By Jane W. In 1959, Lucy was a young mom who didn’t know anyone in her new hometown of Greenwood. With two kids, no car, and no extra money, Lucy and her kids needed things that would get them out of the house. Lucy loved to read, and really wanted her children to love reading … Read more
By Jane W.
I work at a public library in a medium size town. We host a holiday event each year where we host carriage rides, pictures with Santa, a live reindeer, crafts for the kids to do and take home, puppet shows, a Christmas tree lighting, and more. It is a free family event. We have hundreds of people attend.
I worked the door one year, and a man came to the door holding the hands of his 2 daughters.
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?