was RE: Why eBooks and When? - now social computing

[Julia Schult]

In our library we purposely got big tables and set the seats in clusters so
that you could have a crowd around the computers, or so that you could have
two or three computers with people rolling back and forth in their nice
purple chairs looking at each other's screens.  This was because when my
boss was thinking about the big "electronic research project" before I got
here, he visited other places that had computer labs in the libraries and
saw this kind of collaborative learning going on.

So, if anyone is trying to figure out what kind of furniture to get for
today's student computer workstations in the library, we say:  *big* tables!

Then, we have some smaller clusters off behind the stairs and away from the
ref desk, for those who want to compute in solitary, but we definitely have
those visible from the reference desk and can effectively intimidate people
who are viewing porn by walking around behind them.  We don't have to look
at the screen; as soon as we come close they shut the window down or cover
it with another.  If we are sure we have someone doing chat or email (which
would all be against policy) we approach them and remind them that the
computers are for research purposes.  If they are viewing porn, just hanging
out near them makes them nervous so they leave.  (Actually, I tend to leave
them alone if there are no other patrons around, but some of my colleagues
feel that they are violating the "research-only" policy, and that there is
potential for students to feel harassed or intimidated if we don't
discourage such activity.)

---Julia E. Schult
Access/Electronic Services Librarian
Elmira College
Jschult at elmira.edu
----- Original Message -----
From: "Andrew Cunningham" <andrewc at mail.vicnet.net.au>
To: "Multiple recipients of list" <web4lib at webjunction.org>
Sent: Wednesday, September 12, 2001 8:00 PM
Subject: [WEB4LIB] RE: Why eBooks and When?


> Hi
>
> I find it you bring up the whole aspect of social interaction. I started
using
> the internet on a regular basis in 1989, in university computing labs. And
> during that time, and when i returned to uni in the mid 90s for further
study,
> the key characteristics of the computer labs were the social interaction
that
> occured.
>
> Whereas all the libraries I've seen have done everything they can to limit
> social interaction in the vicinity of computers. There are practical
reasons for
> this. But it is worth noting that computer use (in a public place) does
not
> necessarily impede social interaction, except when policies and procedures
> attempt to limit it.
>
> Andj
>
>
> Quoting LINDHOLM Janus L <Janus.L.LINDHOLM at ci.eugene.or.us>:
>
> > I am coming in a little late on this whole train, but I just couldn't
> > resist
> > adding my two cents to Andrew's comment about children and interactive
> > e-books, especially as a parent.  Children are already over interacting
> > with
> > electronics.  The image of a child sitting at a computer and having a
> > book
> > read with all kinds of interactive resources may sound wonderful, but it
> > is
> > so cold, so impersonal.  It isn't that I am anti-technology.  I have
> > been in
> > the computer field for over 20 years.  I guess I'm looking more at the
> > social interaction, the isolation that computers create for those that
> > use
> > them rather than humans for their entertainment and education....
> >
> > The opinions that I express are mine and mine alone.  I am not speaking
> > for
> > my library or my profession.
> >
> > Janus Lindholm                 Applications Support Tech. Sr.
> > Eugene Public Library          541-682-6894
> > Eugene Oregon                  janus.l.lindholm at ci.eugene.or.us
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > > -----Original Message-----
> > > From: Andrew Mutch [mailto:amutch at waterford.lib.mi.us]
> > > Sent: Tuesday, August 28, 2001 12:58 PM
> > > To: Multiple recipients of list
> > > Subject: [WEB4LIB] Why eBooks and When?
> > >
> > >
> > > I think eBooks will take off when we see the titles that can
> > > truly offer
> > > something over and above what the normal printed book can do.
> > >  The types of
> > > titles that I think have great eBook potential are things
> > > like Children's
> > > picture books and graphic novels for teens.  How many
> > > libraries have Children's
> > > stories on CD where the story incorporates music, video and
> > > interactive
> > > features?  Many are based on traditional print stories but
> > > have been turned
> > > into multimedia experiences where kids are willing to sit in
> > > from of a computer
> > > for an extended period of time to read or be read to. Why
> > > couldn't this same
> > > experience be available in an eBook?  Without that "edge" as
> > > many people have
> > > noted, there is no compelling reason to read eBooks versus a
> > > printed book and
> > > many reasons not to do so.  This type of eBook title could
> > > justify the cost of
> > > the specialized hardware many people associate with eBooks.
> > > I think we will
> > > continue to see growth in the digital reference titles and as
> > > more students use
> > > eTextbooks, the demand for these titles will increase.  But I
> > > agree, anyone
> > > into eBooks better be in for the long haul.
> > >
> > > Andrew Mutch
> > > Library Systems Technician
> > > Waterford Township Public Library
> > > Waterford, MI
> > >
> >
>
>
>
> Andrew Cunningham
> Multilingual Technical Project Officer
> Accessibility and Evaluation Unit, Vicnet
> State Library of Victoria,
> Australia
>
> andrewc at vicnet.net.au
>