Public Libraries and Internet Service Roles

The Internet is not a one-way street in terms of library service as it challenges any traditional notion of its use for collecting or managing information. The information is constantly changing. It is not a static and reliable source like a book, nor is the content necessarily correct all of the time. In this resource, authors Charles McClure and Paul T. Jaeger speak to the ways in which the Internet has had more impact on public libraries than any other technology since the creation of the book. The issues presented are vital to library service, planning, evaluation, research and education - and most significantly how effectively libraries service the general public.This title helps you: learn the importance of measuring and maximizing library service through internet services; analyze new and unique Internet-enabled service roles of public libraries - expanding on the Web 2.0 environment; and, gain insight in selecting and creating Internet-enabled service roles. Public Libraries and Internet Service Roles will help ensure that public libraries remain a vibrant marketplace of ideas freely accessible to all members of the library community.

Paul T. Jaeger, PhD, JD, is co-director of the Information Policy and Access Center and assistant professor in the College of Information Studies at the University of Maryland.