Types of Libraries

Study Notes

Public Libraries: Free and open to the general public, providing access to books, media, and programs for people of all ages.
Academic Libraries: Located in universities and colleges, serving students, faculty, and staff with research materials and study spaces.
School Libraries: Found in elementary, middle, and high schools, supporting student learning and curriculum development.
Special Libraries: Serving specific groups or organizations, such as government libraries, law libraries, and medical libraries.
Digital Libraries: Online collections of digital resources, including e-books, articles, and other digital media.

Circulation: Borrowing and lending of materials, including books, audiobooks, and DVDs.
Reference: Assistance with research, including providing answers to questions and recommending resources.
Programs and Events: Author readings, book clubs, children's storytime, and other activities for the community.
Interlibrary Loan: Borrowing materials from other libraries for patrons.
Computer and Technology Access: Providing public computers, internet access, and technology training.

Dewey Decimal Classification (DDC): A system of organizing books and other materials by subject using numerical categories.
Library of Congress Classification (LCC): A system used by many academic and research libraries, organizing materials by subject using letters and numbers.
Cataloging and Metadata: Creating and managing bibliographic records and metadata to facilitate resource discovery.

Integrated Library Systems (ILSs): Software managing library operations, including circulation, cataloging, and acquisitions.
Online Public Access Catalogs (OPACs): Online search interfaces for patrons to find library materials.
Discovery Layers: Search interfaces providing a single search box for multiple library resources, including articles and e-books.

Public libraries are free and open to the general public, providing access to books, media, and programs for people of all ages.
Academic libraries are located in universities and colleges, serving students, faculty, and staff with research materials and study spaces.
School libraries support student learning and curriculum development in elementary, middle, and high schools.
Special libraries serve specific groups or organizations, such as government libraries, law libraries, and medical libraries.
Digital libraries are online collections of digital resources, including e-books, articles, and other digital media.

Circulation services involve borrowing and lending of materials, including books, audiobooks, and DVDs.
Reference services provide assistance with research, including providing answers to questions and recommending resources.
Programs and events, such as author readings, book clubs, and children's storytime, are organized for the community.
Interlibrary loan services allow patrons to borrow materials from other libraries.
Computer and technology access services provide public computers, internet access, and technology training.

The Dewey Decimal Classification (DDC) system organizes books and materials by subject using numerical categories.
The Library of Congress Classification (LCC) system, used by many academic and research libraries, organizes materials by subject using letters and numbers.
Cataloging and metadata services create and manage bibliographic records and metadata to facilitate resource discovery.

Integrated Library Systems (ILSs) are software that manage library operations, including circulation, cataloging, and acquisitions.
Online Public Access Catalogs (OPACs) are online search interfaces for patrons to find library materials.
Discovery layers are search interfaces providing a single search box for multiple library resources, including articles and e-books.