TYPES OF

LIBRARIES/INFORMATION
CENTERS
JEAN RAZZELL P. GAGALAC
ACADEMIC LIBRARY

• established to serve a university, college and any other institution which

forms part of or is associated with an institution of higher learning
• its primary function is to contribute towards the teaching and research
programs of the university
• is designed as a teaching component; a stimulus to independent intellectual
development and an essential resource to a well-rounded liberal education
ACADEMIC LIBRARY (CONT.)

• its principal objective is to serve the needs of the main categories of users
namely: the undergraduate and post-graduate students, the academic and
research staff, and administrative personnel
• In the global perspective setting, the scenarios of academic library are
characterized as:
• new publishing and scholarly communication,
• more intensive use of digital resources, but with less obvious roles for library in
delivering these resources, and
• modes of study
SPECIAL LIBRARY

• it exists to serve a specialized body of users within a definite subject field

• Usually, it is attached to parent organization which may be research institutions,
industrial, or commercial concerns, government departments, societies or
associations, etc.
• The basic characteristics which differentiate special libraries from other types of
libraries are:
• the limited nature of their subject coverage; the parent organization to which special libraries
are attached often have specific instead of general interests
SPECIAL LIBRARY (CONT.)

• the kinds of people they serve or who use their services; special libraries usually restrict
their services to people who belong to the parent institutions to which they are attached
and which support them
• the predominant characteristic of smallness although there are some big special
libraries, in general, special libraries tend to be small with an equally small number of
staff
• the close relationship that usually exists between the library staff and the users; the
library staff know the needs of the users very well
SPECIAL LIBRARY (CONT.)

• primary functions: to retrieve and file information and disseminate it with the
least possible delay; it deals with specific and current information mostly
available in periodicals, reports, standards, pamphlets, and research papers
• In the global outlook, the special library is known as “workplace library” and
is concerned with:
• analyzing the information collected
• creating digests of key information
• emphasizing the concept of knowledge management
SCHOOL LIBRARY

• is an organized collection of books placed in a school for the use of teachers

and pupils
• it is
• a reading, listening, viewing center where skills and tastes are developed;
• a learning laboratory for research and study where pupils and teachers learn to work
alone and in groups;
• a material center where pupils and teachers locate materials regardless of format;
SCHOOL LIBRARY (CONT.)

• a center contributing to the personal, educational, and vocational guidance of pupils;

and
• an instructional center for improving the use of library materials throughout the school.
• In the global aspect, the school library
• is not just a physical space in which various media are stored;
• it is a concept;
• a tangible expression of the school’s ethics and values;
• it approaches to equality with opportunity, the moral and spiritual development of
children and young people and its educational purposes.
SCHOOL LIBRARY (CONT.)

• it has the potential to introduce young people to the world of literature and
information to enable them to develop skills which will enhance their lives as
adults
PUBLIC LIBRARY

• is one that is provided wholly from public funds. Its use is not restricted to
any class of persons in the country, but is available to all
• its purpose is to further enlightenment, education and cultural activity by
providing books and other materials to the disposition of people freely
• it shall in principle be free of charge, since supported by specific legislation
and financed by the national and local governments
PUBLIC LIBRARY (CONT.)

• the library services are adapted to the needs of the communities in rural and
urban areas
• outreach and user education programs are provided to help users benefit from
all the resources
• According to UNESCO, the functions of the public/national library include:
• Essential Functions
• collects and conserves the national literature, aiming for complete coverage
PUBLIC LIBRARY (CONT.)

• produces a current national bibliography

• operates a lending service
• acts as a national bibliographic information service
• publishes or supports the publication of special bibliographies
• Desirable Functions
• acts as center for reading and development
• provides education and training in information work
• acts as a planning center for the nation’s library
PUBLIC LIBRARY (CONT.)

• Possible Functions
• acts as center for exchange of materials between libraries
• acts as book museum
• supplies specific library services for government
• In the global scene, the public library has five main areas of concentration, namely:
• Education support for self-education and lifelong learning
• Social policy
• Information
• Cultural enrichment
• Economic development
REFERENCE

Claravall, N. J. (2005). Managing libraries and information centers in the

Philippine setting. La Trinidad, Benguet : Benguet State University.