the network of slovenian public libraries maja Žumer university of ljubljana slovenia

The network of The network of Slovenian public Slovenian public

libraries libraries

Maja ŽumerMaja Žumer

University of LjubljanaUniversity of Ljubljana

SloveniaSlovenia

10 November 200510 November 2005 IFLA WSIS pre-conference IFLA WSIS pre-conference 22

What is aWhat is a ‘library’ ‘library’??

organisationorganisation collectionscollections servicesservices librarianslibrarians buildingbuilding placeplace


The public libraryThe public library

““Provides access to knowledge, information Provides access to knowledge, information and works of the imagination through a and works of the imagination through a range of resources and services and is range of resources and services and is equally available to all members of the equally available to all members of the community regardless of race, nationality, community regardless of race, nationality, age, gender, religion, language, disability, age, gender, religion, language, disability, economic or empleconomic or emplooyment status and yment status and educational attainment.”educational attainment.”

(IFLA/UNESCO Guidelines, 2001)(IFLA/UNESCO Guidelines, 2001)


physical environment physical environment

vs. vs.

organised virtual information organised virtual information spacespace


‘‘Third places’Third places’

Physical places which enable human Physical places which enable human contact and social experience contact and social experience outside of the home (‘first place’) outside of the home (‘first place’) and workplace or school (‘second and workplace or school (‘second places’)places’)

Locations where people gather and Locations where people gather and talk about things which are important talk about things which are important to them.to them.


Libraries as ‘third places’Libraries as ‘third places’

Tradition of focus on communityTradition of focus on community Enriching public life and democracyEnriching public life and democracy

Is this role endangered when services Is this role endangered when services are provided on the Web?are provided on the Web?


The effect of Internet (different The effect of Internet (different views)views)

Isolating individuals and decreasing Isolating individuals and decreasing interpersonal relatinterpersonal relatiionshipsonships

Online communOnline communiity networks ty networks strengthen physical communitiesstrengthen physical communities


Public libraPublic librarry Web sitesy Web sites

Extension of library collections and Extension of library collections and resources through licensed and/or resources through licensed and/or digitised contentdigitised content

Gateway service through public Gateway service through public access workstationsaccess workstations

Interaction of customers with the Interaction of customers with the librarylibrary

Digital services (e.g. Digital services (e.g. ddigital reference)igital reference)


ResearchResearch

A lot of research reports, mostly description and A lot of research reports, mostly description and evaluation of various aspectsevaluation of various aspects

Some (critical) findings:Some (critical) findings: Libraries are still primarily seen as suppliers of Libraries are still primarily seen as suppliers of

printed informationprinted information Web sites are used by a small percentage of Web sites are used by a small percentage of

patronspatrons Most Web sites are very basicMost Web sites are very basic Public libraries are not utilising enough the Public libraries are not utilising enough the

potential of potential of IInternet nternet The competition may take overThe competition may take over


SloveniaSlovenia

Independent from 1991Independent from 1991 2 M inhabitants, 20273 km2 M inhabitants, 20273 km²²


Long tradition of public Long tradition of public librarieslibraries

First document in Slovenian: Freising First document in Slovenian: Freising manuscripts in 10th centurymanuscripts in 10th century

First printed book in 1551 (Primož Trubar)First printed book in 1551 (Primož Trubar) First public library in 1569 (Primož Trubar)First public library in 1569 (Primož Trubar) Discontinued until late 18th century Discontinued until late 18th century

(Enlightment)(Enlightment) 450 libraries with 122000 books in the 450 libraries with 122000 books in the

mid-19th century mid-19th century


Slovenian public librariesSlovenian public libraries nownow

6611 libraries with libraries with 179179 branches branches, 11 buses, 11 buses 374 circulation points, 658 bus stops374 circulation points, 658 bus stops 80% of planned ‘ideal’ situation80% of planned ‘ideal’ situation 27% membership, but 48% under 1527% membership, but 48% under 15 Single Single organisational organisational networknetwork

• 10 regional libraries: coordination10 regional libraries: coordination• Funded by local community and Ministry of Funded by local community and Ministry of

cultureculture• National Centre for Library Development at National Centre for Library Development at

