31 Public Library Hand Book

C P Vashishth

 

1. INTRODUCTION

 

A handbook is a kind of compilation or a compendium of instructions which brings together comprehensively the latest information in a particular field of knowledge. It covers a field of limited scope or a mission. The presentation is brief and full of tables, graphs, charts, symbols, formulas, equations, rules and various other constants. It is normally consulted by experts and practitioners of the field. In library parlance, such works are called ‘Library Handbook.’ The contents of the ‘Handbook’ are so thoughtfully organized that they leave little room for doubts. They are self explanatory. A typical ‘Library Handbook’ will have the following features:

 

2   ABOUT US:

 

This information will be made available by the institute/organisation who will be assigned to undertake the work of compiling the ‘Library Handbook’. In this section the institution will introduce itself in brief to the readers/members community so as allow them to feel at home in the library premises.

 

3.  VISION, MISSION AND GOALS STATEMENT

 

A public library has to have a thoughtfully designed and developed ‘vision, mission and goals statement.’ It will be ideal if these statements are drafted for a particular year in view so that at the end of year their purposeful evaluation is done and new ‘vision, mission and goals statements’ are worked out for the next year. Below are given the mission, vision and goals statement of Oak Park Public Library which may serve as basis for other public libraries with little variations here and there to have their own set of vision, mission and goals statement.

 

“Mission

 

Oak Park Public Library enhances the quality of life in our diverse community by providing the resources and services for lifelong learning and enjoyment, the space and opportunities to gather and connect, and by fostering a love of reading.

 

Vision

 

We embrace the rich heritage and vibrant future of our community. We aspire to be the best possible library for Oak Park. We are committed to excellent services and stewardship of the physical and financial assets entrusted to the library. We create opportunities to participate, connect and discover by:

 

  • Encouraging lifelong learning;
  • Responding to the needs of our diverse community;
  • Ensuring freedom of access to information;
  • Offering space for people and ideas to come together; and
  • Providing materials and programs that entertain and inspire.

 

Strategic plan

  • Goal 1: We continuously evaluate and change our physical spaces to meet changing needs; we ensure they are customer friendly, easy to use and green.
  • Goal 2: We design and deliver services and programes at our physical and virtual locations in anticipation of and in response to the diverse needs of individuals and the community at large.
  • Goal 3: We are a leader in making Oak Park a digitally inclusive community by collaborating with stakeholders to design and deliver needed services.
  • Goal 4: We provide a balanced, multi-format collection to meet the needs of our community and are open and ready to adopt new formats.  Our collections are administered, managed and made accessible to support customer use. Our technical infrastructure is robust and able to support all formats.
  • Goal  5:  We  inspire  and  support  individual  and  community creativity with our expertise, resources and technology.
  • Goal 6: We provide leadership to and collaborate with libraries, library organizations and other groups on a local, regional, state and national level to create innovative services, maximize resources and achieve economies of scale.
  • Goal 7: We safeguard and celebrate our community’s rich heritage by providing robust physical and virtual access to local history and special collections. We will digitize existing content and collaborate with others to create new content in order to increase awareness and understanding of Oak Park’s history.
  • Goal 8: We provide library users with the opportunities to learn new skills through hand-on use, classes, and in other innovative ways.
  • Goal 9: We achieve organizational excellence because we are agile and innovative in how we deliver services; we support staff learning and want our library to be a great place to work; we are excited about the possibilities and opportunities that the future holds for us.
  • Goal 10: We practice sound, sustainable financial planning and management and we are dedicated to making our library the best it can be.”

Available at http://oppl.org/about/library-information/mission-vision-goals#sthash.69oZJWIP.dpuf accessed on 4th August, 2013

 

 

4. BUILDING LAYOUT / FLOOR PLAN

 

For the benefit of visitors and new members of the library a floor-wise layout plan of the library building should be drawn and included in the Library Handbook. It should be self explanatory and clearly indicate the location/placement of the various library departments/sections and service units such as the following with proper signage:

