[Web4lib] city swallows library website

Wed May 2 13:36:05 EDT 2007

VERY small library with a staff of 10 (not full timers) ????

For a population of 4,000 and a summer surge of 10,000????

My goodness, that would be a dream to some coleagues of mine!

Everything is relative, they say [sigh] ...

-- 
Jorge Serrano-Cobos
Contents Management Section
http//www.masmedios.com

Miembro del Grupo Thinkepi
http://www.thinkepi.net
Web personal: http://trucosdegoogle.blogspot.com

2007/5/2, Felicia Cheney <fcheney at clamsnet.org>:
>
> Hello Robert,
>
> Um.. that busy time you note is actually some of the most important work
> that gets done around here--whether it's re-labeling materials or cleaning
> them.  I have no doubt that my librarians could handle just about anything
> to varying degrees, but they do not have time to do that.  Please remember
> that I am talking about my library which is a VERY small library with a
> staff of 10 (not full timers).  We have a year round population of 4,000
> and
> a summer surge of 10,000.  We clean-up all year to prepare for the three
> month marathon.
>
> Also, working on a website requires a person to not be multitasking.  My
> librarians have nothing but front desk space.  We have no out of the
> public
> way working spaces, which means that they are constantly being
> interrupted.
> Yes, I do have some time for a few librarians to come in while we are not
> open.  But again the library is often used for public groups when we're
> not
> open (because we don't have any public meeting rooms, not even a study
> room)
> or we are teaching computer courses.
>
> I completely agree that the information about the library should come from
> the library.  I do not agree that librarians need to do the
> programming/graphic design of the website.  I've seen some pretty horrific
> library websites out there.  Graphic design is a discipline in and of
> itself, why not use someone's expertise?  Just because my librarians can
> find out about brain surgery doesn't mean I'm going to let them do it on
> me
> (although maybe I should).
>
> Taxpayers often say that those librarians are merely doing unnecessary
> busywork, because they don't have any idea what actually happens at the
> library.  It is the primary reason that I include my statistics in our
> annual town report to show that my staff handles on average 401 items per
> day.  That is including the almost 10,000 ILL's that are fulfilled every
> year (thanks to your dad, no doubt).  It may be busy work but it's
> important
> work.
>
> I have to say that the tone of your e-mail is a wee bit denigrating.  I'm
> sure that was not your intention, at least I hope not.
>
> Check out our website.  I am very happy with it.
>
> www.edgartownlibrary.org <http://www.edgartownlibrary.org/>
>
> Felicia Cheney, Director
> Edgartown Free Public Library
> 508-627-1373
>
>
>
> Felicia Cheney, Director
> Edgartown Free Public Library
> 508-627-1373
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Robert L. Balliot [mailto:rballiot at oceanstatelibrarian.com]
> Sent: Wednesday, May 02, 2007 11:33 AM
> To: fcheney at clamsnet.org; 'Michele Hampshire'; web4lib at webjunction.org
> Subject: RE: [Web4lib] city swallows library website
>
>
>
> 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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