Magister Bibliothecologiae - MBibl / The Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) is a tool through which the present government in South Africa wants to implement transformation in regard with raising the standard of living of the people in all spheres of life. Libraries are often seen as important agencies for information dissemination and other services. Public libraries have a vital role to play in the achievement of the MDGs. Stakeholders all over the spectrum need to collaborate with libraries to achieve these goals by 2015. The study investigated the role of the public library in realising some of the MDGs by means of a case study of Groenheuwel Public Library. The aim of this case study was to determine how this public library contributes to the development of Groenheuwel. Empirical research techniques were used to determine whether public libraries contribute to the well-being of the community of Groenheuwel and to the achievement of certain targets for the Millennium Development Goals. The Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) provide a framework for libraries and information services to develop and align their strategies and access their contribution towards their countries (Kaniki, 2008:16). The methodology applied was a quantitative questionnaire which included open-ended questions, which explored the role of the public library in the respondents' lives. The study made use of random sampling; the population of the study was adult library users. Every third library user was asked to complete a questionnaire over a period of two weeks. The data collected, informed the researcher what the purpose of the adult users' visit to the library was and whether the library addresses MDGs directly or indirectly. The findings should provide empirical evidence of the impact of public libraries, with reference to Groenheuwel public library, in addressing some of the Millennium Development Goals. The researcher hopes that this study will convince local government and decision makers to expand the library to a bigger library, to render an effective and efficient library service with added staff members and that the community find the library valuable and vital for their information needs.

Por meio de uma pesquisa exploratória de caráter bibliográfico-documental, esta dissertação busca analisar o Advocacy Bibliotecário e como este movimento tem se manifestado em diversos países. Para isso, realizou-se uma revisão de literatura sobre a temática, considerando conceitos como democracia e política, o campo das políticas públicas, além do significado do termo advocacy e o conceito a ele atribuído. Como ponto fundamental para melhor compreensão do Advocacy Bibliotecário, buscou-se identificar a origem, função, papel e importância das Bibliotecas Públicas na sociedade atual, para que se pudesse então estudar como e porque tal movimento surgiu, se estruturou e vem se espalhando pelo mundo. Com base na revisão da literatura pertinente ao tema, identificou-se que a International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions (IFLA) e a Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF) vêm desenvolvendo programas a nível global, destinados ao fortalecimento das bibliotecas que, além de oferecer treinamentos para os bibliotecários, também financiam iniciativas ligadas ao Advocacy Bibliotecário. Foram identificados cinco programas globais, sendo quatro da IFLA e um da BMGF. São eles: O Library Development Programme (LDP), o Building Strong Library Associations Programm (BSLA), e o International Advocacy Programme (IAP) da IFLA e o Global Libraries (GL) da BMGF. Como resultado da revisão, chegou-se a consolidação de uma matriz classificatória de tipologias de iniciativas de advocacy possíveis de serem desenvolvidas por bibliotecas: (a) Iniciativas de estruturação: Relacionadas ao fortalecimento do setor bibliotecário no país ou da associação bibliotecária nacional; (b) Iniciativas de formação: Focadas na formação profissional para o advocacy/desenvolvimento de liderança/atuação política; (c) Iniciativas de sensibilização: Iniciativas que visam sensibilizar a população para o valor das bibliotecas e (d) Iniciativas políticas: Ações e estratégias que evidenciam a busca de diálogo com o governo sobre o posicionamento das bibliotecas nas agendas públicas. A partir deste ponto, seguiu-se um mapeamento e categorização das iniciativas de advocacy que têm sido conduzidas por associações nacionais ou regionais de bibliotecas ao redor do mundo, com a finalidade de compreender como este movimento tem se espalhado e se estruturado nas comunidades bibliotecárias. Por meio de consultas aos sites de associações nacionais de bibliotecas e aos relatórios dos programas citados, foram identificadas 80 iniciativas que receberam financiamento dos programas globais, além de outras 97 iniciativas realizadas/iniciadas entre 2010 e 2018 e propostas/conduzidas dentro do escopo aqui proposto. Assim, foram identificadas 177 iniciativas ocorridas em pelo menos 125 países, das quais apenas 159 puderam ser classificadas, da seguinte forma: 19 iniciativas de estruturação, 96 iniciativas de formação, 21 iniciativas de sensibilização e 23 iniciativas políticas. De acordo com esta amostragem, 82,4% das iniciativas ocorreu em países menos desenvolvidos. Pode-se perceber, portanto, que nestes países, já há algum tempo estão surgindo projetos de advocacy, certamente devido à motivação e fomento das instituições e programas mencionados. E, que modo geral, a demanda corrente ainda se concentra em iniciativas de formação, demonstrando grande necessidade de capacitação dos bibliotecários para a condução de esforços de promoção, defesa e militância das bibliotecas e da própria profissão. / Through an exploratory bibliographic-documentary research, this dissertation seeks to analyze the Library Advocacy and how this movement has manifested itself in several countries. For this purpose, a literature review was carried out on the subject, considering concepts such as democracy and politics, the field of public policies, besides the meaning of the term advocacy and the concept attributed to it. As a fundamental point for a better understanding of the Library Advocacy, it was sought to identify the origin, function, role and importance of Public Libraries in today\'s society, so that it was possible to study how and why this movement emerged, was structured and is spreading throughout the world. Based on a review of relevant literature, it has been identified that the International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions (IFLA) and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF) have been developing programs at the global level to strengthen libraries which, in addition to providing training for librarians, also finance initiatives related to the Library Advocacy. Five global programs were identified, four from IFLA and one from the BMGF. They are: The Library Development Program (LDP), the Building Strong Library Associations Program (BSLA), and the International Advocacy Program (IAP) of IFLA and the Global Libraries (GL) of the BMGF. As a result of the review, it was possible to consolidate a classification matrix of types of advocacy initiatives that could be developed by libraries: (a) structuring initiatives: Related to the strengthening of the librarian sector in the country or the national librarian association; (b) Training initiatives: Focused on vocational training for advocacy / leadership development / policy action; (c) Awareness-raising initiatives: Initiatives aimed at sensitizing the population to the value of libraries; and (d) Political initiatives: Actions and strategies that highlight the search for dialogue with the government on the positioning of libraries in public agendas. From this point, a mapping and categorization of the advocacy initiatives that have been conducted by national or regional associations of libraries around the world have followed, in order to understand how this movement has spread and structured in the librarian communities. Through the consult of the national library association websites and the reports of the global programs, 80 initiatives were identified that received funding from the global programs, as well as 97 other initiatives undertaken / initiated between 2010 and 2018 and proposed / conducted within the scope proposed here. Thus, 177 initiatives were identified in at least 125 countries, of which only 159 could be classified as follows: 19 structuring initiatives, 96 training initiatives, 21 awareness-raising initiatives and 23 political initiatives. According to this sampling, 82.4% of the initiatives occurred in less developed countries. It can be seen, therefore, that in these countries, advocacy projects have been in progress for some time, certainly due to the motivation and the promotion of the institutions and programs mentioned. Overall, current demand still focuses on training initiatives, demonstrating a great need for the capacity of librarians to carry out efforts to promote, defend and militate in libraries and in the profession itself.

