By Susan J.
I had Curt in my Excel classes a few years ago. He had been laid off and seemed tense and quiet, but he was very serious about learning new skills for the jobs he was applying for. He came faithfully to classes for a while, but then we stopped seeing him around the library. We hoped that meant he had gotten a job.
By Barry M. I was a Boy Scout when I was twelve, and I needed to complete a 5 mile hike. The world was a safer place then, and my mother and father approved my hiking from our home to the public library downtown, a distance of exactly 2.5 miles. I loaded my pack with … Read more
By Dianna L. All of my life, I have loved books and libraries. In fact, I once applied to work in the library in my hometown and was told that it wouldn’t work as I talk too much. I spent 18 years as a hairstylist, which was okay, but I didn’t love it. When I … Read more
By Anna J. I love libraries – always have, always will. Maybe it’s genetic. My parents both loved libraries – my dad especially. He always wanted to be a librarian, but it never worked out. As a result, he would constantly take his children to the local public library for books, activities, etc. In fact, … Read more
By Kristina Massari
Public libraries across the country are finding innovative ways to deliver value to their communities, including presenting high school diplomas to adult residents through Career Online High School, an accredited high school completion and career certificate program. Career Online High School is now available at more than a dozen libraries from coast to coast, with several launching this month, and has graduated its first library students.
By Gina O. As a middle school level girl scout leader, I can share first hand how valuable the public library is to eight middle school girls. As the library is the hub of all media, we periodically meet on site in the library to help learn about media types and its role in providing … Read more
Have you ever muttered disparagingly about a website or app that doesn’t look or behave the way you expect it to? Does it frustrate you when icons don’t make sense to you, or when you can’t find navigation aids?
We hear you. And that’s why we’ve initiated a whole range of improvements that make a huge difference in user experience in GVRL, InfoTrac, and In Context* resources, including the PowerSearch platform as well as Genealogy Connect, Twayne’s Authors Online and Scribner Writers Online. The enhancements are coming April 2nd.
Read moreResponsive Design (and more) Coming to Gale Products
Consumer behavior studies, industry stats and eBook usage reports reveal what people want from their libraries, how and what they’re researching, and what libraries are doing to meet the growing (yes, growing!) demand for credible, cross-searchable nonfiction eBook content.
Other than databases, nonfiction eBooks are a primary resource libraries use to meet the needs of these researchers. Today, 95% of libraries offer eBooks, 26% of which are nonfiction.4
We know that research matters to today’s public library users, and we know that libraries are expert in selecting the content they need—so the reports and studies should be all good, right? Unfortunately, that’s not always the case.
Read moreThe Research Habits of Public Library Users:
Are You Meeting Their Needs?
By Kati D. As I sit here reflecting on my career as a librarian, I can clearly remember the moment I fell in love with libraries. When I was 11 years old, I rode my bike every Saturday to the library. I would take a packed lunch and spend the entire day camped out in … Read more
Sue DeBrecht is Director of the Emmet O’Neal Library in the municipality of Mountain Brook, 
a wealthy suburb of Birmingham, Alabama with 20,000 residents. Sue loves information, and Analytics On Demand — a data solution that helps libraries quickly and easily learn more about their users and their communities — provides a wealth of it. Emmet O’Neal turned to Analytics On Demand to gain a more granular view of patrons and potential patrons than other sources of demographic data can provide. “We know where we are now, but we need a better idea of where to focus our attention in the next five years,” says Sue.
The library is tightly involved with its community, and is fortunate to have a healthy budget, loyal donors and volunteers, and a library foundation with a $3 million endowment. Still, directors want to make smart budget decisions, and key insights from Analytics On Demand will inform the library’s programming, strategic planning, and marketing.
Read moreAnalytics On Demand Helps Alabama Library Chart the Path Ahead