Fwd: [Web4lib] Paperless society

[Jennifer Heise]

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Jennifer Heise <jenne.heise at gmail.com>
Date: Feb 11, 2008 2:08 PM
Subject: Re: [Web4lib] Paperless society
To: David Rothman <david.rothman at gmail.com>



Actually, I find that the print phone book for my locality is the most
*efficient* way of finding local businesses by subject, whereas using the
computer is *less efficient*-- but it's less an interruption to my paradigm
to sit at the computer trying different combinations of keywords in hopes of
turning up entries for the businesses I'm looking for.

In fact, many computerized services-- take, for instance, Papa John's online
pizza ordering-- take more time and effort than a similar service, but they
have perceived ease of use for my cohort that gives them an advantage with
my cohort over just getting the number of a local pizza joint and calling.

There's nothing efficient about my all-digital way of making doctor's
appointments either -- if I was willing to use a phone book, or, horrors!
using a pen-and-paper address book-- it would take me much less time to find
the number, rather than searching on the internet or through my insurance
company. But that's the way I do it, and I know lots of Net-gen people who
do the same. Paradigm. :)

-- Jenne Heise



> I've only said that just because one user still uses the oldest available
> container for this kind of information doesn't negate the fact that
> phonebooks are becoming more scarce.  We all know why they are becoming
> more
> scarce- it is for the same reason that print newspaper circulation numbers
> continue to fall.
>
> These are a meaningful indicators of a trend that will continue to impact
> the work of libraries- even those with librarians who prefer the paper
> phonebook.
>
> Best,
>
> -David
>
> On Feb 11, 2008 10:28 AM, Bill Drew <dreww at tc3.edu> wrote:
>
> > The phone book is efficient if you don't have a computer as my father
> > does not.  Old formats do not always go away.  I am tired of the view
> > that one size fits all.  It is arrogant at best and at the worst tries
> > to fit everyone into the same mold.  What is efficient for DavidRothman
> > may not be efficient or even possible for some one else.
> >
> > Wilfred (Bill) Drew
> > Interim Library Director
> > Librarian, Systems and Tech Services
> > Tompkins Cortland Community College  (TC3) Library:
> > http://www.tc3.edu/library/
> > Dryden, N.Y. 13053-0139
> > E-mail: dreww at tc3.edu
> > Phone: 607-844-8222 ext.4406
> > AOL Instant Messenger:BillDrew4
> > StrengthsQuest: Ideation, Input, Learner, Activator, Communication
> >
> > >>> "David Rothman" <david.rothman at gmail.com> 2/11/2008 10:04 AM >>>
> >  And it is convenient to have a horse-and-buggy if your car breaks down.
> >  So?
> >
> > On Feb 11, 2008 9:51 AM, Carol Bean <beanworks at gmail.com> wrote:
> >
> > > Not so inefficient when the internet connection is down or
> > non-existent
> > >
> > > Carol
> > >
> > >
> > > On Feb 11, 2008 9:35 AM, David Rothman <david.rothman at gmail.com>
> > wrote:
> > >
> > > > Jocelyn-
> > > >
> > > > Telephone books are *much* more scarce than they used to be.  That
> > you
> > > > continue to use the most inefficient available container for this
> > sort
> > > > of
> > > > information doesn't make the assertion silly or wrong.
> > > >
> > > > -David
> > > > David Rothman
> > > > Community General Hospital Medical Library
> > > > Syracuse, NY
> > > >  On Feb 11, 2008 9:29 AM, Jocelyn Shaw <redfernshaw at gmail.com>
> > wrote:
> > > >
> > > > > I had to chuckle at the quote:
> > > > >
> > > > >  "'Paper is no longer the master copy; the digital version is,'
> > says
> > > > > Brewster Kahle, the founder and director of the Internet Archive,
> > a
> > > > > nonprofit digital library. 'Paper has been dealt a complete
> > deathblow.
> > > > > When
> > > > > was the last time you saw a telephone book?'"...
> > > > >
> > > > > Having used the phone book twice in the last 20 minutes to
> > answer
> > > > > reference
> > > > > questions I found it quite humorous.
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > > Jocelyn Shaw
> > > > > Librarian
> > > > > Hackley Public Library
> > > > > 316 W Webster
> > > > > Muskegon MI 49440
> > > > >
> > > > > The Smartest Card. Get it. Use it.
> > > > > @ the Hackley Public Library
> > > > > _______________________________________________
> > > >
> > > >
> > >
> > > --
> > > Carol Bean
> > > beanworks at gmail.com
> >  _______________________________________________
> > Web4lib mailing list
> > Web4lib at webjunction.org
> > http://lists.webjunction.org/web4lib/
> >
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