Usage Library

until advent of digital catalogues, card catalogues traditional method of organizing list of resources , location within large library



dynix early, long-lasting , popular, digital catalogue.

patrons may not know how use library s resources. can due individuals unease in approaching staff member. ways in library s content displayed or accessed may have impact on use. antiquated or clumsy search system, or staff unwilling or untrained engage patrons, limit library s usefulness. in public libraries of united states, beginning in 19th century, these problems drove emergence of library instruction movement, advocated library user education. 1 of leaders john cotton dana. basic form of library instruction known information literacy.

libraries should inform users of materials available in collections , how access information. before computer age, accomplished card catalogue—a cabinet (or multiple cabinets) containing many drawers filled index cards identified books , other materials. in large library, card catalogue filled large room. emergence of internet, however, has led adoption of electronic catalogue databases (often referred webcats or online public access catalogues, opacs), allow users search library s holdings location internet access. style of catalogue maintenance compatible new types of libraries, such digital libraries , distributed libraries, older libraries have been retrofitted. electronic catalogue databases criticized believe old card catalogue system both easier navigate , allowed retention of information, writing directly on cards, lost in electronic systems. argument analogous debate on paper books , e-books. while libraries have been accused of precipitously throwing out valuable information in card catalogues, modern ones have nonetheless made move electronic catalogue databases. large libraries may scattered within multiple buildings across town, each having multiple floors, multiple rooms housing resources across series of shelves. once user has located resource within catalogue, must use navigational guidance retrieve resource physically; process may assisted through signage, maps, gps systems, or rfid tagging.

finland has highest number of registered book borrowers per capita in world. on half of finland s population registered borrowers. in us, public library users have borrowed on average 15 books per user per year 1856 1978. 1978 2004, book circulation per user declined approximately 50%. growth of audiovisuals circulation, estimated @ 25% of total circulation in 2004, accounts half of decline.

shift digital libraries


interior of bibliotheca alexandrina, alexandria, egypt, showing both stacks , computer terminals

in 21st century, there has been increasing use of internet gather , retrieve data. shift digital libraries has impacted way people use physical libraries. between 2002 , 2004, average american academic library saw overall number of transactions decline approximately 2.2%. libraries trying keep digital world , new generation of students used having information 1 click away. example, university of california library system saw 54% decline in circulation between 1991 , 2001 of 8,377,000 books 3,832,000.

these facts might consequence of increased availability of e-resources. in 1999–2000, 105 arl university libraries spent $100 million on electronic resources, increase of $23 million previous year. 2003 report open e-book forum found close million e-books had been sold in 2002, generating $8 million in revenue. example of shift digital libraries can seen in cushing academy’s decision dispense library of printed books—more 20,000 volumes in all—and switch on entirely digital media resources.

stacks of josé vasconcelos library in mexico city

one claim why there decrease in usage of libraries stems observation of research habits of undergraduate students enrolled in colleges , universities. there have been claims college undergraduates have become more used retrieving information internet traditional library. each generation becomes more in tune internet, desire retrieve information , possible has increased. finding information searching internet easier , faster reading entire book. in survey conducted netlibrary, 93% of undergraduate students claimed finding information online makes more sense them going library. also, 75% of students surveyed claimed did not have enough time go library , liked convenience of internet. while retrieving information internet may efficient , time saving visiting traditional library, research has shown undergraduates searching .03% of entire web. information finding might easy retrieve , more readily available, may not in depth information other resources such books available @ physical library.

in mid-2000s, swedish company distec invented library book vending machine known golibrary, offers library books people there no branch, limited hours, or high traffic locations such el cerrito del norte bart station in california.

the internet

british museum reading room

a library may make use of internet in number of ways, creating own library website making contents of catalogues searchable online. specialised search engines such google scholar offer way facilitate searching academic resources such journal articles , research papers. online computer library center allows search world s largest repository of library records through worldcat online database. websites such librarything , amazon provide abstracts, reviews, , recommendations of books. libraries provide computers , internet access allow people search information online. online information access particularly attractive younger library users.

digitization of books, particularly out-of-print, in projects such google books provides resources library , other online users. due holdings of valuable material, libraries important partners search engines such google in realizing potential of such projects , have received reciprocal benefits in cases have negotiated effectively. prominence of , reliance on internet has grown, library services have moved emphasis providing print resources providing more computers , more internet access. libraries face number of challenges in adapting new ways of information seeking may stress convenience on quality, reducing priority of information literacy skills. potential decline in library usage, particularly reference services, puts necessity these services in doubt.

library scholars have acknowledged libraries need address ways market services if compete internet , mitigate risk of losing users. includes promoting information literacy skills training considered vital across library profession. however, marketing of services has adequately supported financially in order successful. can problematic library services publicly funded , find difficult justify diverting tight funds apparently peripheral areas such branding , marketing.

the privacy aspect of library usage in internet age matter of growing concern , advocacy; privacy workshops run library freedom project teach librarians digital tools (such tor project) thwart mass surveillance.