[Web4lib] Re: Future of libraries

Tue Jul 8 08:53:05 EDT 2008

One of the things I mentioned in the initial post was that an MBA might be
more appropriate than the MLS. What we are talking about is the skill set we
possess as librarians. You write of marketing and targeting or seeking out
populations. Would an MBA or MLS graduate be more prepared for this?

Change does occur slowly. I think you are right on that count and it is true
we are not R&D think tanks. But, I think having some technical skills in
information management would be a start. MSU has more than a few programs I
think are on the right track.

chris

On Tue, Jul 8, 2008 at 8:39 AM, Lin Light <llight at herrickdl.org> wrote:

> 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?]&#65533; 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?]
> &#65533; 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?]&#65533; 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
> > > > http://lists.webjunction.org/web4lib/
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > _______________________________________________
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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 -------
>
>

-- 
C.L. Kiess, B.A., M.L.S.
Information & Knowledge Specialist
Columbus Regional Hospital
Library & Knowledge Services