[Web4lib] Re: Future of libraries

Wed Jul 9 16:23:01 EDT 2008

Christopher Kiess said, of virtual reference:

"What if there was a consortium of libraries participating via a single interface for live interaction."

The first "live" consortial virtual reference projects started up about eight years ago. I served as a consultant for one of them (Ready for Reference in Illinois).

Many states now have statewide virtual reference services.

Bernie Sloan
Sora Associates

--- On Tue, 7/8/08, Christopher Kiess <clkiess at gmail.com> wrote:

> From: Christopher Kiess <clkiess at gmail.com>
> Subject: Re: [Web4lib] Re: Future of libraries
> To: "Reeder, Norm" <nreeder at torrnet.com>
> Cc: "web4lib at webjunction.org" <web4lib at webjunction.org>
> Date: Tuesday, July 8, 2008, 2:02 PM
> 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
> >
> >
> >
> > Email Disclaimer:
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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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