Special library
Encyclopedia
A special library is a term for a library
that is neither an academic
, school
, public
or national library
. Special libraries include law libraries
, news libraries, corporate libraries, museum libraries, and medical libraries
and are not usually open to the public for use. Special libraries are also sometimes known as information centers. They are generally staffed by librarians.
Special libraries often have a more specific clientele than libraries in traditional educational or public settings, and deal with more specialized kinds of information. They are developed to support the mission of their sponsoring organization and their collections and services are more targeted and specific to the needs of their clientele.
Special libraries are "special" in their collection, clientle/users and service. All of them provide pinpointed, exhaustive and expeditious service to their users. For example, in a research institute's library, the scientists may not be having time to visit the library for information gathering. In such a situation the apt information and not the document should be supplied to the users. Current Awareness Service[CAS] and Selective Decemination of Information[SDI] are very common.
, which has chapters in Canada, the US, and Europe. The UK based Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals
and the Australian Library and Information Association
also have focus groups devoted to special libraries. More special library associations around the world can be found in the List of Library Associations.
. Corporate libraries help to organize and disseminate information throughout the organization for its own benefit. They often support areas in the company relating to finance
, administration, marketing
and technical specialization. In terms of size, they are seldom very large, and most library departments employ less than five full time staff. One major issue in corporate libraries relates to the difficulty of putting a dollar value on the intangible services the library provides to its parent company. The information services provided by corporate libraries save employees time, and can aid in competitive intelligence
work. However, neither of these values can be easily measured, a fact that is further complicated by the understanding that knowledge may be useful immediately upon acquisition, or at any unspecified time in the future. For these reasons, the budgets of corporate libraries are often challenged.
Library
In a traditional sense, a library is a large collection of books, and can refer to the place in which the collection is housed. Today, the term can refer to any collection, including digital sources, resources, and services...
that is neither an academic
Academic library
An academic library is a library that is attached to academic institutions above the secondary level, serving the teaching and research needs of students and staff...
, school
School library
A school library is a library within a school where students, staff, and often, parents of a public or private school have access to a variety of resources...
, public
Public library
A public library is a library that is accessible by the public and is generally funded from public sources and operated by civil servants. There are five fundamental characteristics shared by public libraries...
or national library
National library
A national library is a library specifically established by the government of a country to serve as the preeminent repository of information for that country. Unlike public libraries, these rarely allow citizens to borrow books...
. Special libraries include law libraries
Law library
A law library is a library designed to assist law students, attorneys, judges, and their law clerks and anyone else who finds it necessary to correctly determine the state of the law....
, news libraries, corporate libraries, museum libraries, and medical libraries
Medical library
A health or medical library is designed to assist physicians, health professionals, students, patients, consumers and medical researchers in finding health and scientific information to improve, update, assess or evaluate health care. Medical libraries are typically found in hospitals, medical...
and are not usually open to the public for use. Special libraries are also sometimes known as information centers. They are generally staffed by librarians.
Special libraries often have a more specific clientele than libraries in traditional educational or public settings, and deal with more specialized kinds of information. They are developed to support the mission of their sponsoring organization and their collections and services are more targeted and specific to the needs of their clientele.
Special libraries are "special" in their collection, clientle/users and service. All of them provide pinpointed, exhaustive and expeditious service to their users. For example, in a research institute's library, the scientists may not be having time to visit the library for information gathering. In such a situation the apt information and not the document should be supplied to the users. Current Awareness Service[CAS] and Selective Decemination of Information[SDI] are very common.
Professional Associations
One major professional association for special libraries is the Special Libraries AssociationSpecial Libraries Association
Special Libraries Association is an international professional association for library and information professionals working in business, government, law, finance, non-profit, and academic organizations and institutions....
, which has chapters in Canada, the US, and Europe. The UK based Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals
Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals
The Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals is a professional body representing librarians and other information professionals in the United Kingdom.-History:...
and the Australian Library and Information Association
Australian Library and Information Association
The Australian Library and Information Association is the peak professional organisation for the Australian library and information services sector....
also have focus groups devoted to special libraries. More special library associations around the world can be found in the List of Library Associations.
Corporate Libraries
A corporate library is a collection of resources contained within a corporate entityCorporation
A corporation is created under the laws of a state as a separate legal entity that has privileges and liabilities that are distinct from those of its members. There are many different forms of corporations, most of which are used to conduct business. Early corporations were established by charter...
. Corporate libraries help to organize and disseminate information throughout the organization for its own benefit. They often support areas in the company relating to finance
Corporate finance
Corporate finance is the area of finance dealing with monetary decisions that business enterprises make and the tools and analysis used to make these decisions. The primary goal of corporate finance is to maximize shareholder value while managing the firm's financial risks...
, administration, marketing
Marketing
Marketing is the process used to determine what products or services may be of interest to customers, and the strategy to use in sales, communications and business development. It generates the strategy that underlies sales techniques, business communication, and business developments...
and technical specialization. In terms of size, they are seldom very large, and most library departments employ less than five full time staff. One major issue in corporate libraries relates to the difficulty of putting a dollar value on the intangible services the library provides to its parent company. The information services provided by corporate libraries save employees time, and can aid in competitive intelligence
Competitive intelligence
A broad definition of competitive intelligence is the action of defining, gathering, analyzing, and distributing intelligence about products, customers, competitors and any aspect of the environment needed to support executives and managers in making strategic decisions for an organization.Key...
work. However, neither of these values can be easily measured, a fact that is further complicated by the understanding that knowledge may be useful immediately upon acquisition, or at any unspecified time in the future. For these reasons, the budgets of corporate libraries are often challenged.