No description available.

Thesis (M.Dev.) --University of Limpopo, 2018 / Recent transformation in the new democratic South Africa has impacted negatively on the management of public libraries. Before 1994, public library services was the responsibility of the municipality. After 1994, the Provincial government was compelled to render the services. Most of the public libraries are still funded by their municipalities as unfunded mandate. The uncertainty about a clear definition of the relationship between municipalities and provincial library service impacts negatively on the management of public libraries in Limpopo Province. The study intended to investigate the impact of the management of public library towards community development in Molepo. The dynamic nature of the functions of management namely planning, organising, delegating, marketing, policy making and implementation were discussed in full to show the importance of leadership in the public library arena. In order to achieve intended objectives of the study, the researcher employed both qualitative and quantitative research designs. The researcher collected qualitative data through semi structured interviews while quantitative data was collected through questionnaires. Target population was librarians working in Molepo library and members of school management teams. The sample of the study comprised of fifty school management team and ten librarians. In order to achieve the objective of the study, the researcher has employed both random and stratified sampling to collect data from 60 participants. According to the findings, most of the people believed that the management should be transformed and innovate so as to achieve the intended objectives of the public library at Ga Molepo. Based on the findings, it is clear that the success of public library management towards community development in Ga Molepo depends solely on a visionary leader who has participatory and consultative style of leadership. In order to achieve the above process, all stakeholders should be consulted and involved towards the management of the public library. The study further recommended that the library management needs to adopt the latest business management strategies

The purpose of this research was to analyze the periodical collections of public libraries in the Triangle region of North Carolina in terms of young adult titles. Research questions targeted how public librarians provide their young adult patrons with access to periodical collections, address acess to periodicals available through the Internet and develop periodical collections in response to research findings on young adult reading. Collections were evaluated in terms of collection policies, placement, reference to other collections, and content. While the research revealed that collections varied in terms of responses to several of the research concerns, the collections showed some consistency in terms of collection policy and response to research findings.

