• Journal of the Korean Society for Library and Information Science
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• v.57 no.2
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• pp.51-77
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• 2023

This study analyzed the respective teaching and learning-related services offered by the Centers for Teaching and Learning and the academic libraries to find the proper roles of libraries regarding this type of service. We interviewed librarians to collect the data. The content analysis of the qualitative interview data enabled us to identify the librarians' perceptions of teaching and learning support, service provision method, strengthening relationships with other academic units, recognition of libraries' roles within the universities, and generating more investment for the libraries. Finally, the analysis led to six suggestions for libraries' teaching and learning support functions, such as advertising the availability of specific academic discipline or unit-oriented library services, strengthening librarian's capabilities as educators, bolstering digital information literacy of the faculty members and students, injecting libraries' views into the development and maintaining fundamental knowledge-related programs, emphasizing the notion of human-centered libraries, and finding new ways to utilize library space.

• Journal of Information Science Theory and Practice
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• v.5 no.4
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• pp.49-67
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• 2017

This article assesses the recent development of libraries in Myanmar and efforts to build the sector's capacity leading up to and after the first democratic elections held in the country in nearly 50 years, at the end of 2015. Cyclone Nargis in 2008 is viewed as a 'framing event' (Birkland, 1998) that led to national legal and policy reforms, an increase in national and international projects to support development of Myanmar libraries, and the strengthening of local actors including the Myanmar Library Association to coordinate and lead development activities. Although in need of modernisation, networking, and professional skills, the existence of a widespread number of all library types across the country provides an important foundation for further development. The current status and readiness of libraries is explored in the broader context of the rapid leap from limited to more widely available access to information and technology. The article finds that there is great potential for libraries in Myanmar to support the continued transition to democracy as evidenced by the role of libraries and access to information in other countries that have transitioned. Remaining challenges include the potential of backsliding on national reforms, and the need for significant investments in infrastructure and skills. Libraries must be transformed to meet the changing needs of information users in a young democracy.

• Journal of Korean Library and Information Science Society
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• v.48 no.4
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• pp.49-76
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• 2017

Free learning semester aims to foster key competencies in junior high students via reinforcing student participation and career education. This paper investigates the programs of school and public libraries, as well as the roles that university libraries and LIS could play in the changing educational environment. School libraries, though an essential element in the educational infrastructure, are seriously underused. In addition, the support programs of public libraries tend to focus on guest lectures or field trips, rather than reinforcing the students to experience the foundational library services. Public libraries are in a good position to play an active role in strengthening school libraries. They should take a proactive role in forming a partnership with university libraries, LIS faculty and students, and in developing diverse programs ranging from vocational/career education to enhancing key competencies.

• Journal of the Korean Society for information Management
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• v.38 no.1
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• pp.1-23
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• 2021

Small libraries have continued to be extended since 2013 enactment of regulations requiring establishment of small libraries in multi family housing complex not less than 500 households and the 'Living SOC Project' of national government. Gwangmyeong city designated the year of 2020 as the 'year of citizen autonomy' sharing the authority with citizens and publicly announced its plan to rapidly extend the living and cultural spaces as a part of that extension. Likewise, as the social environment and the need of users are expected to change, it seems that the small libraries in Gyangmyeong City must prepare a plan for practicing a long and mid term practices in responding to that change. Thus, this Study tries to make a suggestion for a plan for the policy for revitalization of small libraries in order to handle those changing social environment and the need of users. For this, a survey and in-depth group interview were conducted for the operators of the small libraries in Gyangmyeong City. As a result of this Study, the following policies are suggested: first, improvement of support system for improving operational system, strengthening of cooperative system of public libraries, and strengthening of role of public small libraries, strengthening of public characters of private small libraties and differentiated support through evaluation based on abilities; and second, it is necessary for utilization of circulating librarians and professional volunteers, sharing of materials through mutual lending of books, associate librarians having term of office and revitalization of small library conference by regions.

• Journal of the Korean BIBLIA Society for library and Information Science
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• v.34 no.1
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• pp.97-120
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• 2023

This study determined the communicative characteristics of public libraries through locality, communality, interactivity, and organism and sought to measure the validity of their components to define the role of libraries based on the analysis. According to the analysis results, there are four communicative characteristics of public libraries: locality, communality, interactivity, and organism. This study defined the role of public libraries according to communicative characteristics. First, libraries should encourage the formation of a healthy society by providing a space for diverse community activities, contributing to the building and strengthening of their local communities, and offering the necessary information to do so. Second, libraries should contribute to the formation of local cultural communities and strengthen interpersonal relations among community members to reinforce a sense of community, while also supporting the heightening of social adaptability to foster a sense of belonging and community activity participation among members. Third, libraries act as a space for sharing ideas between generations, provide a space to carry out leisure activities, and enable the cultural prosperity of local communities. Lastly, as a representative space of local communities, libraries raise the value of the residential environment and contribute to their communities and members.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Library and Information Science
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• v.57 no.1
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• pp.139-160
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• 2023

