The local library across the digital and physical city: Opportunities for economic development

This paper considers the role of the public library as a community hub, engagement space, and entrepreneurial incubator in the context of the city, city governance, and local government planning. It considers this role from the perspective of library experts and their future visions for libraries in a networked knowledge economy. Public libraries (often operated by or on behalf of local governments) potentially play a pivotal role for local governments in positioning communities within the global digital network. Fourteen qualitative interviews with library experts informed the study which investigates how the relationship between digital technology and the physical library space can potentially support the community to develop innovative, collaborative environments for transitioning to a digital future. The study found that libraries can capitalise on their position as community hubs for two purposes: first, to build vibrant community networks and forge economic links across urban localities; and second, to cross the digital divide and act as places of innovation and lifelong learning. Libraries provide a specific combination of community and technology spaces and have significant tangible connection points in the digital age. The paper further discusses the potential benefits for libraries in using ICT networks and infrastructure, such as the National Broadband Network in Australia. These networks could facilitate greater use of library assets and community knowledge, which, in turn, could assist knowledge economies and regional prosperity

Are Libraries Necessary? Are Libraries Obsolete?

Libraries are under siege. They face competing demands not only from different people but also from the same people at different times. Some assert that libraries must continue to strengthen their role as physical centers at the heart of their communities. Others argue that the future of libraries is at the leading edge of the revolution in digital information technologies. The authors introduce this special issue of Maine Policy Review on libraries and information. They provide an overview of the importance and complexity of the issues underlying these varying visions for how Maine libraries should serve their communities in the coming years

Copyright and digital academic library development in the UK.

Reviews the role of copyright in digital academic and research library development in the UK over the last 25 years, drawing on policy documents, legislative reviews and statutes, project documentation and programme syntheses. Finds that copyright-related issues have presented challenges for the development of digital libraries. UK copyright law has been reformed as a result of consultative reviews, but the role of high-level negotiations between stakeholder representatives and the development of model and blanket licences have arguably been more effective in supporting the development of digital libraries. Despite tensions between libraries and publishers, gradual cultural change and the roles played key players such funding councils and high-level representative groups have facilitated progress. The increasing trend towards open licensing presents new roles for libraries as well as challenges and new business opportunities for publishers. Concludes it is unclear what future UK copyright and research policy will be, but it is likely that improved access to academic resources and research will continue, the roles of libraries and publishers will continue to evolve, and new sources of tension and challenges will arise

