Predavanje Raymonda O ‘Keefe Cruitta (business librarian, USA) za studente knjižničarstva Sveučilišta u Zadru. Predavanje je na engleskom jeziku.
Svjedoci smo zatvaranja knjižnica i u najbogatijim društvima. Takva pojava je djelomično rezultat nedostatka novca njenih financijera i podupiratelja, a djelomično radi velike uporabe novih tehnologija koje dijelom preuzimaju klasične poslove knjižničara. Američke knjižnice preuzele su inicijativu i proširile svoje usluge kreirane prema potrebama zajednice. Pretvaraju se u svojevrsne “dnevne boravke”, mjesta gdje korisnici rado i učestalo dolaze. U vrijeme kada se mnoge zemlje nalaze u gospodarskim poteškoćama, američki knjižničari su razvili platforme unutar svojih knjižnica koje su osigurale informacije i podatke relevatne za donošenje gospodarskih odluka, kako pojedinaca tako i zajednica, te postale kreatori i podupiratelji ekonomskog prosperiteta sredine u kojoj djeluju.
Bio: Raymond O’Keefe Cruitt
I have been a public librarian since 2005, and a business librarian working in a public library since 2009. I received my library degree, an MLS, in 2004 from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro.
I currently work for the Enoch Pratt Free Library and State Library Resource Center in Baltimore, MD. My capacity as a business librarian is to serve both the citizens of the City of Baltimore as well as those of the State of Maryland. Pratt Library acts as both a city and state library.
My duties include: Creating and delivering programming on financial literacy, entrepreneurship, and economic development for a city and statewide audience, especially with potential and established small business owners. I provide general and business reference service for patrons through in-person consultations and digital reference services. I also train Maryland librarians in the use of Business resources along with relevant business and marketing concepts to aid small business owners on how to research the writing of a business and/or marketing plan.
My outreach efforts include: Participating in panel discussions and presentations on economic development and entrepreneurship with other business-oriented organizations, such as the Small Business Association (SBA), Small Business Development Center (SBDC), and the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). In addition, I offer business-related services—such as programming and training—to organizations dedicated to helping others either form a business or grow a business.
