Knowra Special library Special library A library serving a particular organization, profession, or subject area with focused information resources. Its collections and services are tailored to a defined community and its work.
Corporate library : A library within a company that provides information resources and research services for its employees. It supports business decisions with information selected for the organization’s work.
Information retrieval : The process of finding relevant information in a collection or information system. Search and retrieval systems make specialized holdings usable under time constraints.
John Cotton Dana : An American librarian and museum director who promoted practical, public-facing library services. His advocacy helped establish the values and professional identity of special librarianship.
Public library : A library serving the general public, typically supported by public funding and open community access. Its broad civic constituency differs from a special library’s defined organization or subject.
Evidence-based practice : A decision-making approach that combines the best available evidence with expertise and contextual judgment. Medical and other professional libraries help practitioners find evidence for informed decisions.
Law library : A library specializing in legal materials, such as statutes, case law, regulations, and legal commentary. Its collections serve legal research in firms, courts, government, and academia.
Knowledge management : The practices and systems through which organizations create, share, and use knowledge. Some special libraries organize internal expertise as well as published sources.
Special Libraries Association : A professional association founded in 1909 for people working in specialized information services. Its formation gave special librarians a shared professional network and institutional voice.
Academic library : A library supporting teaching, learning, and research at a college or university. Academic libraries serve an educational institution across multiple disciplines, while special libraries focus more narrowly.
Research support : Services and resources that help researchers plan, conduct, communicate, and preserve research. Special libraries can provide targeted expertise throughout an organization’s research work.
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