IFLA Journal

The question of public reading - of access to published works, newspapers, and to information in general - is a major challenge in developing countries. Public reading does not replace education or literacy policies. It is far more important because it fi rmly establishes access to knowledge into day-to-day reality, and gives everyone the possibility of an opening to the world. It meets the expectations of local populations, namely those in remote areas, as is shown by nearly 3 million admissions and more than 1 million books lent each year in the 213 Reading and Cultural Activity Centres set up by the Organisation Internationale de la Francophonie (OIF) in 18 countries in Africa, the Indian Ocean, the Caribbean and the Middle East. In addition to giving access to books and newspapers, the centres allow access to the media (radio, television, video), to computers, sometimes to the Internet. In addition to being public libraries, these centres host cultural activities such as conferences, theatrical and musical events, training sessions (on health, agriculture, etc.). In view of this success, many governments of developing countries want to develop a genuine public reading policy at national level.

The National Library of Scotland (NLS) has developed a new mission and vision to support a new strategy entitled ‘Breaking Through the Walls’. Collections and access were highlighted as areas of strategic importance. As part of this strategy, NLS has worked to defi ne its customers and their requirements particularly through a programme of market research. With projects such as the Digital NLS, the Library is creating different access routes for people who might not use its resources otherwise. To further widen access NLS has nurtured partnerships with various organizations which are providing new ways for new customers to use the Library. This helps the Library engage with underrepresented groups and minorities and help them to learn from, and gain access to and enjoy the wealth of information in the collection. Gives examples of other national libraries who have successfully broadened access to their collections and engaged in partnerships.

This paper discusses a variety of options available to academic libraries considering the acquisition of eBooks. A detailed examination is undertaken with regard to the impact of eBooks on the ordering process, purchasing models, distribution options and overall utility. The paper also outlines some key issues and potential future directions for eBooks.

The paper explores the periphery of emerging technologies and roles for document delivery and resource sharing with a focus on sharing best practices for adaptative strategies using practical examples such as new training programs and methods to collaboratively explore and adopt emergent technologies and web services, and new partnerships. Examples of emergent technologies and web services include: Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP), mobile technologies, social networking software and services. Examples of new partnerships include: collaborative strategies for resource sharing within libraries; acquisitions, digital libraries, reference, and with vendors. Examples of new training programs include: ALA RUSA STARS Education Committee, training programs at the University of Virginia Libraries and other resources.

Asking questions is a vital part of information seeking: it begs an answer, it allows for modifi cation in response to fi ndings, it aids in comprehension, it fosters self-regulation, and it invites conversation. The skill of posing questions throughout the information-seeing process is often under-valued and under-taught. To ask quality, higher-level questions requires explicit instruction. Moreover, such instruction needs to take into account age-appropriate developmental processes. This paper examines the questioning behavior of youth, confronts the issue of question locus of control, and offers guidance in helping youth develop effective question strategies for comprehending information and questioning authority.

This paper is intended to review the key aspects of the environmental changes now occurring around libraries, information centers and library professionals, followed by a tentative proposal with the aim of making a breakthrough for them in the digital era. We will focus our attention on information professionals in special libraries, information centers and so on. They have been exposing themselves to the risk that the resources assigned to their libraries would be easily reduced, infl uenced by the diffi culties in fi nance and the renewal of management plans of parent organizations, mainly due to economic depression. This makes them even more sensitive to effi cient and effective management of their libraries. By analyzing them, we are able to acquire some ‘leading indicators’ in library services management and human resource management for library people.