International library news

No print books for Florida Polytechnic University library

The newly opened Florida Polytechnic University (FPU) in the US includes a library without print books, reports Library Journal. The university library, called ‘the Commons’, covers more than 1000 square metres on the second floor of the Innovation, Science and Technology building. The library offers students access to 135,000 licensed ebooks. It also has an automated acquisition program, where ebooks that are not owned by the university are able to be viewed once for free and are then automatically purchased on the second viewing. Outside of the Commons, librarians will assist in ethics classes on plagiarism and research, help students and faculty members with research, and coordinate tutoring. As previously reported by Books+Publishing, the first ‘bookless’ public library in the US opened in Bexar County, Texas in 2013. 

Brooklyn Public Library launches personalised recommendation service

In the US, Brooklyn Public Library has launched a personalised recommendation service for readers, reports the NY Daily News. The program requires readers to complete online forms about their favourite genres, books and authors. A team of 35 librarians then ‘scour their databases—and memories’ to provide reading suggestions. The library’s director of neighbourhood services Sheila Shofer described the program as a ‘personalised response’ in a very ‘online and automated world’. It was unveiled earlier this month via Twitter and a new tab on the library website. Users do not need to be library members to participate and requests can be filled out at www.bklynlibrary.org.