[Web4lib] city swallows library website

[Robert L. Balliot]

Greetings Felicia,

 

I think that you are confusing complexity with aptitude.  

My father was an extraordinary academic librarian and 

I can only hope to someday match his mastery of the

English language and literature.  His CONVAL report 

was a catalyst for interlibrary loan between New England colleges 

& Universities (and paid for my braces).

 

However, his computer skills at the peak of his career were 

not on par with mine as I began my career.

 

Of the hundreds of public library directors that I know, only a few have

demonstrated advanced knowledge of internet applications.  Often,

they would have much larger staffs, dedicated IT departments, and

much bigger budgets than I had.   Yet, they would make the same 

arguments about staff time and effort that you make here.  I could

go into those same libraries any day of the week and show you

librarians at service points not engaging in any meaningful activity

beyond busywork.  So, the staff time argument just doesn't seem

to add up.

 

Felicia, don't you think that if  your librarians are engaged and

continuing to contribute and learn that your library could be better?

I know many newly minted librarians fresh out of library school

who would love to be doing just that.

 

When I was working with Internet II to develop statewide

videoconferencing, I had about twenty directors tell me that

they were uncomfortable with it because they would have to

dress up.  That argument is routed in vanity.  I think the argument

against taking the lead in internet applications may be fundamentally routed
in

intellectual vanity.  The library directors need to 'dress up'

their skills before they will participate.  Some never will.

 

*************************************************

Robert L. Balliot

1-401-421-5763

Skype: RBalliot

Bristol, Rhode Island

http://oceanstatelibrarian.com/contact.htm

*************************************************

  _____  

From: Felicia Cheney [mailto:fcheney at clamsnet.org] 
Sent: Wednesday, May 02, 2007 10:14 AM
To: rballiot at oceanstatelibrarian.com; 'Michele Hampshire';
web4lib at webjunction.org
Subject: RE: [Web4lib] city swallows library website

 

Librarians should manage the information content on the web sites for their
cities and towns.  The mission of public libraries in general includes
providing information, education, and entertainment resources to the public.
Where is the efficiency in having that only apply to print and media? - 

I agree with you in theory, but believe that the reality is much more
complicated.  The content should definitely originate from the library.
However, many public libraries are small and have small non-professional
staff.  For some libraries having a person design a website would require a
significant amount of staff time that just isn't feasible with their budget
constraints.  

I think that policies and general static information, like you say, must
come from the library.  However, what is the function of your website?  Do
you want it to be a place where people visit regularly?  Then you're going
to have to make it fresh, often.  That's more staff time.  You want to
design it so it's attractive and easy to use?  I could spend two weeks
working on color alone.  Why not pay someone for an hour's worth of time to
do that?  I don't need my librarians to know everything, just where to find
everything.  

Felicia Cheney, Director 
Edgartown Free Public Library 
508-627-1373 

Only my opinion - worth what you paid for it. 

 

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