Nearly two years ago, the Center for an Urban Future published "Branches of Opportunity," a report documenting that New York City's public libraries have become more vital than ever, and are serving more New Yorkers in more ways than ever before. This new report provides an exhaustive analysis of the libraries' capital needs and offers a…

Collection development librarians have long struggled to meet user demands for new titles. Too often, required resources are not purchased, whereas some purchased resources do not circulate. E-books selected through patron-driven plans are a solution but present new challenges for both selectors and catalogers. Radical changes to traditional…

This book is for community leaders, librarians, library committees, volunteers, aid workers and others who are interested in the practical aspect of starting and maintaining a successful library. Throughout the developing world, countless dedicated people respond to the pressing need for information in their communities by helping to start a…

Twenty-six scholarly papers and ten abstracts comprise the content of the thirteenth annual Brick and Click Libraries Symposium, held annually at Northwest Missouri State University in Maryville, Missouri. The proceedings, authored by academic librarians and presented at the symposium, portray the contemporary and future face of librarianship. The…

From 1988 to 1995, Partnerships for Change (PFC) led the way in developing innovative library service programs and forging new community partnerships. Today, many PFC principles--planning, needs assessment, valuing diversity, community linkages, public relations and evaluation--have been incorporated into how California public libraries plan for…

This publication outlines approaches librarians may take to begin a literacy program in a public library or a literacy coalition in the community, and provides guidelines for writing a successful literacy grant application to fund the coalition. Ways in which a library may advance literacy and serve patrons for whom English is a second language…

In 1998, the Houston Public Library launched a new library card campaign. Through extensive outreach, community partnerships, and the support of a major corporation, the program nearly doubled the number of children with cards in one fiscal year and increased juvenile circulation by more than 20%. The program led to an increase in library funding,…

Reflects on the potency of libraries as community assets during the past 2000 years. Traces the preservation of knowledge in ancient libraries. Addresses ecclesiastical library development and the relatively recent rise of public and academic libraries; identifies their connections with their communities, and the relevance for today. Describes…

If libraries what influential people in their service areas to regard them as full partners in community building, libraries need to know their information needs before they do, and get the resources into their hands that will facilitate their decision-making before they realize they need it. Suggestions are provided for effective marketing of…

"Community involvement," the standard cliche, does not come close to capturing the spirit and action that have structured the building, programs, collections, and services of the Haines Borough Public Library (HBPL), AK. Those achievements make HBPL the winner of the first annual award for the Best Small Library in America, cosponsored…

This book provides an introduction to basic communications concepts, a step-by-step process for developing and implementing a library public relations/communications plan, and descriptions of effective library communications tools and strategies. Detailed examples of the application of solid communications planning in school, public, academic, and…

When the Johnson County Library (Shawnee Mission, Kansas) went the extra mile to comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), an intensive program of building modification, new equipment acquisition, staff education, and community-awareness promotion was the result. A Disabilities Awareness Month was also launched. (AEF)