Public libraries are libraries with the primary purpose of serving members of the public rather than, e.g., members of a specific institution or organization. This tag should be used to indicate questions about, or that may almost always occur in the context of, public libraries.
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The manuscript Summa Logicae (William of Ockham)
The Summa Logicae (Latin, in English it's the Sum of Logic) is a textbook on logic by William of Ockham. There are articles about the Summa Logicae in Wikipedia and in Logicmuseum.
It was published ...
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1answer
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What are the various types of Patron Driven Acquisitions that public libraries use, and which are the most cost-effective?
Right now I have found these:
Purchase on demand
E-reserve PDA
Reference collection PDA
Print on Demand (Espresso Book Machine)
PPV (Pay Per View) ebooks
Are there others?
And what do ...
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Auto-logging into Aquabrowser catalog system
I'm looking to auto-login to Aquabrowser's catalog system using their own form.
By using Javascript I pulled the barcode and pin information in and populated the forms, but triggering the login ...
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0answers
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Help locating a library [closed]
This question may be deemed off-topic, but I am looking for the location of a particular library.
I have tried reverse image searches and following the picture back through various websites/tumblrs. ...
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2answers
159 views
What classification system would be a optimal choice for a school library?
What would be the most effective classification to shelf books in a small library of a school? I think LCC and Dewey Decimal would be "overkill" for just textbooks for grades.
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1answer
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Standard policy for hiring substitute librarians
What's a good policy for hiring substitute librarians and should such a policy include feedback to those substitutes after they are hired?
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1answer
70 views
What is a good policy for dealing with children not behaving but whose parents are with them?
This is similar to What is a good policy for dealing with parents who leave their children at the library as free daycare / babysitting?, but I did not see an answer to this question in any of the ...
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4answers
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Acknowledging Friends groups
Most public libraries rely on their Friends groups for fundraising, program facilitation, hospitality, and volunteerism. It is important to acknowledge their contributions both in the moment and then ...
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Online magazine delivery
Our public library is considering moving to Zinio for online delivery of some of our magazines. Apparently we would pay money for the platform, then a flat fee for each subscription, which can be then ...
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1answer
59 views
What are some effective ways to index a vertical file?
The vertical file appears to be something that every library has, but you don't learn much about in library school.
What are some effective ways to organize this information, decide what is relevant ...
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1answer
48 views
What studies quantify the full cost of library or archive closure? What are the full costs?
There are costs associated with the closure of major libraries or archives. We often hear cost savings associated with a "budget cut" touted, but there are costs associated with closure, too.
Many ...
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1answer
46 views
Business sponsorships for a public library
Our Friends Group is interested in pursuing business sponsorships, and I see a need for a policy that sets guidelines for this. Concerns that come to mind:
Should sponsorship be one-time, annual, or ...
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4answers
150 views
Holiday decorations in a public library
Historically our public library has avoided holiday decorations, but every year staff and members of the public ask about the bah-humbug attitude, reluctantly accepting the explanation that we are ...
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1answer
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What is the Collaborative Summer Library Program?
What is the CSLP? Is membership in CSLP required to host a Summer Reading Club at a public library? What are the benefits to being a CSLP library - or not being one?
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1answer
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What is best practice for TV series collection development?
I work in a public library and have just been assigned TV series on DVD as a collection development area. I am looking for a guideline concerning when (not) to replace damaged items. Ideally, for all ...
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5answers
87 views
Reserve wrapper alternatives
When a reserved item is scanned in at our library, a reserve wrapper will print. It has the member's name on the spine and the pull date for its removal from the shelf, and member contact information ...
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1answer
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Establishing guidelines for topical displays
With the change in seasons, public libraries often have topical displays with such headlines as "SUMMER" and "BEACH READS".
I'm certain that each library will have its own methodology for selecting ...
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3answers
79 views
What classifications of people's interests exist?
I know the North American Industry Classification System for
categories of businesses. Is the a similar classification of subjects people are interested in?
For instance: pop music, computer science ...
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3answers
115 views
Are libraries allowed to purchase media directly from Amazon and the like?
Are there any restrictions that would prevent libraries from ordering latest DVDs directly from Amazon and offering them as part of the library collection?
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2answers
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What “due process” should a controversial book receive as a matter of policy?
Censorship can many times be attributed to ignorance about a particular book or other artistic work. Situations can often arise where patrons or municipal officials complain about particular work for ...
6
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1answer
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Using Facebook with teen volunteers or teen audience: address Facebook's 13+ age limit or not?
Some context: Teens (and tweens) are avid users of Facebook. A likely place for libraries to connect with teens is on Facebook. We know that our "teen" initiatives, collections and activities ...
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3answers
99 views
How to value a library collection
I have been asked to find out the most authoritative method for determining the cost value of a library collection (it is a public library, so would include books, magazines, dvds, CDs etc). Does ...
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2answers
258 views
What is a good policy for dealing with parents who leave their children at the library as free daycare / babysitting?
What is an appropriate response to a parent who leaves the child so they can work elsewhere in the library?
Are there time periods that are "okay" vs. "not okay" (e.g., fifteen minutes vs. five ...
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7answers
214 views
How can you get non-library trained people to trust in your weeding?
There are two primary contexts in which this might come up:
A public or school librarian has to earn the trust of a public official, who may be a bureaucrat or politician but has some power over the ...
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2answers
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when cutting hours, which days to pick? [closed]
This is related to my other question. When the local Queens library system cuts hours, they always cut weekend hours first. Some people who work can only come on weekends. Whereas people who can ...
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5answers
179 views
Why are many small branches better than big central libraries?
Most years my local library system (Queens NYC) goes through a process where:
extreme budget cuts threatened
library threatens to close all neighborhood branches on weekends and one or two weekdays
...
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7answers
294 views
What's a quick way to explain what librarians are/do?
Okay, time for a way to answer the traditional problem of the friend/relative/stranger who looks at you and says, "Oh, so you read books all day?" or the politician who wants to know what you do that ...
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4answers
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What is a good alternative to Bookmobile services?
My library has been experimenting with alternatives to bookmobiles. I need to find a good solution for patrons who have high demand needs. How do you provide outreach service to patrons who expect the ...
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3answers
102 views
Do digital comics play a role in a library's acquisitions policy?
The explosion in popularity of graphic novels and of comic spin-offs (movies etc) seems to make this a good time for 'comics' to start taking more of a slice of the acquisitions budget.
With ...
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3answers
100 views
Where can I find published library technology guidelines online?
I know library technology standards are a moving target, but some of us try. DOes your state publish library technology standards?
I've helped with Colorado tech standards for more than a decade - ...
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2answers
219 views
Unique Adult Library Programs [closed]
What are some unique adult library programs that you have had at your library that were successful in the number of attendees and the patron's experience (educational/entertainment)?
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3answers
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Is library-as-publisher a viable option for small libraries?
In the perpetual struggle to be relevant and better serve our community, I'd like my small public library to consider publishing/serving e-books written by local authors, but I don't see any models ...
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4answers
149 views
How to integrate new technologies into public libraries with an older staff?
When dealing with an older staff that are adverse to learning new technology, what are some effective ways of integrating newer technology, such as eBook readers or attending webinars?
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2answers
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Intellectual property rights
What is the legality of an American tax supported public library claiming IP rights on materials created by employees on site, outside of assigned tasks?
I understand the claim of materials assigned ...
