[Web4lib] Re: Future of libraries

Jennifer Heise jenne.heise at gmail.com
Wed Jul 9 14:03:56 EDT 2008 

This is why a lot of the organizations looking at Open Source ILS's
are going with things like Koha or Evergreen, where there's
specifically a company set up doing the tech support that you can
hire, so it's much like having SIRSI or whatever.
-- Jenne

On Wed, Jul 9, 2008 at 8:27 AM, Lin Light <llight at herrickdl.org> wrote:
> Simple analysis of cost vs benefit.
>
> One example is the decision taken place regarding open source ILS. If your
> institution has the staffing that is up on and into open source it is fine.
> Many libraries will stay with MS products because at current that is what
> their IT is schooled in. Yes they can be trained but we don't pay that much
> for licensing when compared to training of not just IT, but other library
> staff that will provide frontline support.
> I know this will probably get me in hot water with lots of folks but lets
> face it. Cost it out.
>
> 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: "Yvonne M Mulhern" <miss.cybrarian at gmail.com>
> To: "Lin Light" <llight at herrickdl.org>, web4lib at webjunction.org
> Sent: Tue, 8 Jul 2008 10:58:27 -0500
> Subject: Re: [Web4lib] Re: Future of libraries
>
>> *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.
>>
>> *Interesting point. What are some examples of this that you've encountered?
>> ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
> -------------------------------------
>>
>> On Tue, Jul 8, 2008 at 10:34 AM, Lin Light <llight at herrickdl.org> wrote:
>>
>> > 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 -------
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> > _______________________________________________
>> > Web4lib mailing list
>> > Web4lib at webjunction.org
>> > http://lists.webjunction.org/web4lib/
>> >
>> >
> ------- End of Original Message -------
>
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