[Web4lib] Re: Future of libraries
Lin Light
llight at herrickdl.org
Tue Jul 8 08:39:30 EDT 2008
I must ask the question. Are we just talking about technology here? Or
libraries on the whole.
If one is referring to libraries in general than they haven't been working
very closely with Public Services. We have changed and are re-evaluating how
we market our institution. Yes market. A new concept to some. We are taking a
pro-active approach to services because funding isn't what it used to be. We
are more aggressively seeking out new population groups that we may have
overlooked in the past when the "living was easy."
As far as stating that reacting to new trends and technology isn't change.
Well libraries aren't R & D institutions. Most libraries are losing funding
so we do have to look at the best bang for the buck. And we can't implement
change just because some professional feels unfulfilled.
I have been on this block since 1977 and in this position since 1981. I have
seen change and some came as a result of pressure. And you know what. Those
changes that had the greatest effect came as a result of evolution and not a
flash of lightning.
Thanks for your time
Now back to work
Lin
Lin Light
Head of Computer
& Technical Services
Herrick District Library
300 South River Ave.
Holland, MI 49423
Voice 616-355-3727
Fax 616-355-1426
---------- Original Message -----------
From: "Christopher Kiess" <clkiess at gmail.com>
To: "Bill Drew" <dreww at tc3.edu>
Cc: web4lib at webjunction.org
Sent: Mon, 7 Jul 2008 17:49:05 -0400
Subject: Re: [Web4lib] Re: Future of libraries
> All right everyone. I'm going to play the Devil's advocate since I
> am one of those who set this train in motion. I've heard a lot of
> claims that libraries are changing and that we "are doing this or that."
>
> First, I want to delineate between the library and the librarian.
> They are two separate elements and I often hear librarians identify
> themselves with the library. Libraries can only change if
> librarians change them. Libraries are the tool and librarians are
> the experts who use the tool [WINDOWS-1252?]� like a sculptor with chisel
and hammer.
>
> For centuries, librarians have been responsible for the acquisition,
> organization and dissemination of information. That is no longer so.
> The internet has changed that. While I might agree that libraries
> (and librarians) will continue to exist well into the future, my
> question is one of usefulness and whether they will flourish as they
> once did. Will they thrive?
>
> I take issue with the claim that libraries have changed and they are
> changing. I ask: how so? Let's examine this claim. I propose the following:
>
> - Librarians have not changed and they have simply reacted
> with the changing times; that is not true change
>
> - Libraries as a physical space have not changed with the exception
> of adding computer clusters and varying media to keep pace with the times
> (Did it take an MLS to make that change? How progressive!)
>
> - Librarians essentially "missed the boat" with the advent
> of the Internet. We play very small roles on the Internet and IT/IS
graduates
>
> (people who actually were progressive in their educations) snatched those
> roles (though there are a number of us working on taxonomies,
> intranets and in special libraries supporting those causes [WINDOWS-1252?]
� the
> future)
>
> - The MLS is slowly becoming obsolete with cataloging being
> outsourced, reference services being filled with non-MLS graduates
> and fewer jobs for the MLS (to some extent, academic libraries are
> the exception to this rule)
>
> - Our OPACs and digital libraries are largely useless since
> we cannot market or sell them and, ironically, their search
> functionality is essentially a joke. (See:
> http://www.techsource.ala.org/blog/2006/03/how-opacs-suck-part-1-
> relevance-rank-or-the-lack-of-it.html )
>
> - Finally, anytime this subject comes up, twenty librarians
> jump up and shout about how many changes they have made.
>
> So, tell me: What exactly are all of those changes and how did the
> MLS support them? Because I would propose libraries aren't really
> that different and the changes we have made did not require some
> special skill or education that gives us cause for our ritualistic
> "self-celebration" we love so much in this profession. Tell me [WINDOWS-
1252?]� why
> are we so great and what changes have we made? I honestly hope
> someone can prove me wrong.
>
> Signed,
>
> Devil's Advocate
>
> C.L. Kiess, B.A., M.L.S.
> Information & Knowledge Specialist
> Columbus Regional Hospital
> Library & Knowledge Services
>
> On Mon, Jul 7, 2008 at 5:05 PM, Bill Drew <dreww at tc3.edu> wrote:
>
> > I wasn't singling out any one individual. I was just commenting on the
> > general thread of the discussion.
> >
> > Bill Drew
> >
> > >>> "B.G. Sloan" <bgsloan2 at yahoo.com> 7/7/2008 4:56 PM >>>
> >
> > Bill,
> >
> > I don't know if you are including any of my posts on the ALA "futures"
> > panel discussion in your "handwringing about all of our handwringing
> > about the future of libraries" comment. If you are, that's not what I
> > was doing.
> >
> > I was simply saying I was getting tired of the futurists' old "change
> > or die" spiel. The futurists sometimes act as if libraries are not
> > changing. Libraries are changing, although some are changing more/less
> > than others.
> >
> > Bernie Sloan
> > Sora Associates
> >
> >
> > --- On Mon, 7/7/08, Bill Drew <dreww at tc3.edu> wrote:
> >
> > > From: Bill Drew <dreww at tc3.edu>
> > > Subject: [Web4lib] Re: Future of libraries
> > > To: "Chris Strauber" <cstrauber at gmail.com>, "Dan Lester"
> > <dan at riverofdata.com>
> > > Cc: web4lib at webjunction.org
> > > Date: Monday, July 7, 2008, 10:14 AM
> > > It has been interesting to read all of the handwringing
> > > about all of our
> > > handwringing about the future of libraries. It is a major
> > > part of being
> > > a librarian to always being forward looking and discussing
> > > the future.
> > > Why whine about that? It makes no sense. The only
> > > constant in our
> > > profession for the last 50 years has been change. Just
> > > deal with it and
> > > move on. Change is why I enjoy being a librarian.
> > >
> > > Bill Drew
> > >
> > > -----------------------------------------
> > > Wilfred (Bill) Drew, M.S., B.S., A.S.
> > > Assistant Professor
> > > 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
> > > Online Identity: http://claimID.com/billdrew
> > > StrengthsQuest: Ideation, Input, Learner, Activator,
> > > Communication
> > > http://www.facebook.com/people/Bill_Drew/
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > _______________________________________________
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> > > Web4lib at webjunction.org
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> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > _______________________________________________
> > Web4lib mailing list
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> >
> >
>
> --
> C.L. Kiess, B.A., M.L.S.
> Information & Knowledge Specialist
> Columbus Regional Hospital
> Library & Knowledge Services
> _______________________________________________
> Web4lib mailing list
> Web4lib at webjunction.org
> http://lists.webjunction.org/web4lib/
------- End of Original Message -------
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