[Web4lib] Re: Future of libraries

Lin Light llight at herrickdl.org
Tue Jul 8 11:34:09 EDT 2008 

You have hit upon something that definitely needs to be addressed. I have for 
a number of years now saw myself more of a manager than a librarian. We need 
to have folks coming out of library school with a stronger background in how 
to manage known technologies and not just how to apply  them.

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: "Lin Light" <llight at herrickdl.org>
Cc: "Bill Drew" <dreww at tc3.edu>, web4lib at webjunction.org
Sent: Tue, 8 Jul 2008 08:53:05 -0400
Subject: Re: [Web4lib] Re: Future of libraries

> 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/
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > > _______________________________________________
> > > > > Web4lib mailing list
> > > > > Web4lib at webjunction.org
> > > > > http://lists.webjunction.org/web4lib/
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > _______________________________________________
> > > > Web4lib mailing list
> > > > Web4lib at webjunction.org
> > > > http://lists.webjunction.org/web4lib/
> > > >
> > > >
> > >
> > > --
> > > 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
------- End of Original Message -------

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