A few weeks ago, Library Journal published an essay I wrote highlighting systemic barriers to quality reference service. People from across the country responded and comments touched upon many aspects of library service delivery. I’m pleased the essay prompted an exchange that involved people within and (a few) outside the library community; went into detail
◊ Change Management ◊
What makes a great library?
It’s hard not to be wowed by the facilities at Anythink Libraries in Adams County, Colorado — but make no mistake — this would be a great library system even if it was located in a set of original Carnegie buildings. Prompted by this month’s Library Journal cover story, I phoned Director Pam Sandlian Smith
Imagine scarcity – it can save public libraries
What is scarce in what we do? And how do we leverage that to create new value?1 Join me in imagining the future, when information comes to me. Devices Information comes via a device in my pocket, or the tablets lying around my house or in my backpack, large screens on my walls, and computers
The future of information … libraries how will you respond?
Today at Library Journal‘s virtual summit, eBooks: Libraries at the Tipping Point, I’ll address the question posed by our moderator: “If libraries build the perfect ebook collection, will the patrons come?” My response is one of the unspeakables I wrote about last week. In this instance, it’s the notion that “The Collection” goes away in
Libraries can help bring back authoritative sources
It wasn’t so long ago that a young person’s formal introduction to research and authoritative sources was a teacher or librarian pointing to the Encyclopedia Britannica, the sum of human knowledge. Or the majority of American adults relied on Walter Cronkite to tell them “the way it was” for a given day. Or information about
How it feels to voice the unspeakable
On September 29th, I’ll be a panelist at Library Journal‘s virtual summit, eBooks: Libraries at the Tipping Point. My participation so far suggests it will be a provocative, content-rich program offered in a new way, at a rock-bottom price—which is so important with the need for communication within the library profession so high and training/travel
Rage, rage against the dying of the light
Click to Listen1 Do Not Go Gentle Into That Good Night By Dylan Thomas (1914-1953) Do not go gentle into that good night, Old age should burn and rave at close of day; Rage, rage against the dying of the light. Though wise men at their end know dark is right, Because their words had
The decline of independent pharmacies
Independent pharmacies helped form the landscape of my youth and early adulthood. Each community had one, usually near the center of town. In addition to health products, most offered a good selection of newspapers, magazines and greeting cards. A wide assortment of candy was a staple and some even had a soda counter with light
Thinking ’bout library professionalism
If asked to name the hottest topic in the library world, I’d say “professional stature”. This impression is based on the number of articles in library blogs and professional publications that try to dispel negative stereotypes or forthrightly question librarians’ professional standing. Andy Woodworth of the Burlington County Library System addressed both quite recently. In
On getting patrons to use the databases
How do we get patrons to use the databases? We spend a lot of money on them and no one uses them. This question from a public librarian during one of the Reference Renaissance forums intrigued me. My first reaction was to wonder why a library would continually subscribe to resources patrons aren’t using and
