses the challenges faced by professionals in information management, librarians, developers, students of library science, and policy makers.




Access Services in Libraries


Book Description

In the current information environment, public and academic libraries are recognizing that providing access to materials is a complex multi-dimensional phenomenon. To meet the changing needs of their patrons, libraries are reorganizing their service structures and developing organizational units called “access services.” Even though access services fall within the realm of public services, technical services, or library circulations, they are driven by an entirely new mentality. There has been an extreme paucity of information on access services available for libraries struggling to meet the challenges of the electronic age. Access Services in Libraries is the first book to establish a theoretical base for access services while also suggesting connections between theory and practice. Anyone involved in access services or considering adoption of this new organizational unit will benefit from the information in this groundbreaking volume. Access Services in Libraries provides fresh thinking that reexamines previous writings in this area, presents new experimental designs and results, creates contemporary organizational solutions, and adopts innovative techniques for increasing users’access to library materials within constrained budgets. Access services librarians, circulation department librarians, and library managers, especially those who are considering a reorganization that will include access services, will benefit from the philosophical and theoretical articles as well as practical advice on the design, delivery, and evaluation of responsive library services. Chapters in this invaluable book fill the gap in the literature about access services including theoretical descriptions of access services, current developing trends in access services, the historical development of the access services concept, practical studies related to common access services issues, and projections of future challenges. As Peter Watson-Boone states in his preface, “This volume is notable for charting a new current of thinking and practice that is moving quickly into the mainstream. It substantially documents the state of the art, and should bring increased clarity and focus to the debate now proceeding in many libraries about how we are to honor a commitment to the 'access’concept in the era when it will challenge the 'ownership’concept as never before.”