The research was undertaken to explore the role of the public library as a public sphere. For this, the characteristics and meanings of the library's role were examined by analyzing the public spheres operated by the public library. Data were collected through interviews with librarians at Seongbuk Public Libraries in Seoul. Data collected were coded using NVivo for thematic analysis. As a result of the study, the characteristics and meanings of the library's role in the public sphere were identified in the following five types; 1) A place for meeting, communication and interaction of citizens, 2) Supporting citizen learning and growth through information services and discussion on the subject, 3) Expanding civic participation in the community and strengthen civic power, 4) Strengthening citizens' experience of democracy, 5) Improving citizens' perception of libraries and expanding the library's influence on citizens. In particular, it was found that information services enhance citizen interaction and spread of public opinion on the agenda. The results of this study can be used as a basis for developing and supporting libraries as community public spheres.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Library and Information Science
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• v.53 no.3
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• pp.83-99
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• 2019

This study tried to present rational policy direction of future university libraries through the policy process related to university libraries and the change of policy tasks adopted in the policy making process. The 2009 Development Comprehensive Plan was established with the aim of supporting the collection of information resources at university libraries, and the plan in 2014 was developed with the direction of policies to enhance the role of librarians for competition in university research capabilities. The Promotion Comprehensive Plan for 2019 was aimed at strengthening the role of university libraries in upgrading their research support. Through the research on the policy of the university library by the government, the policy direction of the future university library in Korea was presented, and the plan was to provide an institutionalized platform (labor, physical space, resources, etc.) for the university library to maximize the research productivity of the university.

• Journal of Korean Library and Information Science Society
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• v.48 no.2
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• pp.1-21
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• 2017

According to the library act, the regional central library is not only a public library but also a library representing the metropolitan municipalities in Korea. But the status and role of current representative libraries are so weak that they are nothing more than large public libraries. Focusing on realistic vulnerability, this study analyzed the major weaknesses and limitations of regional central libraries and suggested ways to normalize legal positions and operations in terms of revising and supplementing the library act, restructuring and strengthening the tasks to be performed, and expanding the manpower and operating organization directly connected with core competencies.

• Journal of Korean Library and Information Science Society
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• v.47 no.4
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• pp.93-122
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• 2016

The present study investigates librarians perceptions of Free Learning Semester, and their commitment to program development for coordination with Free Learning Semester, and whether they currently offer programs for Free Learning Semester. The study results are as follows. First, the results on perceptions of Free Learning semester showed that 54.20% of the librarians who participated in the study were aware of Free Learning Semester, and 80.15% had participated in training related to Free Learning Semester. Regarding the anticipated outcomes of implementation of Free Learning Semester, "Participation in various experiential activities offered through Free Learning Semester" was the most common response, and regarding special considerations in Free Learning Semester, "Need for instituting the dedicated workforce and enhancing their sense of responsibility and expertise" was the most common response. Second, regarding the library program development and provision for coordination with Free Learning Semester, 58.02% thought that the implementation of Free Learning Semester was an opportunity to expand the role of libraries, while insufficient budget was listed as a barrier. In addition, 63.36% stated that they had no experience in providing a program in a library. Finally, the results on the perception on the Free Learning Semester program they want to provide in a library showed that "Human Library" and "Read! Think! Dream!" were the programs they want to provide most, with the mean score of 3.939.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Library and Information Science
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• v.43 no.4
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• pp.139-161
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• 2009

This study explored the services of libraries for babies and toddlers and the possibilities of service expansion through Bookstart as a cooperation system for libraries. This study presented the problems of the services of libraries for toddlers by implementing the questionnaire method and the in-depth interviews. In addition, this study showed the impact of carrying-out this program and why libraries should manage the Bookstart program. Results indicated that: (1) even though the membership enrollment standard of children's libraries is usually from babies and toddlers up to the elementary school students, that of a few libraries is still over elementary school students. This will work on restraining the services of libraries for users, especially toddlers, only 54.8% of libraries services are for the toddlers; (2) by analyzing the perception of librarians, we get to know that librarians think that the age of the first use of a library is more appropriate for kindergarten-agers than toddlers; (3) librarians think positively about the Bookstart and that libraries are more suitable for Bookstart than any other institutions; (4) after the introduction of Bookstart to libraries, many changes happened in respect of the function of libraries and the types of users. For examples, there was an expansion of users to babies and toddlers and their parents, an increase in users, focusing on early-childhood reading education and the strengthening of the role of librarians as program planners in particular. This study suggests that the introduction of Bookstart would bring changes to the concept of traditional libraries and the inflexible attitudes of librarians.