I just finished a great column by Rachel Singer Gordon and Jessamyn West in the February Issue of Computers in Libraries (tech tips for every librarian - page 42-43). I especially related to the following quotes:
“If we want to continue to market ourselves as a place for answers and support - not to mention as a place to get on-line - we can’t leave out the technological piece entirely. We can certainly establish a level of support that we are able to and willing to provide, then refer patrons to an authority on the subject (just as we would refer them to a community law library for legal resources, or to a doctor for medical advice). But when we provide no support at all, we leave a gaping hole in our claim to provide information and make it more difficult to make the argument that libraries remain essential in a technological society.” (emphasis is mine)
“When patrons’ attempts to access our online resources with their personal equipment are thwarted, they deserve the same level of support as they’d get if they were in the library.”
“When we provide and promote technology in our libraries, we take on a certain responsibility for ensuring patrons’ smooth use of that technology. When we take on the role of providing information, we can’t decide that technology is somehow exempt.” (emphasis is mine)
“Providing technology support and training for patrons parallels our role in supporting literacy, from our story times through our collections to our sponsorship of formal literacy programs. Computer literacy today is equally as important for participating in society, whether it involves applying for jobs on the internet or looking up a book in the online catalog.”
I look forward to a time when this attitude is predominant in libraries of all sizes and job descriptions change to encompass these ideas.
Mindy
