Books still relevant says Forbes magazine. It is at best naive, and at worst ignorant to assume that everything is available on the Internet for free. And yet, there are still individuals that do assume this. Instead of seeing libraries as a place where the wealth of knowledge of humanity can be discovered, social and intellectual discourse can occur, and information can be obtained relatively easily, they see libraries as outdated, replaced by technology, and as storehouses for dusty and irrelevant volumes. Reasons for this no doubt include the two decades of advertising from the Computer industry that a computer and an Internet connection will automatically guarantee your child a place in the Genius line, as well as a lack of direction and good publicity from librarians.
Libraries are about place. Libraries are about books. Libraries are about connecting. Libraries are about intellectual conversation.
In a world becoming more deeply fragmented by information format, specialized research interests, and virtual "connection", libraries remain a place where the world can come together and connect people, books, and information in a comfortable and open atmosphere. Technology is the tool we use to assist in all of these things - it is not the replacement for them.
Don't discount them quickly.
On the other hand, we could be more convenient. Library 2.0 Delivery - the NetFlix Generation (Opens a PDF document). I'm a librarian, I love libraries, and I love pulling little bits of information out of search databases, hunting down that perfect resource - the more obscure, the more fun. Still, is there some good reason (besides patron privacy) that I can't have a list of books I've read, or make a list of books I'd like to read?
I love the idea of making a library accessible to patrons. I more than occasionally resent the fact that I can't list an OPAC search by relevance instead of "most recently added", or can't change my patron information. For that matter, it'd be fantastic to be able to use my Credit Card or PayPal account to pay fines or purchase Interlibrary Loan items that require payment. There are any number of ways we could make the library experience better for patrons - what are we doing to make them happen? Or are we going to be like the RIAA and video industry - pushed out of a customer base because we can't adapt to people's expectations.
And that's not a place I like to go to.
06 December, 2006
21 November, 2006
Search the library through your browser...
Creating an Open Search Plug in for Firefox continues to elude me. I've sat and played around with it for nearly an hour and a half now, but I think my knowledge of XML isn't strong enough to make what should be an extremely simple search string work.
However, I was able to create a keyword search for the library through a site called Search plugins.net that should work, theoretically at least, in IE7 and Firefox 2.0.
I really truly wanted to conqueror the developer pages for Mozilla because my geek-y-ness is that strong, but alas, not yet.
However, I was able to create a keyword search for the library through a site called Search plugins.net that should work, theoretically at least, in IE7 and Firefox 2.0.
I really truly wanted to conqueror the developer pages for Mozilla because my geek-y-ness is that strong, but alas, not yet.
01 November, 2006
Higher education, means higher thinking
When I ask you to compare the content of an article and a website, I expect a comparison with a thoughtful look at who the authors are, the supporting organizations, where there might be bias or mis-information, whether you can check resources for facts, and whatnot. If you simply spout back to me what I have told you in class - that internet resources might be full of bias and opinion, or that anyone can post information on the internet, or that the database resources are usually more reliable - you will not get a good grade.
Because here's a secret: It's possible to find scholarly and peer-reviewed information for free on the web. It's also possible to find non-scholarly information in the databases, they do carry newspapers and popular magazines after all.
Your library database source is a newspaper. You admit you can find no information about the educational background of the author or any purpose listed for the publication. You then say that the library database source seems more reliable. While it is often true that a library database source may be more reliable than what is out there on the web, unless you have opinions to back this up when you have outright admitted to being unable to find any information about author, publication purpose, or bibliography within the source, just saying it's more reliable is not necessarily the correct answer.
On the other hand, your internet source, although not what I would consider scholarly does contain a bibliography, which is a point in its favour. Granted, the author is not an expert in the field, and the website does not seem overly professional, but you can see who he is and see where he got his information.
Personally, I'd use neither of them in a paper that I was writing, but it's all right to say in your summary as well.
We want you to be careful of using information that can be placed on the web by anyone with the technical know-how (research know-how or not). But that doesn't mean that A) everything printed by a publishing house is accurate and that B) everything on the web is evil and full of bias and opinion.
In the case of this question, it's all about you showing to me that you know how to evaluate information, and unfortunately this response is not showing me that you can.
Because here's a secret: It's possible to find scholarly and peer-reviewed information for free on the web. It's also possible to find non-scholarly information in the databases, they do carry newspapers and popular magazines after all.
Your library database source is a newspaper. You admit you can find no information about the educational background of the author or any purpose listed for the publication. You then say that the library database source seems more reliable. While it is often true that a library database source may be more reliable than what is out there on the web, unless you have opinions to back this up when you have outright admitted to being unable to find any information about author, publication purpose, or bibliography within the source, just saying it's more reliable is not necessarily the correct answer.
On the other hand, your internet source, although not what I would consider scholarly does contain a bibliography, which is a point in its favour. Granted, the author is not an expert in the field, and the website does not seem overly professional, but you can see who he is and see where he got his information.
