SPAM-LOW: Re: [Web4lib] Re: Future of libraries

Tue Jul 8 15:17:33 EDT 2008

 New Jersey also has a service called  "Q and A New Jersey" www.qandanj.org.

Dorothy Fleishman
d.fleishman at att.net

  -------------- Original message from "Christopher Kiess" <clkiess at gmail.com>: --------------

> I knew of the one connected to OCLC, but not of this one, Andrea.
> Interesting. I wonder what would happen if it was commercially marketed like
> Cha Cha.
> 
> chris
> 
> On Tue, Jul 8, 2008 at 2:35 PM, Andrea Berstler - Director <
> andrea.berstler at villagelibrary.org> wrote:
> 
> > Pennsylvania has such a program state wide - Ask PA.
> > http://www.askherepa.org/
> >
> > I do not have the numbers here as to their success or "non-success" but it
> > is a nice service to offer our rural population, where most things are not
> > open 24/7.
> >
> > Andrea Berstler - Director
> > The Village Library of Morgantown
> >
> >
> >
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: web4lib-bounces at webjunction.org
> > [mailto:web4lib-bounces at webjunction.org] On Behalf Of Christopher Kiess
> > Sent: Tuesday, July 08, 2008 2:03 PM
> > To: Reeder, Norm
> > Cc: web4lib at webjunction.org
> > Subject: SPAM-LOW: Re: [Web4lib] Re: Future of libraries
> >
> > 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  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  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
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > Email Disclaimer:
> > > http://www.co.marin.ca.us/nav/misc/EmailDisclaimer.cfm
> > >
> > >
> > >
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> >
> >
> > --
> > C.L. Kiess, B.A., M.L.S.
> > Information & Knowledge Specialist
> > Columbus Regional Hospital
> > Library & Knowledge Services
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> >
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> 
> 
> -- 
> C.L. Kiess, B.A., M.L.S.
> Information & Knowledge Specialist
> Columbus Regional Hospital
> Library & Knowledge Services
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