Esimene teadusraamatukogude visioonikonverents Eestis

The First Estonian Vision Conference of Research Libraries On 1 November 2022, the first-ever vision conference dedicated to the future of research libraries was held in Estonia. The event marked the national year of libraries and the significant anniversary of the University of Tartu Library. Approximately 100 participants from various libraries, with 75 of them on-site and the rest online, engaged in discussions about the most critical issues in the development of research libraries and sought to set goals for the future. The conference began with presentations in English, focusing mainly on open science. The first speaker was Ragnar Siil, founder and CEO of Creativity Lab, a think tank for international cultural policy and creative economy, and President of the European Network of Cultural Policy Designers. Rector of the University of Tartu Toomas Asser emphasised the vital role of libraries in a democratic society, noting that while university libraries have for centuries been responsible for preserving, managing, and providing access to research and cultural collections, the digital age has expanded their benefits and accessibility. Eva Mendez, a renowned expert in open science, discussed the challenges in front of traditional scientific publishing practices, emphasising the „publish or perish” model and the need for open science to enhance the quality of research and global understanding. She highlighted the importance of flexibility in adapting to changing research practices, in leveraging contemporary technologies, and in amending intellectual property laws to better align with societal interests and scientific goals. Kristjan Luukas Ilves, the Deputy Chancellor for Digital Development at the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Communications of the Republic of Estonia, stressed the significance of improving user experience, ensuring data quality and accessibility, and fostering the culture of open data. He underlined the importance of data security and the need for comprehensive data structures and technology and management skills development. MIT Libraries’ experiences in the United States provided an example of effective change management. Erin Stalberg and Heather Sardis discussed MIT’s principles, emphasising the importance of the digital shift, open research, data management support, strategic human resource development, diversity, equity, and inclusion. They encouraged Estonian research libraries to develop strategies for change management. MacKenzie Smith from the University of California, Davis, discussed the evolving role of research libraries.While traditional libraries focused on their collections, today, the emphasis is on the user and their needs in a digital world. She suggested that research libraries should invest more in digital services, recruit IT experts, and utilise linked data. Smith also emphasised the growing importance of artificial intelligence and encouraged libraries to experiment with AI-based solutions. In conclusion, the conference addressed three questions about the future of libraries: their names (with most favouring „libraries”, but also considering alternatives), required skills for librarians (with data management topping the list), and the possibility of conducting research without libraries (with responses divided between „yes” and „partly”). The second part of the Vision Conference began with a presentation by Andres Kollist, the Director of Tallinn University Academic Library, discussing the understanding, ownership, value, and price of information in the context of the rapidly changing information landscape. He stressed the role of libraries in helping users assess, search, and find quality information in an environment often filled with information noise and misinformation. Martin Eessalu, Head of a research infrastructure at the Ministry of Education and Research, provided an overview of the collaboration between the state and research libraries and outlined future perspectives. The Estonian Research and Development and Innovation Strategy „Research and Development and Innovation 2021–2035” prioritises the continuity of data archives, research libraries, and access to essential research databases. The government recognises the importance of making data and resources more accessible and promoting the open data culture. Aija Sakova, an expert in literature and Manager of Business Cooperation and Knowledge Transfer at Tallinn University, discussed the seemingly contrasting roles of research libraries. She highlighted the library’s timeless role as a sanctuary for reflection and intellectual exploration, at the same time emphasising the need for libraries to evolve and become change agents in the data-driven world, supporting research data management, open science, and data literacy. Tanel Alumäe, professor at the Tallinn University of Technology, presented the project „Estonian Text Summarizer”, focusing on text summarisation and computer-assisted navigation in large text corpora. Summarisation systems automatically generate concise summaries from extensive texts, making it easier to navigate and comprehend large volumes of text. He discussed the challenges and opportunities of developing such systems, highlighting the importance of training data, noise handling, and the potential of artificial intelligence in information retrieval. Olga Einasto, Head of the Service Department at the University of Tartu Library, highlighted the importance of communication in libraries, tracing the evolution of communication processes in libraries from the Gutenberg era to the digital age. She emphasised that libraries have transformed from authoritative institutions to open and participatory learning environments, adapting to societal changes and realising the need for finding balance in their communication and power relationships with readers. Liisi Lembinen, Director of Development at the University of Tartu Library and the main organiser of the conference, expressed her hope that the conference provided inspiration and a clearer vision of the expectations for research libraries and their future direction for all participants. The conference aimed to benefit not only library professionals but also anyone interested in the future of research libraries. It addressed a wide range of topics, from the changing information landscape to the evolving role of libraries in the digital age, and the importance of open science and data management

The Library as a Hybrid Building: New Forms and Complex Programmes

Libraries are evolving in response to a multitude of influences and they are increasingly becoming hybrid buildings. Their traditional functions - to store and lend books and provide areas in which to read - are being combined with other roles. Within their walls, diverse programmes of activities are being created which reflect increasing complexity in society and culture. This paper discusses the hybridization of libraries and explores the impact it might have on their traditional role as an important civic landmark. The methodology makes reference to a broad church of research on library design. Whilst it is generally accepted that libraries must adapt in the context of digital cultures, some have cautioned over libraries becoming "mongrel" buildings. How might this diverging role of libraries undermine their identity and what they symbolise? Particular reference is made to theoretical library projects designed by architecture students attending a UK university, which have explored what potential roles libraries might play in the future, as well as built projects. The paper will advance understanding about the ways in which libraries might evolve, what forms they might take in the future, and what the impact of hybrid programmes might be on their identity as civic buildings

From Distant Admirers to Library Lovers - and Beyond: A Typology of Public Library Engagement in America

The digital era has brought profound challenges and opportunities to countless institutions and industries, from universities to newspapers to the music industry, in ways both large and small. Institutions that were previously identified with printed material -- and its attendant properties of being expensive, scarce, and obscure -- are now considering how to take on new roles as purveyors of information, connections, and entertainment, using the latest formats and technologies. The impact of digital technologies on public libraries is particularly interesting because libraries serve so many people (about half of all Americans ages 16 and older used a public library in some form in the past year, as of September 2013) and correspondingly try to meet a wide variety of needs.This is also what makes the task of public libraries -- as well as governments, news organizations, religious groups, schools, and any other institution that is trying to reach a wide swath of the American public -- so challenging: They are trying to respond to new technologies while maintaining older strategies of knowledge dissemination.Libraries loom large in the public imagination, and are generally viewed very positively: 90% of Americans ages 16 and older say that the closing of their local public library would have an impact on their community. This means that many people have a stake in the future of libraries, and as the digital age advances, there is much discussion about where they are headed. To help with that conversation, Pew Research has spent three years charting the present role libraries play in Americans' lives and communities, in the hopes that this will set the foundation for discussions of what libraries should be in the future. The first stage of our research studied the growing role of e-books, including their impact on Americans' reading habits and Americans' library habbits. Our second stage explored the full universe of library services, as well as what library services Americans most value and what they might want from libraries in the future. This typology completes our third and final stage of research, which explores public libraries' roles in people's lives and in American culture writ large - how they are perceived, how they are valued, how people rely on them, and so forth

