Forum on Best Practices in Library Services

Focus on Academic and Public Libraries

JOSEPH M. YAP
Associate Librarian Information-Reference

De La Salle University - Manila

2nd Kuliat K.A.K.A Festival

Angeles City Library and Information Center

October 10, 2013

What to learn this morning? Areas of best practices in academic libraries Areas of best practices in public libraries

Show of hands!
How many of you are coming from an academic library?

How many of you are coming from a public library?

What is a best practice?

A Best Practice may be innovative and be a philosophy, policy, strategy, program, process or practice that solves a problem or create new opportunities and positively impacts on the organization (Umesh, 2012).

ACADEMIC LIBRARIES

Role of Academic Libraries

library supports and facilitates faculty teaching activities. The library helps undergraduates develop research and information literacy skills. The library provides active support that helps increase the productivity of faculty research and scholarship.
The

 The library pays for resources faculty members need, from academic journals to books to electronic databases. The library serves as a repository of resources; in other words, it archives, preserves, and keeps track of resources. The library serves as a starting point or gateway for locating information for faculty research.
Source: Ithaka S+R Library Survey 2010: Insights from U.S. Academic Library Directors. http://www.ala.org/news/mediapresscenter/americaslibraries/soal2012/academic-libraries

New Roles for Academic Libraries

Publishing. More academic libraries are entering the world of scholarly publishing by creating or expanding services. Data curation. Funding agencies promote open access to the underlying data gathered during grant-funded research projects.

CHALLENGES FACED BY ACADEMIC LIBRARIES (Umesh, 2012)

Explosive growth of information and documents Increased cost of the documents and information materials Increase in users information needs New role of the librarian and greater responsibilities. Latest techniques and concepts in handling of information. New electronic information environment. Creation of databases and its security. Marketing of library and information services.

Areas of Best Practices in Academic Libraries

Management and administration of a library Collection and services Extent of use of services Use of technology in libraries

Management and administration of a library

In-service programmes Observation of other library practice Staff promotional policy Maintenance of service area Special deposit scheme Resource Generation through external membership Resource generation through internet services Student participation programme

Collection and services

Collection development in different formats Compact storage of less used collection Library book exhibition Extended library opening hours Extended hours of service

Extent of use of services

User education Initiation to first-time users Preparatory course for students project User orientation Information aids Library use statistics Library best user award User feedback practice through different formats Suggestion box and timely response

Use of technology in libraries

On-line information retrieval- Internet access Free browsing unit -Internet access. Broadband internet centre Library homepage for information dissemination A strong and dynamic library website User feedback through library homepage Access to e-resources Information retrieval through web OPAC Campus-wide LAN facility Database creation using international standard formats Electronic surveillance system CCTV

Examples of best practices

LORA

Social Networking
Twitter

Facebook

QR Codes
(for smartphones, tablets, iPad, iPhones, Android, etc.)

Benchmark
benchmark noun \bench-mrk\: something that can be used as a way to judge the quality or level of other, similar things a standardized problem or test that serves as a basis for evaluation or comparison.

PUBLIC LIBRARIES
municipal libraries of Guagua, Floridablanca, Sasmuan, Macabebe, Masantol, Angeles City; provincial library

Photo credits: Public Libraries Division, National Library of the Philippines

Questions for public librarians:

What is the population of your community? What is your average daily usage for unique users? How do you encourage your citizens to use your library?

 The Public Libraries Division (PLD) performs the public library function of the National Library of the Philippines. It technically supervises 1,266 public libraries located in the different provinces,cities,municipalities and barangays of the country.

 Public libraries are local centers of information, making all kinds of knowledge and information easily available to users.

Public libraries help promote literacy and the pure enjoyment of reading. They are also places where people can go to get information, whether its for leisure, for study or for work.

http://www.publiclibrariesofnewzealand.org.nz/about/role-and-value-public-libraries

The services public libraries offer include: materials for borrowing including books, magazines, newspapers, DVDs and CDs internet access story reading and holiday programmes for children, and after school homework clubs for teenagers reference and study facilities local history collections

The UNESCO Public Library Manifesto

Describes public libraries as a gateway to knowledge. The Manifesto sets out the reasons why public libraries are living force for education, culture and information. The Manifesto says that public libraries should be: accessible to everyone, regardless of their age, race sex, religion, nationality or social status independent of any ideological, political or religious censorship free of charge organised effectively and professionally to meet the needs of the local community physically accessible to everyone.

Missions of the Public Library

The following key missions which relate to information, literacy, education and culture should be at the core of public library services: creating and strengthening reading habits in children from an early age; supporting both individual and self conducted education as well as formal education at all levels; providing opportunities for personal creative development; stimulating the imagination and creativity of children and young people; promoting awareness of cultural heritage, appreciation of the arts, scientific achievements and innovations;

 providing access to cultural expressions of all performing arts; fostering inter-cultural dialogue and favouring cultural diversity; supporting the oral tradition; ensuring access for citizens to all sorts of community information; providing adequate information services to local enterprises, associations and interest groups; facilitating the development of information and computer literacy skills; supporting and participating in literacy activities and programmes for all age groups, and initiating such activities if necessary.

In Denmark, people pay taxes to support:

The tasks of the municipalities include: Primary and lower secondary schools (children aged 5-15) Kindergartens, day nurseries and after-school clubs Home care for the elderly and ill Nursing homes Cultural and sports institutions Libraries 5 Water supply and treatment.

http://phd.humanities.ku.dk/info_site/uploads/tax_brochure.pdf/

References
Umesh, K. Y. (2012). Best practices adopted in academic libraries and information resource centres. International Journal of Information Dissemination and Technology, 2(3), 186-188. http://www.ala.org/news/mediapresscenter/americaslibra ries/soal2012/academic-libraries http://publiclibrariesonline.org/2013/04/e-governmentservice-roles-for-public-libraries/

THANK YOU FOR LISTENING!

Questions? joseph.yap@dlsu.edu.ph