I just finished reading “The Millennial Outlook in Young Adult Literature” by Gigi Yang in the Fall 2006 issue of Colorado Libraries. This is a very insightful and informative article. I hope you get a chance to read it. If you would like to read it and you don’t have a copy of Colorado Libraries let me know and I will loan you mine.
Mindy
I would enjoy hearing what were your three favorite books of 2006 - I am always on the look out for new authors. I’ll start.
THE BOOK THEIF: I listened to this on CD and almost gave up after the first disk. I am glad I did not - I absolutely loved this book and highly recommened it!
MARLEY AND ME: I laughed so hard I cried. Great for anyone who loves pets.
FROM GOOD TO GREAT: Fascinating and right on the money in my opinion.
YOUR TURN!
Mindy
A couple of weeks ago I posted an article that compared Bookstores to Libraries. Lisa Bracken of the Silt Library posted this detailed and well-thought out comment and I was afraid that it might be overlooked so I have re-posted it here as a posting. Thanks for taking the time to think about this issue and respond Lisa. - Mindy
This is a really interesting article which certainly spotlights the trends emerging in library/bookstore usage; and, I appreciate the comparison between the two.
I think in examining such trends, analyzing the data and distilling the information into a model for the future is a bold and correct initiative. Such analysis is always a timely undertaking, since consumer needs and technology keep things in motion. But, I think we must be careful not to compare apples and oranges, so to speak. That is, it’s been shown that to emulate a competitor (and I think bookstores could fall into that category from a marketing point of view) without distinguishing yourself and playing on your own strengths is always a mistake.
In my opinion, libraries are not bookstores - and vice-versa… at least for now. However, the two, as the article suggests are comparable, to a degree. Clearly, the one thing that holds libraries apart is that fact that they are “free”. This is relative, of course, to the public revenues used to support them. But, where one person pays to support the system, another - outside the system by design or circumstance - can still draw a benefit. This is a function, I think, which is essential to a healthy society. I must take exception with this author’s assessment of “reference”. Reference has always appeared to me to be a huge function of the public library system, and one which I believe has been terribly and mistakenly undervalued in this article.
The intuitive approach would be to acknowledge these two areas of public library function and play them up. If reference is lagging, promote it, and improve professional training and public access. The idea that books are readily accessible to all segments of the socio-economic spectrum lends its own identity. I mean, that’s where a huge difference lies in distinguishing a public library from a bookstore - “free” vs. “cost”. I think the third leg upon which the libraries should sturdy themselves is in in the area of customer service. In distinguishing the “commercial” identity of a bookstore from the “public service” identity of a public library, we can likely justify the cost differential through kick-butt customer service. At least once efficiency issues are streamlined. After all, commercial enterprises have always been rabid about this aspect, whereas government entities… well, do we all recall the $700 toilet seats ordered by the Pentagon back in the 80’s? Still though, efficiency should not come at the cost of qualified personnel. It should come first in systems and process. This approach should go hand in hand with trained, knowledgeable staff and promoted reference function.
We’re NOT bookstores! We DON’T buy boatloads of books on deep discount programs (well this part, maybe) and turn around and return them, paying staff a barely livable wage. I have to ask what the staffing turn-over is at these places. Maybe it’s actually quite stable – but it’s yet another variable of an accurate comparison worthy of examination. As a library we are what we are – and we are used by the public on that basis – but also on the basis of what the public perceives we are. Importantly, we are also NOT used based on on that same perception.
I think the national library system has defiantly clued into the need to compete on a customer service level, and that, in my opinion, together with promoting the idea of “borrow” vs. “buy”, as well as enhanced reference functionality are fine places to begin.
As far as designing a library as a social gathering place – DARN RIGHT! I think the idea of a stuffy hackled repository of dusty tombs has been a mistaken approach since the first beady-eyed librarian lowered her spectacles and glared at someone who opened a book too loudly. I say play up BIG TIME the social gathering aspect, with designated quiet/study areas; areas which would appeal to all sorts of demographics - kids, teens, geriatrics (good lighting comfortable seats and large print please! I could use that now and I’m not yet 40); improved access to new (efficient and stable) technologies; and provide answers (RIGHT answers) with a genuine, worth-my-hourly-wage smile!
Can libraries compete? Heck YEAH Bring it on, baby!
Author’s note: I haven’t posted in a while, since I couldn’t find the login link (see how I need the large print) so I figure this jacks me up to my quota at least for the next three months. Thanks for posting and for reading. L~
Best Free Reference Web Sites 2006
This is an annual series initiated under the auspices of the Machine-Assisted Reference Section (MARS) of the Reference and User Services Association (RUSA) of ALA to recognize outstanding reference sites on the World Wide Web.
THIS IS A GREAT LIST!!! Check it out - I bet you will find at least one website that you can’t live without ;0)
Time’s Person of the Year: YOU
“In 2006, the World Wide Web became a tool for bringing together the small contributions of millions of people and making them matter.” And the way the Internet did this is through social software. Or you might have heard it called Web 2.0. In any case, you might already being using social software and don’t even know it.
What makes social software such a big deal? Time nails it when they say, “It’s a story about community and collaboration on a scale never seen before. …It’s about the many wresting power from the few and helping one another for nothing and how that will not only change the world, but also change the way the world changes.” Isn’t this what the library is all about? Community, collaboration, equal access.
Right now you might be saying, “Who has time for this?” And Time says, “Who are these people? Seriously, who actually sits down after a long day at work and says, I’m not going to watch Lost tonight. I’m going to turn on my computer and make a movie starring my pet iguana? …I’m going to blog about my state of mind or the state of the nation or the steak-frites at the new bistro down the street? Who has that time and that energy and that passion?”
“The answer is, you do. And for seizing the reins of the global media, for founding and framing the new digital democracy, for working for nothing and beating the pros at their own game, TIME’s Person of the Year for 2006 is you.”
Time sums it up with, “This is an opportunity to build a new kind of international understanding, not politician to politician, great man to great man, but citizen to citizen, person to person. It’s a chance for people to look at a computer screen and really, genuinely wonder who’s out there looking back at them.”
For those of you who would like to know more about social networking I have been working on an extra-curricular program that will be available to all staff. It is a self-paced program with lots of tutorials. It will introduce you to over 25 different social networking services on the Web. I look forward to presenting this program to you in the near future and in the meantime if you are using any social networking that you think is really cool - let me know about it!
Mindy
I would like to wish all my fellow co-workers a happy holiday!
Mindy
Open Office will open and read a document made in Open Office and/or a document made in Microsoft Office.
Microsoft office will open and read a document made in Microsoft Office but NOT in Open Office.
What this means is that if you save your Open Office documents in the Microsoft format you (and anyone you forward them to) will be able to open them in EITHER Microsoft Office or Open Office.
So PLEASE do not save your Open Office Documents in Open Office - save them in Microsoft Office format.
If you need help with this please let me know.
Thanks,
Mindy
I have created a toolbar to add to your browser if you want. Give it a try and tell me what you think. If you need help installing it or taking it off just give me a call ;0)
Click Here for the Library Toolbar
Mindy
Thanks to Diane for sending me this photo!
Mindy
