[WEB4LIB] Study, learning, communication and libraries.

[Ilene Frank (REF)]

On Sat, 20 Mar 1999, Don Saklad wrote:

> 1. Are any of you folks out there against limiting library users' Web
> based email?

I'm against the limitation - everyone should have access to everything all
the time whenever they want it - but the fact of life is when we had
unlimited access to email in our Reference Room, students and community
users would plunk down at the terminals and never leave. They would
chatter as well as chat. They posted anonymous racist hate mail from our
terminals drawing complaints from ISPs around the country. 

Right now, email in the Library proper is limited to students use of
Hotmail and Yahoomail - they have to put in a student number. The other
place to do email IN the library building is in the lab run by Academic
Computing where they have to show ID cards and where an assistant is
present. It was not a matter of what they are chatting about - it was a
matter of limited resources and a limited amount of staff available to
manage what's mostly a non-research-oriented service AND what turned out
to be a party atmosphere that limited the ability of others to do their
research. 

(Of course the students are using all forms of webchat these days and we
are NOT looking over their shoulders at this point.)

 
> 2. Are any of you folks out there against limiting library users' chat
> conversations via the net?

As mentioned above, we don't look over their shoulders.  

> 3. How do free speech principles apply?

So you are saying that the concept of "free speech" equates with "the
right to loud speech in the library"? 

> 4. Should our Cambridge public library continue to forbid use of
> cellular telephones in the building?

I wish we had that rule! People answering and talking on phones when
others are trying to concentrate is rude rude rude. My favorite is when
they ask you a ref. question and then answer their phone and start talking
to the person at the other end.

> 5. Would not communicating ideas be a part of the very same principles
> for the mission and mandate of libraries?

If resources and space are limited, what's the MAIN mission of the
library? Libraries may have different missions. Perhaps your library's
mission is to provide spaces and equipment for chat and cell phones.
Perhaps not.

> 6. Why would library users be limited to recording ideas for later
> communication instead of using recent technology to communicate about
> ideas more readily?

They shouldn't be stopped. Let'em at it if the Library can supply the
resources. If the Library has to choose... well, perhaps spending gobs of
bucks to provide space for chat and cell phones is not the best use of
funds. How does the rest of the Cambridge community feel about that? 

> 7. How about a louder separate reading room where people can talk, use
> cellular equipment and communicate via email and chat type computer
> programs and Web sites.

It's a luxury that many libraries cannot afford. Equipment and staff may
both have to be stretched.  Maybe your library has the space, time, and
money to devote to development of a new service area. Maybe not. 

> 8. Is not communication a form of learning?

But does all communication have to take place in the library building?

Ilene Frank, Reference Dept.
Tampa Campus Library, LIB 122 
University of South Florida, Tampa FL 33620
ifrank at lib.usf.edu        Work 813.974.2483
http://www.lib.usf.edu/~ifrank/