National and University LibraryNational and University Library


AutomationAutomation

Relatively well equipped with ITRelatively well equipped with IT (0.5 (0.5 computer per 1000 inhabitants)computer per 1000 inhabitants)

Automated, using COBISS softwareAutomated, using COBISS software (IZUM, Maribor)(IZUM, Maribor)

Active partners in Slovenian union Active partners in Slovenian union cataloguecatalogue

Web sitesWeb sites


Web sitesWeb sites

Two studies:Two studies: The original study in 2002The original study in 2002 Repeated in 2004Repeated in 2004


The first studyThe first study (dr. Silva (dr. Silva Novljan)Novljan)

Performed by second year studentsPerformed by second year students Verifying the contentVerifying the content Focus on the mission of the public Focus on the mission of the public

librarylibrary GuidelinesGuidelines


Main focusMain focus Unique identity, perceived local needs, Unique identity, perceived local needs,

needs expressed by the communityneeds expressed by the community Showing the mission and goal, Showing the mission and goal,

emphasising their comparativemphasising their comparativee advantages in selection and access to advantages in selection and access to information resourcesinformation resources

Enabling the users to use the Web for Enabling the users to use the Web for independent problem solvingindependent problem solving

Promoting information literacy of the Promoting information literacy of the communitycommunity


Typical content foundTypical content found

General information on the library, General information on the library, operation and servicesoperation and services

Library collection and information Library collection and information sourcessources

Electronic resourcesElectronic resources Communication with the libraryCommunication with the library Events and other programmesEvents and other programmes


Critical findingsCritical findings

Information often unrelated to the Information often unrelated to the mission, incomplete/outdatedmission, incomplete/outdated

Libraries do not emphasise their Libraries do not emphasise their comparative advantagescomparative advantages

Inadequate presentation of electronic Inadequate presentation of electronic resourcesresources

Only three libraries offer a basic Only three libraries offer a basic information literacy programmeinformation literacy programme


The second studyThe second study

Performed in 2004 as a bachelor’s Performed in 2004 as a bachelor’s thesisthesis

The same frameworkThe same framework Verification of implementation of Verification of implementation of

guidelinesguidelines


FindingsFindings

Some positive changesSome positive changes More complete informationMore complete information Problems:Problems:

• Incomplete information on collections Incomplete information on collections (periodicals!)(periodicals!)

• Electronic resourcesElectronic resources• No user feedbackNo user feedback• Little originality in content and design (copies Little originality in content and design (copies

of printed brochures!)of printed brochures!)• Outdated informationOutdated information


ReasonsReasons

Lack of resourcesLack of resources Knowledge and professional Knowledge and professional

confidenceconfidence

Cooperation:Cooperation: Content provision instead of identical Content provision instead of identical

copiescopies Sharing of information literacy Sharing of information literacy

programmesprogrammes


ConclusionsConclusions

Substantial progress, but room for Substantial progress, but room for improvementimprovement

Web sites built from the library Web sites built from the library perspective instead of the user’s point of perspective instead of the user’s point of viewview

Importance of a well designed Web siteImportance of a well designed Web site Support the Support the ttraditional role of the library raditional role of the library

and augment it with the use of technologyand augment it with the use of technology


The goalThe goal

Follow the mission and remove obstacles to Follow the mission and remove obstacles to general availability of informationgeneral availability of information

““Libraries and information services provide Libraries and information services provide essential gateways to the Internet. For essential gateways to the Internet. For some they offer convenience, guidance, some they offer convenience, guidance, and assistance, while for others they are and assistance, while for others they are the only available access points. They the only available access points. They provide a mechanism to overcome the provide a mechanism to overcome the barriers created by differences in barriers created by differences in resources, technology, and training.” (IFLA resources, technology, and training.” (IFLA Internet Manifesto)Internet Manifesto)

the network of slovenian public libraries maja Žumer university of ljubljana slovenia

Documents

basicpublic libraries

public libraryprovides

communityenriching public

library development

local community

librarydigital services

primo trubardiscontinued

original study