Personally, I'd use neither of them in a paper that I was writing, but it's all right to say in your summary as well.
"Don't believe everything you read."
We want you to be careful of using information that can be placed on the web by anyone with the technical know-how (research know-how or not). But that doesn't mean that A) everything printed by a publishing house is accurate and that B) everything on the web is evil and full of bias and opinion.
In the case of this question, it's all about you showing to me that you know how to evaluate information, and unfortunately this response is not showing me that you can.
25 October, 2006
Libraries Online: Digital Resources
It's ironic that in the end of the "free information revolution" there is as much information that is not free to all as there is that is free. The old adage, you get what you pay for, still seems to apply to digital information on the web. While there are good resources available for free, much of what would be considered a quality source for research or information, requires payment to view.
Of course, that's changing somewhat. I was recently reading an article from the Multimedia & Internet @ Schools, posted on the Internet @ Schools website titled The Changing Face of the Scholarly Web and there were a number of items linked in this aritlce or presentation that give individuals searching the web access to information for free.
One source that we use at the reference desk is the Directory of Open Access Journals. These are quality controlled, scientific journals that are available on the web. The journal publishers have made a policy of making articles available without a subscription to the website. There are currently over 2,200 journals available and many are searchable on the article level with more added all the time.
I also recently discovered the International Children's Digital Library. ICDL is a "public library for the world's children" and includes children's materials in over 34 different languages! It's a fun site to look through and although the number of books is relatively small (900), it is also growing.
The full list is, of course, available at the linked article. There are sources out there - it's just knowing where to find them.
Of course, that's changing somewhat. I was recently reading an article from the Multimedia & Internet @ Schools, posted on the Internet @ Schools website titled The Changing Face of the Scholarly Web and there were a number of items linked in this aritlce or presentation that give individuals searching the web access to information for free.
One source that we use at the reference desk is the Directory of Open Access Journals. These are quality controlled, scientific journals that are available on the web. The journal publishers have made a policy of making articles available without a subscription to the website. There are currently over 2,200 journals available and many are searchable on the article level with more added all the time.
I also recently discovered the International Children's Digital Library. ICDL is a "public library for the world's children" and includes children's materials in over 34 different languages! It's a fun site to look through and although the number of books is relatively small (900), it is also growing.
The full list is, of course, available at the linked article. There are sources out there - it's just knowing where to find them.
10 October, 2006
Bungalow Booklist
Interested in Bungalows?
Here are my top four recommendations for information on Bungalows.
Bunaglow: The Ultimate Arts & Crafts Home. This book by Jane Powell, bungalow goddess and her photographer Linda Svendson is expensive, but is an excellent look at the history of bungalows, photographs of different styles of bungalows, and a general philosophy of bungalow life.
Bunaglow Nation. This book is a look at bungalows throughout the United States. Mostly photographic in nature, it covers stylistic differences in bungalow dwellings from a regional perspective.
Bungalow Details: Exterior by Jane Powell and Linda Svendson. This is the resource for anyone considering making any remodeling changes to bungalow style homes. It covers renovation, historic accuracy, and gives options for those who want to do an obsessive restoration, as well as those who want more modern options. It goes hand and hand with her Bungalow Details: Interior book and her books looking at the restoration of those tricky rooms - Bungalow Kitchens and Bungalow Bathrooms
The New Bungalow. Authored by several including one of the founders of the Bungalow Company, writes this book looking at bringing the style of the early bungalows into a new home. Not for the purists out there, but a good look at those wishing to get the openness and style of the smaller family homes.
Here are my top four recommendations for information on Bungalows.
Bunaglow: The Ultimate Arts & Crafts Home. This book by Jane Powell, bungalow goddess and her photographer Linda Svendson is expensive, but is an excellent look at the history of bungalows, photographs of different styles of bungalows, and a general philosophy of bungalow life.
Bunaglow Nation. This book is a look at bungalows throughout the United States. Mostly photographic in nature, it covers stylistic differences in bungalow dwellings from a regional perspective.
Bungalow Details: Exterior by Jane Powell and Linda Svendson. This is the resource for anyone considering making any remodeling changes to bungalow style homes. It covers renovation, historic accuracy, and gives options for those who want to do an obsessive restoration, as well as those who want more modern options. It goes hand and hand with her Bungalow Details: Interior book and her books looking at the restoration of those tricky rooms - Bungalow Kitchens and Bungalow Bathrooms
The New Bungalow. Authored by several including one of the founders of the Bungalow Company, writes this book looking at bringing the style of the early bungalows into a new home. Not for the purists out there, but a good look at those wishing to get the openness and style of the smaller family homes.
