O serviço de referência nas bibliotecas públicas em Portugal: modelo de desenvolvimento

O Serviço de Referência (SR), incorporando na sua organização, funcionamento e comunicação com o utilizador um conjunto de potencialidades proporcionadas pela tecnologia, assume um papel fundamental na luta contra a desigualdade e o analfabetismo digital, no fomento da literacia da informação e na criação de conhecimento. A percepção do valor e das fragilidades do SR nas bibliotecas públicas em Portugal levanta a questão sobre como contribuir para o seu desenvolvimento. A presente investigação, visando a construção de alicerces numa perspectiva de evolução, parte da análise de documentos orientadores internacionais da RUSA/ALA (Reference and User Services Association / American Library Association) e da IFLA (International Federation of Library Association) e da observação de características estruturais da Rede Nacional de Biblioteca Públicas (RNBP), para a concepção de soluções de desenvolvimento do SR a aplicar a esta realidade concreta. Seguindo um paradigma compreensivo indutivo, com uma orientação baseada na Grounded Theory, esta pesquisa privilegia o contexto da descoberta e a construção de uma teoria. No plano empírico cumpre uma complementaridade de técnicas qualitativas e quantitativas, com recurso a uma triangulação metodológica. O campo de análise abrange a totalidade das bibliotecas públicas portuguesas integradas na RNBP em Portugal. Visando aspectos funcionais e materiais, são analisados dados preexistentes e aplicadas técnicas de observação directa e inquérito por questionário. Visando aspectos sociais, são efectuadas seis entrevistas semi-estruturadas. Os resultados apontam para uma situação de estagnação das bibliotecas da RNBP e para um funcionamento não estruturado e informal do SR, na maioria dos casos em que se verifica a sua disponibilização. Fundamentada a necessidade de evolução, e do investimento que nele possa ser feito, é construído um modelo, seguindo uma estratégia por níveis, flexíveis e adaptáveis às necessidades e aos recursos de cada biblioteca, que visa o desenvolvimento incremental e congruente daquele serviço; Abstract: The Reference Service in public libraries in Portugal. Development model from international guidelines. Incorporating in its organization, procedures and communication with the users a set of tools brought by technology, Reference Service (RS) plays a key role in the struggle against inequality and digital illiteracy, promoting information literacy and creating knowledge. The perception of the value of RS and the weaknesses in public libraries in Portugal raise the question on how to contribute to its development. In order to build RS foundations on an evolutionary perspective, this research analyzes RUSA / ALA (Reference and User Services Association / American Library Association) and IFLA (International Federation of Library Association) international guidelines and the structural characteristics of the Portuguese National Public Library Network (RNBP), with the objective of creating a solution for the development of that service to be applied to this reality. Following an inductive comprehensive paradigm, with an orientation based on Grounded Theory, this research focuses on the context of discovery and the construction of a theory. Empirically it fulfils complementary qualitative and quantitative techniques, using a methodological triangulation. The field of analysis covers Portuguese public libraries integrating the RNBP. Aiming at functional and material aspects, direct observation techniques and a survey by questionnaire are applied. Targeting social aspects, six semistructured interviews are carried out. The results point to a situation of stagnation in the RNBP as well as the unstructured and informal performance of the SR, which justifies the need for evolution and investment. A model is constructed, following a strategy based on levels, flexible and adaptable to the needs and resources of each library, with the perspective of an incremental and consistent development of this service.

Monday Morning Eye Opener, November 7, 2016

Weekly Newsletter from the Northwest District Office for libraries containing programs, activities, classes for the upcoming week.

Monday Morning Eye Opener, November 21, 2016

Weekly Newsletter from the Northwest District Office for libraries containing programs, activities, classes for the upcoming week.

Monday Morning Eye Opener, December 5, 2016

Weekly Newsletter from the Northwest District Office for libraries containing programs, activities, classes for the upcoming week.

Monday Morning Eye Opener, December 12, 2016

Weekly Newsletter from the Northwest District Office for libraries containing programs, activities, classes for the upcoming week.

Monday Morning Eye Opener, December 19, 2016

Weekly Newsletter from the Northwest District Office for libraries containing programs, activities, classes for the upcoming week.

Monday Morning Eye Opener, January 9, 2017

Weekly Newsletter from the Northwest District Office for libraries containing programs, activities, classes for the upcoming week.

Enrich Iowa Report FY16, January 3, 2017

This report illustrates the critical role of Enrich Iowa funding in enhancing lifelong learning for Iowans through libraries; improving library resources aimed at assisting job seekers; maintaining library hours that meet library customers’ needs; improving library technology services; and providing safe, accessible library buildings.