  • Foyer/Reception /Notice Board
  • Readers’ Property Counter
  • Entrance and Exit
  • Director’s/Librarian’s Office
  • Committee Room
  • Circulation Section
  • Membership Counter
  • No Due Certificate
  • Check in/Return Counter
  • Check out/Issue Counter
  • Conscience Box
  • Reserved books
  • Issue Record Trays
  • Inter Library Loan
  • Just Returned Books
  • Reference Desk/Help Desk
  • Library Card Catalogue
  • Classified Catalogue
  • Dictionary Catalogue
  • OPAC (Online Public Access Catalogue)
  • Research Section
  • Technical Section
  • Book Selection
  • Book Order
  • Accessioning
  • Classification
  • Cataloguing
  • Subject cataloguing
  • Label pasting/stamping/completion work
  • Book Display
  • Maintenance section
  • General Reading Room
  • Shelf List Maintenance
  • Allocation of stacks according to subjects with proper placards /signage
  • Arrangement of books on shelves
  • Reference Sequence
  • Non-book Materials
  • Textbook Sequence
  • Closed Sequence-Manuscript/Rare book collection
  • Legal deposit
  • Repair/Bindery
  • Periodicals Section
  • Registration
  • Display- Reading Room
  • Newspaper Reading Room
  • Making Sets for Binding
  • Photocopy Service
  • Children’s Section
  • Braille Section
  • Extension Service
  • Prison Library
  • Hospital Library
  • Play Room for children accompanying their parents
  • Mobile Library Department
  • Legal cell
  • Theatre
  • Hobby Section
  • Auditorium/Lecture Hall
  • Canteen/Refreshments
  • Drinking water
  • Public Utilities
  • Parking

 

5.  WORKING DAYS/LIBRARY TIMINGS

 

Mention here the number of working days and public holidays such as 26th January – Republic Day, 15th August- Independence  Day, 2nd October – Gandhi Jayanti, etc.

 

Library opening hours too should be explicitly mentioned. If the Library observes different time schedule during winter, examination days and summer that should be indicated in the Library Handbook

 

6. LIBRARY MEMBERSHIP/CIRCULATION POLICY

 

For obtaining membership of the Library apply in the prescribed form available from the Reception Desk. In Delhi Public Library this application form is available for Rs.2.

 

Submit the duly filled in and signed Membership Form along with necessary documents/security amount to get the membership of the Library. Regional Library of Delhi Public Library situated at Sarojini Nagar takes just half an hour to grant the membership if the application is accompanied with desired/required documents.

 

For verification of residential address details some public libraries take about a week’s time for granting library membership.

 

7. LIBRARY COLLECTION/ SEQUENCES/E-RESOURCES

 

Library has acquired books and non-book material in English and other languages spoken and read in the region for the use by bonafide members. Besides general collection which is available for home loan, library maintains Text-Book collection, Local History Collection, Oral History Collection, Book Bank Collection, 6 Reference Collection, Rare Book Collection, Legal deposit collection, etc. Books marked RR/Reference/Rare are available for consultation only within the premises of Library. In addition to print collection, Library has a sizable collection of CDs, DVDs, tapes, microfilms, microfiche which can be had for viewing in or outside the library as per rules of the Library. A number of e-books and e-journals are also available for bonafide members.

 

8. REFERENCE COLLECTION

 

Reference collection of the Library comprises almanacs, atlases, abstracts, bibliographies, biographical dictionaries, dictionaries, encyclopedias, gazetteers, handbooks, indices, manuals, quotations, travel guides, union catalogues, who’s who, who was who, yearbooks, etc. In addition books marked ‘Closed Sequence’ and ‘Rare’ are also available for consultation within the library premises.

 

9. PERIODICALS COLLECTION

 

Library subscribes to/receives gratis periodicals in English and other languages spoken and read in the region. It should be noted that these periodicals are to be read in the Reading Room of the Periodicals Section. They are not to be taken to any other Section of the Library.

 

10. RARE COLLECTION

 

This collection is the part of our heritage and is to be handled with utmost care. Some of the documents of this collection have been digitized for use of the members. You may contact the Reference Librarian to know more about these.

 

11. NON BOOK MATERIAL

 

CDs, DVDs, Microfilms, Micro Cards, Microfiche, etc. need special reading/viewing devices. Please get in touch with Reference Librarian to make use of these.

 

12. READING ROOM/RESEARCH CUBICLES

 

Reading Room facilities are available for reading library material. Use of personal books in the library reading room is not permitted. After reading the books they are to be left on the table itself for keeping proper statistics and shelving by the library personnel. Members are requested not to take these books back to the stacks for shelving.

 

Research cubicles being limited in number are allotted on first come first served basis.

 

13. SERVICES PROVIDED

 

Following services are provided by the Library

  • Compilation of bibliographies;
  • Providing documentation services;
  • Translation of periodical articles on demand;
  • Organization of Information Literacy Programmes;
  • Providing reference and referral service;
  • Providing OPAC assistance;
  • Arranging users orientation programmes;
  • Conduction of hobby classes;
  • Directing theatrical presentations
  • Providing photocopy services (note: materials obtained from the library are copyrighted. Unauthorised use and/or multiplication are prohibited. Photocopying of limited pages for personal use is available on charges as per rates decided by the library authorities).

