Academic libraries by nature serve as spaces for communities of learners to gather. Careful design and marketing of spaces to meet specific needs, staffed by experts to facilitate and guide such learning, enhance the impact of "library as place." In this article, the author shares two examples of collaborations that have resulted from partnerships…

Library staff members should ultimately base their purchasing choices on the mission statements of their employing institutions. Fortunately, library mission statements have much in common. Undoubtedly, for example, all libraries have a goal that includes "serve the information needs of the community," because on some level, all libraries are…

Patient activation is a new term for a perennial problem. People know what they need to do for their health: exercise, eat right, and get enough rest--but how are they motivated to actually do these things? This is what patient activation is. From this author's vantage point as a medical librarian, public libraries are well-placed to be part of…

In the corporate world, the "consumerization of IT" is being debated by C-level execs. Will libraries adopt the new bring-your-own-device-to-work policy? In the workplace, there may be room for debate, but in libraries, librarians don't have a choice whether or not to support the devices patrons want to use, at least not if they want to remain…

With changing user expectations, many libraries are moving toward digital content. Accessible from anywhere at any time, digital content provides users with efficient, on-demand information experiences. Accordingly, librarians are presented with challenges and opportunities to build, manage, and implement outreach strategies that promote their…

People using libraries will expect to receive more of what they provide in more ways and in more places. It's already the case that people presume they should be able to do things they can do at the library through the web. Because they can do that, they presume they can use the libraries through their phones and their tablet computers. To some…

Innovations in search and retrieval have provided librarians with some of their most exciting challenges as a profession. Yet even as new tools flood the academic library commons, direct, person-to-person information counseling is still needed, some would say more than ever. Consequently, it can be very useful to study how users conduct new…

This article describes the Project Lefty, a search system that, at a minimum, adds a layer on top of traditional federated search tools that will make the wait for results more worthwhile for researchers. At best, Project Lefty improves search queries and relevance rankings for web-scale discovery tools to make the results themselves more relevant…

Reduced government payments to school districts in Ontario, Canada have made it increasingly difficult to add resources to school library collections. To meet the needs of its community, St. Benedict Catholic Secondary School will share a new facility with a branch of the Cambridge Public Library. Discusses how the partnership took shape and its…

Discusses issues facing libraries using digital information resources, based on experiences at the Pennsylvania State University at Harrisburg library. Topics include comparing electronic resources; goals of providing the service or resource; determining users' needs; resources for access, including networks and financing; software; budgeting;…

Describes how a library, with an MCI Corporation grant, approached the process of setting up computers for the visually impaired. Discusses preparations, which included hiring a visually-impaired user as a consultant and contacting the VIP (Visually Impaired Persons) group; equipment; problems with the graphical user interface; and training.…

Discusses digital libraries and Web site design issues. Highlights include accessibility issues, including standards, markup languages like HTML and XML, and metadata; building virtual communities; the use of Web portals for customized delivery of information; quality assurance tools, including data mining; and determining user needs, including…

Discusses the development of networked information services from a user's perspective. Topics discussed include user education; the issue of access to, versus retrieval of, information; the role of the library, including education and training, bibliographic control, and electronic information services; and training and education for librarians.…

Summarizes users' opinions of a networked electronic library at Cornell University's Mann Library as part of the planning process for a major redesign. The system's impact on library collection development, preservation, technical services, information services and delivery, instruction, and computer support are described; and plans for library…

Discusses library planning that is needed when changing from one computer system to another. Topics discussed include change theory; the need for communication between library administration and staff and between the library and its users; phased implementation; training for library staff and for users; and the need for documentation. (seven…