MARS (Media Asset Retrieval System): Puget Sound’s Digital Archive

The MARS (Media Asset Retrieval System) Project is the collaborative effort of public broadcasters,libraries and schools in the Puget Sound region to create a digital online resource that provides access to content produced by public broadcasters via the public libraries. Convergence ConsortiumThe Convergence Consortium is a model for community collaboration, including organizations such as public broadcasters, libraries, museums, and schools in the Puget Sound region to assess the needs of their constituents and pool resources to develop solutions to meet those needs. Specifically, the archives of public broadcasters have been identified as significant resources for the local communities and nationally. These resources can be accessed on the broadcasters websites, and through libraries and used by schools, and integrated with text and photographic archives from other partners.MARS’ goalCreate an online resource that provides effective access to the content produced locally by KCTS (Seattle PBS affiliate) and KUOW (Seattle NPR affiliate). The broadcasts will be made searchable using the CPB Metadata Element Set (under development) and controlled vocabularies (to be developed). This will ensure a user friendly search and navigation mechanism and user satisfaction.Furthermore, the resource can search the local public library’s catalog concurrently and provide the user with relevant TV material, radio material, and books on a given subject.The ultimate goal is to produce a model that can be used in cities around the country.The current phase of the project assesses the community’s need, analyzes the current operational systems, and makes recommendations for the design of the resource.Deliverables• Literature review of the issues surrounding the organization, description and representation of media assets• Needs assessment report of internal and external stakeholders• Profile of the systems in the area of managing and organizing media assetsfor public broadcasting nationwideActivities• Analysis of information seeking behavior• Analysis of collaboration within the respective organizations• Analysis of the scope and context of the proposed system• Examining the availability of information resources and exchangeof resources among users

A emergência da qualidade nas Bibliotecas Públicas em Portugal

Este estudo apresenta um diagnóstico de situação das Bibliotecas Públicas portuguesas face aos Sistemas de Gestão de Qualidade (SGQ) e a avaliação de indícios de emergência de qualidade neste tipo de bibliotecas, tipificando os diferentes tipos de emergência diagnosticados, identificando os factores que impulsionam a implementação dos SGQ, os motivos de recuo e/ou avanço para uma gestão de qualidade. É estabelecida a ligação ao percurso da qualidade na Administração Pública em Portugal, com vista a contextualizar o presente trabalho e entender o aparecimento de Sistemas de Gestão de Qualidade. Apresentam-se razões que justificam a lentidão da prevista e anunciada proliferação de Sistemas de Gestão de Qualidade nas Bibliotecas Públicas portuguesas (como se previa há uma década atrás), referenciando de forma sucinta alguns dos diferentes modelos de gestão de qualidade validados que se encontram implementados tanto no nosso país como no estrangeiro. ABSTRACT: This study presents a diagnostic explanation on the situation of the Portuguese Public Libraries, taking into consideration the system of Managenent Quality Control (SGC) and the evaluation of the emergence of quality in these types of libraries, typifying the different types of forthcoming diagnostics, identifying the factors that started the implementation of the SGC and the reasons of the withdrawal and advancement towards quality management. A synopsis of the quality of Public Administration in Portugal has also been made, with the idea of putting into context the current work and understanding up to what point this forced the arrival of the system of Management Quality Control and, in a way, try to find the reasons that justify the slowness of the arrival of the system of Management Quality Control in the Portuguese Public Libraries (as was predicted almost a decade ago). Throughout this document references and explanations will be made, in a succinct way, of some of the different forms of validated Quality Management Control that are to be found in our country, as well as abroad.

Providing health information to the general public: a survey of current practices in academic health sciences libraries*

A questionnaire was mailed to 148 publicly and privately supported academic health sciences libraries affiliated with Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC)–accredited medical schools in the United States and Canada to determine level of access and services provided to the general public. For purposes of this study, “general public” was defined as nonaffiliated students or health care professionals, attorneys and other nonhealth-related professionals, patients from affiliated or other hospitals or clinics, and general consumers. One hundred five (71%) libraries responded. Results showed 98% of publicly supported libraries and 88% of privately supported libraries provided access to some or all of the general public. Publicly supported libraries saw greater numbers of public patrons, often provided more services, and were more likely to circulate materials from their collections than were privately supported libraries. A significant number of academic health sciences libraries housed a collection of consumer-oriented materials and many provided some level of document delivery service, usually for a fee. Most allowed the public to use some or all library computers. Results of this study indicated that academic health sciences libraries played a significant role in serving the information-seeking public and suggested a need to develop written policies or guidelines covering the services that will be provided to minimize the impact of this service on primary clientele.

Approved list of books for rural libraries. Books for rural libraries must be selected from the list approved by the state superintendent of public instruction, in accordance with section 1 of the rural library of 1903.

At head of title: Dept. of libraries, loans, and course of study.

Jubilee of the Royal Museum and Library, Peel Park. Salford and the inauguration of the public free libraries movement. Together with a short history of the museum and libraries ...

Cover-title: The Royal Museum & Libraries, Salford: their inception & development.