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
◊ Change Management ◊
On engaging with the FOX News videos
So I’ve been summarizing my thoughts on the FOX News videos and noting how good it feels to experience powerful dialogue about the issues facing our public libraries. A common trope is to frame issues in polar, life-or-death ways and library rhetoric often falls into this trap. Two of the FOX videos do the same
Getting the brush off @ your library
It’s disconcerting how often I get the brush off when seeking basic service or information from libraries. Some examples: A few months ago, I phoned the ALA library in search of the photo used in Libraries – protect that brand. I described the photo clearly, shared that it was an American Libraries cover and that
Libraries as hubs of civic discourse
Oleg Kagan’s comments to my July 7 post and another librarian’s comment on the Lead Pipe blog suggest the idea of public libraries becoming hubs of civic discourse is worth exploring. Do citizens really want it? Oleg described an unsuccessful civic program at the Will & Arial Durant Branch library in Los Angeles: “we invited
It’s not the lie, but the myth
As every past generation has had to disenthrall itself from an inheritance of truisms and stereotypes, so in our own time we must move on from the reassuring repetition of stale phrases to a new, difficult, but essential confrontation with reality. For the great enemy of truth is very often not the lie–deliberate, contrived and
Libraries nurture citizens, not consumers
There are things in this country that the market will not provide: public education, public art, public schools, public broadcasting, public toilets. I mean, there are things that are not profitable, but that still serve a value. And I think the most important thing that we can do is to continue to treat Americans as
Barclay busts a library myth
The Myth of Browsing, a superb piece of writing and analysis by librarian Donald A. Barclay,1 thoughtfully examines opposition to plans by the Syracuse University Library to move some of its books to a remote location. This article is a “must-read” in my estimation for it gets at a key component of our library crisis
LC-Twitter, another bite at the apple
In The LoC & Twitter: the horror, the horror I expressed discouragement over my industry observations during the weeks following the Library of Congress agreement to archive Twitter. An opportunity arose to revisit the subject in Library Journal and I returned to form with some straight-ahead analysis and thoughts about new information needs in the
The Goodnight, Gutenberg blog
Folks interested in publishing and technology will want to check out Slate.com’s Goodnight, Gutenberg from publishing-exec-turned-author Marion Maneker. A few recent articles may be of particular interest to libraries: The Cloudy Revolution: The iPad will speed the shift from desktop to Web-based computing. The Future of E-Readers Is Brighter Than We Knew Does It Matter
Could this be @ your library?
If I worked for the National Public Library Corporation, I’d include moving visuals like the ones below in my architecture collection. In addition to reference materials, the collection would include resources for library programs that drive community participation, education and enjoyment such as: physical and online references for in-house exhibits project outlines for researching &
