The network of The network of Slovenian public Slovenian public
libraries libraries
Maja ŽumerMaja Žumer
University of LjubljanaUniversity of Ljubljana
SloveniaSlovenia
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What is aWhat is a ‘library’ ‘library’??
organisationorganisation collectionscollections servicesservices librarianslibrarians buildingbuilding placeplace
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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)
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physical environment physical environment
vs. vs.
organised virtual information organised virtual information spacespace
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‘‘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.
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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?
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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
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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)
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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
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SloveniaSlovenia
Independent from 1991Independent from 1991 2 M inhabitants, 20273 km2 M inhabitants, 20273 km²²
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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
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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
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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
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Web sitesWeb sites
Two studies:Two studies: The original study in 2002The original study in 2002 Repeated in 2004Repeated in 2004
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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)
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