The marketing campaign ”Låna dig rik” [Get rich by lending] involved 25 public libraries in three regions; Kronoberg, Kalmar and Blekinge. This paper examines 28 news-articles concerning this campaign, found in eight publications in the responding regions. The purpose of this is to determine to what extent the description of the campaign found therein responded to the intents of its founders and to what extent the public had a say in these articles. The result found indicates that the overall image of the campaign presented in the news-articles was well in correspondence with the intents of the campaign itself but that the public views where arguably absent.

The purpose of this Master thesis is to examine whether the term elasticity is relevant and functional to apply to public library organisations. Another aim of the thesis is to relate the term elasticity to public library organisations in a network society. Sociologist Manuel Castells provide the theoretical framework on the network society. Three investigations (meant to complement each other) in two Swedish public libraries seek to give answers to these questions.To be able to examine which areas of public library activity are elastic, I make a rough definition of what public library organisations consist of – nine activity fields are identified using IFLA’s guidelines in combination with Swedish law of public libraries. I also define elasticity. Three qualities make the term interesting to apply to public libraries: 1) elastic objects (libraries) have an ideal shape, 2) they (libraries) are moulded when pressure is applied from outside, and 3) when pressure applied from outside becomes too intense, elastic objects (libraries) break (or become dysfunctional).The essay undertakes three investigations in Alby public library and Dieselverkstaden public library in Nacka (both in Stockholm). In the first investigation two aspects of elasticity (in relation to public libraries) are examined: One aspect regards how elasticity is expressed in two texts that govern public libraries in Sweden – Swedish law and IFLA’s guidelines for public library activity. Is elasticity intrinsic in these norms and in what way? Secondly a comparison is made between how elasticity is expressed in these normative texts and the actual situations in two public libraries, in which way they are elastic, and what discrepancies there are between texts and scenarios from practice. I study the library – its collections, public activities, documents and rules and regulations regarding loans.In the second investigation I aim to find out how the visitors of public libraries shape the library, how they perform pressure on it. Short survey-like interviews are completed with twenty visitors at the two libraries.The third investigation consists of interviews with two members of the staff at each library. These interviews assist me in the process of developing thoughts regarding elastic libraries in a network society.Results show that the term elasticity is relevant but evasive. It becomes clear that studying IFLA’s guidelines and Swedish library law will not answer the question where the elasticity of the activity fields end. That limit seems to become evident only when examining libraries in practice. I find that five activity fields can be called elastic (in practice): the collections, the librarians, to give access to information and ICT, the library room and environment and management.Results also show that qualities that signify the network society combined with political changes, affect the way public libraries are perceived and opinions of how they ought to be managed. This is what I consider to be pressure on a global level. I also find that this pressure is difficult to measure.

The research purpose was to learn about existing joint use public-academic libraries in Canada including their establishment, structure, benefits, and challenges and to determine the requirements for successful partnerships. Following a literature review, a short survey was conducted to gather data on the number, location, and types of public-academic library partnerships. In-depth telephone interviews were then held with key personnel from joint use libraries to learn more about the libraries and the nature of the partnerships. The research surfaced three unique examples of joint use public-academic libraries. In addition, key requirements for successful partnerships that were posited through the literature review were supported by the research data – commitment, a shared vision, and a need that requires fulfillment. Possible limitations of the research are the initial survey’s reliance on responses from academic library directors and the survey timing. There is limited information about partnerships between Canadian public and academic libraries and no single document that brings together data on partnerships across Canada. With this study, public and academic libraries will learn of successful joint use Canadian public-academic libraries along with the key requirements for sustainable partnerships.

The interactive society is characterized by a desire for participation that involves, on the one hand, citizens, workers and customers and on the other, politicians, decision makers and entrepreneurs â irrespective of whether this occurs in the public or the private sectors. Another way of explaining the interactive society can be found in the concept of 2.0. Libraries must relate to web 2.0 in the same way they related to web 1.0. The key is to identify the possibilities that the new techniques offer.

This essay will consider new copyright models in libraries, and how libraries can and should modify their own systems to promote and provide access to open content. It focuses on the reasoning behind supporting new models and methods of distribution, especially with regards to open licenses like Creative Commons, and the resources and systems libraries have developed to provide access to open licensed work. The paper examines the current roles libraries take in promoting Creative Commons and Open Access, and possible future roles, as well as how libraries organize and share open access works and develop relationships with other producing or developing content.