Library Technology – Between Local Tools and Global Solutions

Digital information infrastructures such as Google or Wikipedia are often compared to libraries. As traditional libraries, they support the circulation of knowledge resources. However, they are neither operated by nor designed for library institutions. In order to describe the contribution of libraries to the digital infrastructures of the 21st century more precisely, the term Library Technology is applied in this text. Library Technology will be demarcated from terms such as Digital Libraries, a frequently used concept in Computer Science and colloquial language. The focus lies on present and future developments of infrastructures in science, such as the European Science Cloud (EOSC). It is suggested that the original contribution of libraries to current and future data infrastructure is present but not explicitly visible or referenced in communications. This rather hidden, implicit role is interpreted to be detrimental to the library identity in the 21st century. It is recommended to reference the role of the library more explicitly.Digitale Informationsinfrastrukturen wie Google oder Wikipedia werden oft mit Bibliotheken verglichen. Wie traditionelle Bibliotheken unterstützen sie die Zirkulation von Wissensressourcen. Sie werden jedoch weder von bibliothekarischen Einrichtungen betrieben noch sind sie für diese konzipiert. Um den Beitrag von Bibliotheken zu den digitalen Infrastrukturen des 21. Jahrhunderts genauer zu beschreiben, wird in diesem Text der Begriff Bibliothekstechnologie verwendet. Bibliothekstechnologie von Begriffen wie „Digital Libraries“, einem häufig verwendeten Begriff in der Informatik und der Umgangssprache, abgegrenzt. Der Fokus liegt auf aktuellen und zukünftigen Entwicklungen von Dateninfrastrukturen im Wissenschaftsbereich, wie beispielsweise der European Science Cloud (EOSC). Der ursprüngliche Beitrag von Bibliotheken zur gegenwärtigen und zukünftigen Dateninfrastruktur ist präsent, aber in der Kommunikation nicht explizit sichtbar. Diese eher versteckte, implizite Rolle ist der Bibliotheksidentität im 21. Jahrhundert abträglich. Es wird empfohlen, expliziter auf die Rolle der Bibliothek hinzuweisen.Peer Reviewe

Digital information services: a boon for the present and future generations

Any document that is not collected and preserved is likely to be lost, unavailable both now and future. Digitization is a viable solution to make it eternal; to maintain the digital collections and provide access digital libraries became essential in the contemporary information society. In a digital environment university libraries have a new role to fill. To fulfill the mission of the library it has to provide the traditional reference services, retrieval and dissemination of information and at the same time it has to stretch its services to information search services, to organize the information resources for easy access, to filter qualitative information from the vast ocean of World Wide Web, to facilitate translation services to resolve both linguistic and format incompatibilities and also to take up publishing service in which libraries also aggregate information, add value to information products, and create new information. Another traditional library activity that will surely expand in University Digital Libraries is the collection and creation of reviews or annotations for information resources

Role of Library Professionals in Information Dissemination during National Lockdown: A Case Study in Reference to Recent Pandemic

Libraries play an important role in the everyday life of students and faculty. The COVID-19 pandemic has greatly affected higher education, including libraries systems & services. This global pandemic almost changes the entire working style of the library from traditional to online. The purpose of this study was to explore the response of the Libraries and LIS professionals during the COVID -19 pandemic and determine their working practices, services practices, and strategies applied and role-played. Libraries see their individual and collective roles of societal and educational dimensions during these uncertain times. The study also made recommendations for the betterment of Libraries. In this study, an online survey was performed using a Google Form questionnaire and send to prominent LIS professionals countrywide. The study covers almost 59 unique libraries from different colleges, universities, public sectors & information service centres. Out of the collected data, 101 respondents were selected as the final sample of the study. The findings of the study revealed that, among the respondent, 95% (96) demanded that their library provide online library services, 99% (100) respondents were positive about their library to provide online ask a librarian facility, and 76% (77) ensured that their library conducts such QIPs for their staffs during the national lockdown. Further, a total of 73 respondents identified in providing a Remote Access Facility to their library users during the lockdown period. The study concluded that in this new information era library staff, ought to consistently be prepared to confront difficult circumstances. Most libraries recommended in the near future to adopt webinars services and focused on motivating, encouraging the librarians to enhance their digital skills to be in pace with the present digital age