More to offer than books: stakeholder perceptions of a public library-based meal programme

Public library lending programs increase radon testing in rural communities

Radon exposure is the second leading cause of lung cancer, yet few Americans test their homes for radon, particularly in rural areas. The academic team and community partners engaged the public library systems in four rural counties to offer digital radon detectors for check-out as a means of increasing the public's access to free radon testing. The check-out procedures and instructional materials were created through an iterative process, and library personnel were educated on radon and home radon testing prior to launching the lending program. Library patrons reported high usability, feasibility, and acceptability of the program. Library patron-staff interactions mainly included discussions about the logistics of radon testing. Given that public libraries are invested in making communities thrive and promoting health, providing library lending programs for radon detectors is a novel, feasible, and acceptable way to reduce the risk of lung cancer in the community.

An analysis of ALA-accredited MLS curricula indicates deficiencies in the initial training provided for public librarians

BACKGROUND

Public librarians often address patron inquiries regarding health concerns. However, prior research indicates that public librarians may be unprepared to meet the health information requests of patrons.

OBJECTIVE

This study examined the availability of health-themed courses in American Library Association (ALA) accredited Master of Library and Information Studies/Science (MLIS) programs.

METHODS

Accredited MLIS programs were identified using the ALA directory. Curricula were reviewed for health content and public librarianship, children's, and young adult concentrations. Descriptive and bivariate analyses assessed the percent of programs that offered various health-related course content and the differences in availability of such content.

RESULTS

Of the 59 accredited MLIS programs, only 35 (59.32%) listed at least one health elective and none listed a required health course. No MLIS programs that had a public library concentration (n = 21) listed a required or elective health course, two programs with a children's concentration (n = 25) listed health course electives, and one program with a young adult concentration (n = 25) listed a health course elective.

CONCLUSION

ALA-accredited MLIS programs should consider increasing their offerings or requiring health-related courses to improve the training of public librarians to meet the health information needs of communities.

Undervalued, understaffed, underdeveloped, and underutilized? The status of public libraries in the eleven municipalities of rural Iloilo Province, Philippines

Libraries, as service-oriented organizations, are being guided on every aspect of their operation by local and international standards. In the Philippines, public libraries are expected to adhere to the stipulations of the Philippine Standards for Public Libraries. This study was conducted to assess the adherence of the 11 municipal libraries in Iloilo Province to the following areas of the Standards: library administration, collection management, services and utilization, physical facilities, financial resources, and linkages, networking and collaboration. Findings revealed that most libraries were non-compliant with almost all aspects of the Standards. Specifically, the majority lacked support from their local government units and were managed by non-professional librarians with inadequate knowledge and skills in successfully managing a library. Additionally, most libraries have a low budget to purchase updated resources of various types and formats and appropriate facilities and equipment. Furthermore, almost all libraries lacked networks and linkages, and collaborative activities that could have helped librarians enhance their skills, improve library resources and services, and increase their visibility and value to the stakeholders. Consequently, most municipal libraries could not fulfill the community's information needs; therefore, they remained undervalued and underutilized.