[Web4lib] Re: Future of libraries

Tue Jul 8 14:02:41 EDT 2008

Norm,

I meant to send this to the list. Dave Clout also brought up some good
points concerning this.

Excellent points and you expose a fatal flaw in one of my arguments. Some of
the best inventions have been reinventions of another technology and, in
many ways, I think librarians have been adept at this.

As for the virtual reference service, I think it can work. It just has to be
marketed in the right way. Maybe if it were less associated with a single
library and part of a larger "web experience." What if there was a
consortium of libraries participating via a single interface for live
interaction.

See this article from Wired:

http://www.wired.com/techbiz/it/magazine/16-04/bz_curator

chris

On Tue, Jul 8, 2008 at 1:11 PM, Reeder, Norm <nreeder at torrnet.com> wrote:

> I guess I'd phrase things a little differently.  Most of the new
> technologies that have come about didn't originate uniquely for libraries.
>  We are just too small a market.  For instance we didn't invent the barcode
> idea; it was adapted from the larger marketplace.
>
> Joan Frye Williams often remarks that when she looks for new technologies
> or what is "coming", she doesn't look in our libraries.  She looks at the
> supermarket or the wider Internet to see what is developing and then thinks
> "how could we use that".  Stephen Abrams makes similar remarks.  Microsoft
> is infamous for its "embrace and extend" philosophy (and look how much money
> they make because of it!).
>
> So I would think that adapting to, and extending the use of new ideas and
> things is the way to go.  It does take some looking around (and this
> listserv is one good way to keep abreast of what's going on too).  But just
> because we didn't invent it, or it wasn't taught in library school doesn't
> mean it can't be significant or we can't play with it.
>
> I think a lot of libraries are playing with Web 2.0 technologies, but there
> certainly at this point isn't a "default" or "standard" way to implement the
> variety of things currently out there.  It's going to take some time and
> trial balloons to see what is effective or not.
>
> One of the things to watch out for though here is the "greatest thing since
> sliced bread" thingie that initially gets talked about in all of the
> magazines; websites etc., that then doesn't meet the unattainable
> expectations and is suddenly condemned for not doing so.  Many new
> technologies take some time to find their true niche.  (Does anyone remember
> "Java everywhere--Microsoft is toast!).  Didn't quite happen, but Java is
> still a significant technology all the same.  I'd say the same thing about
> 24/7 live/Internet reference.  It was touted as the be all and end all and
> all of our Reference sections were toast.  It didn't turn out to be "all",
> and there's room for both the new way and old way.  I'm seeing some info to
> indicate that it isn't all that successful and some libraries are dropping
> it because of lack of patron input.  But at least they tried.
>
> Thanks
> Norm Reeder
> Torrance Public Library
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: web4lib-bounces at webjunction.org [mailto:
> web4lib-bounces at webjunction.org] On Behalf Of Cloutman, David
> Sent: Tuesday, July 08, 2008 9:28 AM
> To: Christopher Kiess; Bill Drew
> Cc: web4lib at webjunction.org
> Subject: RE: [Web4lib] Re: Future of libraries
>
> > All right everyone. I'm going to play the Devil's advocate since I am
> one of
>
> I sure hope, because this statement is crazy:
>
> > Librarians have not changed and they have simply reacted with the
> > changing times; that is not true change
>
> Actually, I would consider that to be adaptation, the best kind of
> change. Adaptation means that change is done is the context of
> situational awareness. There are so many posts to this list about Second
> Life, and IM chat, etc., and so little of it relates to the actual
> demands of patrons and abilities of library staff. I cannot project in
> measurable benefit of providing these technological solutions.
>
> As sad as it may sound, in some libraries (I'm not naming names, here),
> getting the bulk of the reference staff to answer reference questions by
> email can be a significant change for an organization. Yes, the
> reference staff knows how to answer references questions. Yes, they can
> write email. But for some reason, the bulk of them can be resistant to
> doing both. If reference staff were more accessible by email, it would
> certainly benefit the patrons, and it would be a significant adaptation
> to the current situation. But it doesn't happen, because the librarians
> are resistant to change.
>
> I'm sure the situation may different in an academic settings, but I
> think for public libraries, and my library in particular, we needn't be
> straining to implement bleeding edge technology. Simply implementing
> well tested technology that many, if not most, of our patrons already
> use, can provide significant return on investment. And, yes, that is
> real change, even if it is only reactive.
>
> ---
> David Cloutman <dcloutman at co.marin.ca.us>
> Electronic Services Librarian
> Marin County Free Library
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: web4lib-bounces at webjunction.org
> [mailto:web4lib-bounces at webjunction.org] On Behalf Of Christopher Kiess
> Sent: Monday, July 07, 2008 2:49 PM
> To: Bill Drew
> Cc: web4lib at webjunction.org
> Subject: Re: [Web4lib] Re: Future of libraries
>
>
>
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-- 
C.L. Kiess, B.A., M.L.S.
Information & Knowledge Specialist
Columbus Regional Hospital
Library & Knowledge Services