Tag Archives: Libraries
Libraries
A library used to simply be a collection of books. Libraries could mean the actual books or the building that the books were located in. Often, the word library meant both. Now, in the age of technology, libraries are much more that. The resources that a library has can now include not only books but computer and Internet access, movies, audio books, tutors and a host of other sources. • Most libraries are public libraries because they are paid for by public sources such as local tax money. Public libraries are used by people who either cannot or will not purchase all the books they may need or want to read. As a method of free entertainment, public libraries are considered wonderful places for individuals, especially children, to spend free time. Many people who cannot afford computers can sign up for blocks of time to reserve a computer. Libraries offer computer use for both research and recreation. It is up to the individual to decide what to do on the library computers. There are some websites that are not allowed to be viewed from these library computers, since they are public. • Libraries are arranged by departments in various classification … Continue reading
The Libraries of Harvard and Georgetown
Two of the top universities in the United States unsurprisingly have the two of the top university libraries available. Both Harvard University and Georgetown University have extensive libraries to serve the students, teachers, and staff of their schools. • Many school libraries require students and faculty to have pin numbers, passwords, or student identification cards to gain access to their library material. The same is true of Harvard University and Georgetown University. Visitors and guests are usually, but not always, allowed to use student libraries temporarily, although they are unable to have access to the computers or check out any books. • Harvard University has 70 different libraries that form the system for the Harvard University system. At Harvard University, most of the libraries are not available for public use at all. However, Harvard University alumnae do have access to some of the libraries and resources. With a large number of resources, both on the Internet and through the actual library, Harvard University is known to have one of the best university libraries in the country. Harvard University has separate libraries for many different subjects including theology, philosophy, mathematics, science, and music. Harvard University libraries also offer many events, workshops … Continue reading
The Job of the Public Library
A public library is a free library that is generally financed by public money, such as public taxes. Free libraries serve the population of the area in which they are located. A free library is non-profit and offers services and resources that an individual may not be able to afford. • Free libraries offer a wide range of resources that are unavailable for free anywhere else. Some of these things include old periodicals, books (of fiction, non-fiction, and reference), DVDs, audio books, and computer usage with Internet access. Since there are many individuals who are unable to afford a computer or Internet access, free libraries offer individuals a chance to use both of these for a period of time. Often, an individual will sign up on the waiting list at the free library and assigned a computer reservation for a fixed period of time. Although there are some websites with content that cannot be displayed at free libraries, there are millions of websites available for viewing. In recent years, free libraries started offering video cassettes and DVDs to its members. At a free library, an individual will have access to many movies. • A free library is often considered a … Continue reading
The Online Library
An online library provides almost everything that a regular library provides. However, using an online library brings an individual all the information they need without leaving their computer. Although online libraries cannot provide many of the activities and events that a regular library can, online libraries allow users access to a wide range of features. • One benefit of an online library is the fact that online libraries are open 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Unlike regular libraries that operate for certain hours and close for holidays, online libraries never close. Therefore, an individual is able to do the research they need to do at any time. Another benefit is that no book can be checked out and any individual will have access to it, no matter how many other people may be viewing it in the online library. • One popular online library is called Questia. As the world’s largest online library, Questia has books, journals and newspaper articles available for users. People can search for the information they need by key words. Any article or book that has the key word or words in it can be read in its entirety. Questia’s online library even … Continue reading
The Library of Law
While public libraries have a mixture of fiction and non-fiction books and resources available, law libraries concentrate on providing needed legal resources to law students, lawyers and judges. While law schools will usually provide an extensive law library for its students, other individuals are allowed to use them, although they may not be allowed to check out books. Many court houses also have the law libraries on the premises, especially the larger ones. Although legal state requirements of law libraries change from location to location, most law libraries offer the same resources. A typical law library will have a large collection of extensive law material that is not available in regular libraries. These items may include books of federal state regulations and laws, copies of treaties, reports from Supreme Court cases and volumes of important law reviews. A greater variety of law books are not the only specialties available in law libraries. While the Internet usage at a regular public library will usually only include access to certain websites, a law library will provide access to online legal outlets such as the full version of the search program LexisNexis. Every law school is required to give its students access to … Continue reading
The History of the Public Library
A public library is a library funded by public money, such as taxpayer money. The purpose of a public library is to provide books, Internet access and many other resources to the public for free. Even DVDs and movies are available for free rentals. Public libraries are not new, in fact the first organization that was considered to be a public library was created in the late 1500s. • The first public library was created in England. At that time, the only people who were able to use libraries were individuals who joined a cathedral or were enrolled in college. This public library was called Francis Trigge Chained Library. This public library actually still exists and is famous for its long standing history of giving the people free access to all library resources. Although this library was the first, it stood nearly alone in its existence until the mid 1800s. That was the time period in which public libraries began to become popular. • In England, Parliament decided to make a committee dedicated to considering the creation of multiple public libraries. The committee was supposed to decide if a public library was something that would benefit the public. The committee … Continue reading