MODULE 30: Public Library Scenario in USA Slide 1: Welcome to the module 25 on " Public Library Scenario in USA" Under the paper Public Library.

The present module seeks to present an overall scenario of public libraries in the USA and covers various aspects of public libraries. It is well known that public libraries play a significant role in the development of all the sectors of society. People, societies, and states take various steps to promote learning and literacy including digital literacy.

Slide 2 and 3 : Public libraries institutionalise democratic values. In the USA vast expansion of public libraries is the result of the American belief in knowledge diffusion and equality of rights. USA is also referred to as the United States (US), America or the States. USA is a federal union of 50 states. Now in the USA many public libraries are open 24x7 to serve the community’s informational needs, even public libraries provide internet access free of cost to community to have access to digital information. Governmental as well as non-governmental organizations in the USA are greatly associated in the development of public libraries.

Slide 4: With the efforts of American Library Association’s Division of American Library Trustee Association, the Library Services Act was enacted in 1956, which was followed by the enactment of Library Services and Construction Act (LSCA) in 1962. This LSCA was replaced by the Library Services and Technology Act, 1996 (LSTA). This Act provided for a federal library grant program for the creation of technological infrastructure. The Federal Depository Library Programme was launched by the Congress. This programme guarantees all the public of USA to have free access to the all Governments’ publications (print or online) and for this purpose public can visit any Federal Depository Library. Following the enactment of the Depository Library Act of 1962, the number of depository libraries was increased in the USA. There are 1252 depository libraries in USA (June 2008).

Slide 5: American Library Association is one of the oldest, largest and leading professional associations of the library and information sciences. ALA was founded in 1876 and founder members were: , , , Samuel S. Green, Fred B. Perkins, Charles Evans, Thomas W. Bicknell, and James L. Whitney. Its headquarter is at Chicago. The purpose of ALA is ‘to promote library service and librarianship’. ALA published a document ‘A National Plan for Public Library Service’ in 1948. This document advocates for the financial support for public libraries. ALA also conducted a study ‘Public Library Inquiry’ between 1947 and 1952.

ALA Council adopted ‘” statement on June 19, 1939 and amended that in 1944, 1948, 1961, 1980 and in 1996. ALA is associated with advocacy, legislation issues, ALA- Accredited Programmes, awards, grants, education and careers, online learning, etc.

Slide 6: Public Library Association was founded in1944 and it is a division of American Library Association. PLA has more than 9000 members. PLA is actively engaged in the development of public library staff and services in the USA. PLA has Board of Directors and it works through various

committees, task forces, advisory groups, and award juries. PLA runs various types of programmes, such as continuing education, advocacy, publications etc. As per the data released by the American Library Association, State of America’s Libraries, April 2009, there are 16,600 public library locations, and more than 25 million Americans use public libraries. PLA has some notable publications to its credit under “Result Series.”

PLA has initiated The Public Library Data Service (PLDS). Data on information on finance, library resources, staffing, technology use among others are collected annually through surveys under this service from US and Canadian public libraries. The database - Plmetrics : A PLDS Online Database - is available on subscription basis. PLA organizes conferences, symposium, webinars, online courses, etc for the enrichment of the profession.

Slide 7 : Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) was established in 1996 and is an independent agency of the United States. This institute works at national level and promotes libraries and museums. The Institute provides grants to museums, libraries and institutions. This institute has been conducting public library survey annually since 1988. It collects data from nearly 9000 public libraries with approximately 17,000 individual public library outlets in the 50 states of USA. The institute has also taken initiatives and partnerships to promote public libraries. IMLS also gives “National Medal for Museum and Library Service” award to American museums and libraries for their outstanding contribution to the community.

Slide 8: Various individuals and foundations have been playing a significant role in the promotion of public libraries in the US. Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation was founded in 1994 by Melinda Gates and Bill Gates. The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation is working for ensuring public access to computer and internet in public libraries in the world. It financially supported various projects in the U.S. Since 1997, the foundation has given grants to more than 5,800 libraries in the US, installed 25,000 personal computers, and trained 7000 library professionals. Up to 2003, nearly 10,000 libraries in 50 states benefitted from the $ 200 million grants of the Foundation

Slide 9: is one of the largest libraries in the world and it was instituted for the Congress in 1800. Located in Washington D.C., the Library’s mission is “to support the congress in fulfilling its constitutional duties and to further the progress the knowledge and creativity for the benefit of the American People.” It acts as legal repository for copyright protection and 35 million works have been registered under copyright registration so far.

The Library of congress is having more than 34.5 million books and printed material in 470 languages. More than 61 million manuscripts, 33000 bound papers, 500,000 microfilm reels, 177 million maps, 3 million sound recordings etc. Library has nearly 3600 staff members and caters services to more than 1.7 million readers annually.

The Library of Congress is open for general public. Readers can avail its various services such as: ask a , cataloguing services, duplication services, interlibrary loan, library standards, national library service for the blind and physically handicapped. In addition to various services, Library of Congress is deeply involved in various projects and standards, such as: MARC 21 Format, MARCXML,

Metadata Object Description Standard (MODS), Metadata Authority Description Standard (MADS), Z39.50, ISO 639-2, etc.

Slide 10 and 11 : After the Library of Congress, New York Public Library (NYPL) is the second largest public library in the USA and third largest library in the world. NYPL was established in 1895. Right now the library has 91 locations and provides free access to its collections, print as well as electronic. NYPL holds more than 51 million items. Nearly 18 million patrons visit library annually. NYPL provides online services and user can access these services. Its popularity and importance can be determined by this fact that library’s website receives 32 million visits annually from more than 200 countries.

Slide 12: In USA, public libraries are playing a significant role in the overall development of the society along with contributing to local economic development and businesses, entrepreneurship, employment, health awareness and extending government information. Public libraries are associating with other similar agencies in order to reach the wider community and make value additions to its services. Libraries are playing an important role in promotion of digital literacy, career development, and access to technology. Role of public library in the promotion of business can be traced back to 1904, when the first business branch was established in the Newark ( New Jersey) public library( Pankl, 2010).

Institute of Museum and Library Services and Bill & Melinda gates Foundation’s supported report ‘Opportunity for All: How the American Public Benefits from Internet access at U.S. Libraries’ (2010) records that there are 169 million library users, nearly 69 % of U.S. population, and 77 million public library internet users, that is 45 % of library users and 32 % of US population. This means that about one third of the U.S. population over the age of 14 uses library Internet computers. It has been also noted that most of the public libraries have a web presence in the USA.