Types of Libraries and Library Departments

Vocabulary terms and definitions covering the types of libraries, their users, functions, and the various departments within a library system as discussed in the lecture.

Liber

The Latin word meaning "book," from which the word "library" is derived (ODLIS).

Library

Organized collections of documents, films, maps, sound-recordings, and other media designed to meet the informational, educational, and recreational needs of a given user population.

Aim of a Library

To provide information to users by obtaining, organizing, making available, and preserving print and non-print materials.

National Library

A library maintained by national resources responsible for publishing a national bibliography, maintaining a national bibliographical information center, and collecting the nation’s literature.

Public Library

Designed to serve the entire community (children, teenagers, older folks, handicapped) and to provide lending and reference services for recreational, vocational, educational, or informational needs.

Academic Library

Serves students and faculty in community colleges, undergraduate colleges, or universities, matching curriculum needs and advanced research requirements.

Special Library

Serves members of a specific organization or association, with a collection that reflects the business interests or activities of the parent organization.

School Library / Resource Center

Designed to serve secondary and elementary school students and teachers, with collections intended to supplement the basic curriculum.

Inter-Library Loan (ILL)

Borrowing facilities between libraries where one library borrows materials not in its collection from another library, usually for a duration of no more than a month.

Administration (Department)

Responsible for management, policy decisions, budget control, staff supervision, personnel matters, staff training, and planning.

Information Technology (IT) (Department)

Responsible for the system, software, hardware, and managing electronic information resources like the Internet and World Wide Web access.

Technical Service

"Behind the scene" activities involving the acquisition, cataloguing, and maintenance of library materials.

Acquisition

The process of obtaining library materials such as books, maps, and models through purchase, gifts and exchange, donation, or legal deposit.

Cataloguing

The section that maintains bibliographic control, provides access points for easy retrieval, and classifies materials to group items of the same subject together.

Cataloguing Tools

Standard systems including AACR, Sears List of Subject Headings, LCSH, DDC, LCC, and UDC used to organize library collections.

Reader Service

The department that deals directly with clients, encompassing circulation and reference services.

Circulation

A sub-department of Reader Service responsible for lending/borrowing, user registration, and formulating policies for membership, borrowing, and fines.

Reference

A sub-department of Reader Service that acts as a user guide, conducts library tours, serves as a readers advisor, and handles Inter-library loans.

Handicapped Users

A target user group for public libraries, categorized as physical or visual; provided with materials like Braille books, talking books, or the Ulverscroft series.

Organizational Constraints

Factors like staff, financial resources, space, and other resources that impact how a library fulfills its aims.