Characteristics of Special Libraries:
* Focused Collections: They hold materials highly relevant to a particular subject, profession, industry, or community. This can range from specialized books and journals to unique artifacts, databases, and digital resources.
* Targeted User Base: They serve a specific group of people, like researchers, professionals, students, or members of a particular organization.
* Specialized Services: They offer tailored services beyond basic lending, such as research assistance, information literacy training, and specialized database access.
* Close Ties to a Parent Organization: They are often associated with companies, government agencies, museums, hospitals, or other organizations that provide funding and support.
Examples of Special Libraries:
* Corporate Libraries: Supporting the research and development needs of businesses.
* Law Libraries: Serving legal professionals with legal codes, case law, and other legal resources.
* Medical Libraries: Providing access to medical literature, journals, and databases for healthcare professionals.
* Government Libraries: Holding government documents, reports, and records for government officials and researchers.
* Museum Libraries: Supporting the research and exhibits of museums, with collections of books, archives, and artifacts related to specific themes.
* Military Libraries: Serving the information needs of military personnel and researchers.
* School Libraries: Focused on supporting the curriculum and learning needs of students in a particular school.
* Public Libraries with Specialized Collections: Some public libraries have departments or collections dedicated to specific subjects, such as genealogy, local history, or art.
Key Takeaway:
The term "special library" is a broad umbrella encompassing a wide range of libraries with distinct missions and user bases. They play a crucial role in providing specialized information resources and support to specific communities and organizations.