 

14.   LIBRARY CATALOGUE

 

Library Catalogue is the ‘Key’ to the Library holdings. It lets you know about the availability of a book in the library whose ‘author, title, series or subject’ is known. Authors are entered under their surname followed by their fore name(s). Please note down the Call Number of the book correctly and go to the respective stack to find the document needed or else contact the Library staff on the floor to assist you in locating the document of your choice.

 

15. OPAC

 

OPAC (Online Public Access Catalogue) is the interface between the resources of the library and the user. It fulfills the information retrieval requirements of the user. It has options from simple search to advance search. It facilitates:

  • Simple search (with fixed combinations of common fields)
  • Boolean search (with natural language nomenclature but with AND, OR operators to join the fields)
  • Advanced Boolean (with combination of using Boolean operators between any of the field tags from MARC records)

 

16. CIRCULATION/INTER LIBRARY LOAN

 

In order to get the books on loan the member has to present the book(s) along with his/her Library Identity Card and the Borrower card(s) at the Circulation Counter. The borrower should satisfy him/herself about the physical condition of the book before getting the same issued. Library has reservation facility for books already issued to other members. In case the needed document is not available in the Library, it may be procured on Inter-Library Loan for the borrower, but it will have to be used within the Library premises only.

 

17. INTERNET BROWSING

 

Since the number of Internet ‘work stations’ is limited, one has to book its use in advance for a limited period.

 

This facility can be used for e-mail, browsing and finding articles from various databases.

 

18. READERS SUGGESTIONS

 

Readers’ suggestions are most welcome. Members are advised to drop their suggestions for the purchase of new book(s) with full bibliographic details in the box provided for along with their own contact details.

 

19. LIBRARY RULES

 

  • Application for the Membership of the Library is to be made on the prescribed form obtainable from the Reception Desk of the Library
  • Keep the Library informed of any change in your contact number/residence address
  • Always carry your Library Identity Card whenever visiting the library and show the same to the library personnel when so asked
  • Your Library Borrower cards are not transferable. Keep them in safe custody
  • Book issued to you is not to be sub-lent to others
  • Text-book will be issued only on the 1st Borrower’s card
  • Journals (bound and loose issues) and reference books are not issued out
  • Always return the book(s) on due date. You may get the same reissued if the same is not in demand/reserved by any other member
  • In case of late return of books overdue charges so calculated will have to be dropped in the “Conscience Box’. No formal receipt will be issued for the overdue charges dropped in the ‘Conscience Box’. In exceptional case the overdue charges may be reduced or waived off altogether by the competent authority
  • Do not damage the book while in your possession. If any damage is discovered at the time of returning the book, it may require you to replace the book by new copy/latest copy or pay the price of the damaged book
  • CDs, DVDs, LPRs, music cassettes, Braille materials are to be handled carefully
  • Report immediately the loss of library property– book(s), Identity Card, borrower card, etc.
  • Do not damage /disfigure/tear/fold the pages of the book issued to you
  • While withdrawing membership, surrender your Library Identity Card/Borrower card(s) and obtain a Clearance Certificate/No due slip
  • Entry to the Library is permitted on showing the valid Library Identity Card only
  • Maintain decorum in the Library complex
  • Entire Library is no smoking zone
  • Eatables and beverages are not allowed in the Library stacks/reading rooms. Food/tea , etc are to be consumed within the canteen
  • Observe complete silence while in Library
  • Personal belongings such as bags, books, umbrella, etc. are not to be taken inside the Library. These have to be deposited at the Readers property Counter and a token taken in lieu of the property deposited.
  • Money and Valuables, etc. are not to be deposited at the Property Counter. Library will not be responsible for any such loss
  • Readers have to collect their property back the same day while leaving the Library
  • Mobile phones are to be put on silence/vibration mode inside the library. Calls can’t be made or received inside the Library

 

20.   CLASSIFICATION SCHEME

 

There are a number of classification schemes in use in different Public Libraries. Majority of Public Libraries use Dewey Decimal Classification with little modifications in subject schedules. A broad outline of the classification scheme is given here under to make you understand the mapping of universe of subjects:

21. SUMMARY

This handbook is intended to help you to get the most out of your library services. In case you still have some questions left in your mind after reading this book, please do not hesitate to contact the library officer posted at the ‘Help Desk’. After going through the contents you will be able to develop a ‘Handbook` for a public library of any dimension and size.

 

Learn More:

 

Web Links

 

Bibliography

  • Thanjavur Maharaja Serfoji’s Sarasvati Mahal Library (brochure)
  • Dyal Singh Public Library Rules, New Delhi (brochure)
  • Memorandum of Association and Rules and Regulations of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel Trust (brochure)
  • Purushottamdas Tandon Library , Delhi Branch (brochure)
  • Delhi Public Library (brochure)
  • National Library of Singapore (Brochure)