From Lending to Learning : The Development and Extension of Public Libraries

This book, aimed at an international audience, provides a theoretical overview and practical guide to the functional area of delivering learning services within public libraries.

It traces the development of public library service delivery and critically appraises the inherent tension between offering an educational focused or leisure focused library.

The current and future policy directions are explored against the backdrop of the emerging learning society.

A general overview of recent developments in learning theory is followed by an overview of the learning landscape.

The issues and practicalities of setting up a learning environment within a public library are dealt with in a clear and straightforward fashion.

The book concludes with an assessment of the emerging Web 2.0 technologies and gives an indication of how the whole area of social networking might shape the future.It combines a practical approach with an accessible theoretical underpinning.

It is written in an entertaining and highly readable style.

It identifies the key phases involved in establishing a public library learning service. It uses real case studies to illustrate key areas of activity, and identifies the key trends in the emerging e-learning agenda.