Purpose: This paper aims to investigate design principles for transforming existing making communities of practice within public libraries into online knowledge-building communities to support youths, families with young children and adult members' making and tinkering during COVID-19. Design/methodology/approach: Building upon C4P and connected…

The terms Diversifying, Decentring and Decolonising characterise the ways that academic libraries are engaging with social justice issues, through multiple theoretical perspectives epitomised by the rejection of libraries as neutral spaces. The review covers numerous case studies of critically informed action, or praxis across a variety of…

The experience of COVID-19 has prompted a reckoning within both special collections and the larger library community about how we do our work. This article provides some thoughts about the "new normal" of working in the COVID-19 era. It shares some informal conversations with colleagues as well as guides to sources for further reflection.

Service-learning, a growing pedagogy in higher education, provides opportunities for students to contribute to communities and to reflect upon experiences ranging from direct service to advocacy. Librarians have an important but underutilized role in supporting service-learning as they contribute to institutional missions and the public purposes…

Attempts to assess the influence of the web upon our intellectual and imaginative capacities have resulted in a steady stream of commentary and debate. Although the subject has been approached from a variety of perspectives, the analyses often share a lexicon of transformation, of upheaval, of the unprecedented or the inexorable. This can be true…

This paper takes a theoretical and practical approach in defining the "problem" of homelessness in libraries. The author examines three fundamental problems on homelessness. The three fundamental questions are: (a) Who are the homeless? (b) Why are they homeless? (c) What are their information needs in libraries? These questions are important in…

In a time when information self-service and enhanced competition have sent libraries of all types into an oftentimes desperate search for a renewed sense of purpose, a fundamentally important question takes center stage: How can libraries connect with the deepest aspirations of their service communities? This article describes a new library…

Discussion of the homeless in American public libraries focuses on harmless individuals who may be considered nuisance by library staff/patrons. Highlights include literature about problem library patrons, national problem, social issues, major themes (offense to others and library staff, balancing rights, and elitism), and implications for…

This brief introduction sets the stage for this issue's topic of the libraries' role in social problems. (MF)

These reports were compiled as representative of the broad spectrum of socially-concerned activity that can be observed in the library profession at almost any given time. (Author/ MF)

The purpose of the program presented in this document is to develop understanding of social problems, particularly the problems of the poor. Included are the syllabus and other materials for a course in Social Problems as it is taught in the Department of Sociology and Social Work at Anderson College, Anderson, Indiana. This program has been made…

Both authors emphasize that no social issue is outside the purview of school libraries. (MF)

In response to evidences of critical human need, the King County Library Board and staff have been exploring ways in which to do their part in alleviating the problems of unemployment, hunger and malnutrition and related social and health problems among the people they serve. (3 references) (Author)

Discusses the role of academic libraries and librarians and suggests they should become more involved in social and political issues such as AIDS education. The use of a mass media campaign as a model for library activities is explained, and problems surrounding AIDS education in libraries are addressed. (20 references) (LRW)

Discusses the virtual library as a model for library service in developing countries and describes the potential for these countries to solve many problems through access to needed information and through increased cooperation. Outlines obstacles to achieving this goal, which include lack of economic resources, technological dependence on…