20 September, 2006
Truth in art
All art, good, bad, indifferent, reflects its culture. Great art transcends its culture and touches on that which is eternal. Two writers may write the same story about the same man and woman and their relationship with each other. One writer will come up with art and the other with pornography. There is no subject that is not appropriate for the artist, but the way in which it is handled can sometimes be totally inappropriate. True art has a mythic quality in that it speaks of that which was true, is true, and will be true.Madeleine L'Engle, Herself
I believe this quote came originally from L'Engle's book Walking on Water: Reflections on Faith and Art, which is one of my favourite titles about Christianity and the artist. Can Christian art be bad art? L'Engle does work to tackle that question, and I tend to agree with her ultimate conclusion. True art, the great art, speaks of "that which was true, is true, and will be true", and if it is what was, is, and will be true, it must speak of God and of Christ - so while there may be Christian "art" that may be hideous and speak not to the truth or anything else good, there may be non-Christian artists that in fact speak to those things.
It always frustrates me when I see conservative Christian school libraries throwing out excellent titles that speak to the true and the everlasting out of their collections because they have "magic", "fantasy", "in correct theology" and so on and so forth instead filling their shelves with poorly written drivel that happens to be theologically correct. Do we do our children any service by doing this? By avoiding the truth that can be found in nearly all excellent fantasy novels? I personally believe not. You'll find fantasy in my personal library, and you'll find my kids reading fantasy as well. And you'll find me protesting those that speak against excellent literature they, in many cases, know nothing about and have not read because they believe it may "lead their children astray".
17 August, 2006
The best laid plans...
We're in the midst of a recarpet in the library, which means everything is every which way - including my reference room! So, I plan my vacation around when I think they'll be moving the furniture back into the reference room, only to find they won't be doing that until next week (which, of course, is when I'll be taking my time off.) I suppose a lay out floor plan will simply have to do the trick.
In other news, I've been working towards putting together a floor plan for how to implement a library blog. More up-to-date, easy to keep current, and frankly, easy to write and put together, than a library newsletter, I'm hoping that a blog for the library will be a way to keep patrons posted about new research opportunities, new materials, changes in schedule, all sorts of fun things!
Yesterday I did a bit of a literature review to find articles that discussed library blogging. Today's activity, really this afternoon's activity, will be reading through the eight or nine articles I printed yesterday to glean insights and ideas. Hopefully within this year, that will translate into a blog for the library, which will hopefully translate into another way for our users to get up-to-date information.
Love blogs, love blogging!
In other news, I've been working towards putting together a floor plan for how to implement a library blog. More up-to-date, easy to keep current, and frankly, easy to write and put together, than a library newsletter, I'm hoping that a blog for the library will be a way to keep patrons posted about new research opportunities, new materials, changes in schedule, all sorts of fun things!
Yesterday I did a bit of a literature review to find articles that discussed library blogging. Today's activity, really this afternoon's activity, will be reading through the eight or nine articles I printed yesterday to glean insights and ideas. Hopefully within this year, that will translate into a blog for the library, which will hopefully translate into another way for our users to get up-to-date information.
Love blogs, love blogging!
03 August, 2006
Projects can be so rewarding
Finishing up projects can be a truly rewarding experience. I've been working on a few major reference room projects and have come to the end of my part in them. This does not mean there are no more projects, but it's one less to work on.
Tomorrow: Educating faculty. How to do it quickly and effectively? We're going to try something a bit different this year and we'll see how it goes. When I was the new faculty I kept getting asked questions about the library (as if I knew a lot better than they did at that point!), so this year I'm going to do a session during the new faculty orientation. Hopefully this will answer the basic questions and give them a contact person to visit if they have more questions. We'll see how it works this year and if it seems to be a success, hopefully it will become a yearly ritual.
Tomorrow: Educating faculty. How to do it quickly and effectively? We're going to try something a bit different this year and we'll see how it goes. When I was the new faculty I kept getting asked questions about the library (as if I knew a lot better than they did at that point!), so this year I'm going to do a session during the new faculty orientation. Hopefully this will answer the basic questions and give them a contact person to visit if they have more questions. We'll see how it works this year and if it seems to be a success, hopefully it will become a yearly ritual.
21 July, 2006
The Hazy Lazy Days of Summer
The hazy lazy days of summer that are anything but!
I find that in terms of patron numbers and reference questions they usually are much quieter due to the far smaller number of students on campus. However, summer is generally the time where I work with my projects. And this summer there are a number of them. Everything from preparing the presentation of the OPAC catalog to working on technology savvy ideas for the upcoming school year.
This morning's project included creating a search form that will rest inside the online class software for the institution so that professor's can place the widget on their course home pages and students can search the catalog directly from their course page. Now, it's currently only sitting on my home page, but that's because I haven't shared it yet. Next week I'll be figuring out how to share it properly, but it appears to work and has all the most used information of the library page, which is the exciting part!
There are continual updates on the web pages. It seems like I keep finding typos are realising that information is no longer accurate after the library has joined a large consortium. And so I rewrite and send that information to tech services to get it properly updated.
I'm also interested in working with Camtasia to create library tutorials and potentially working to create podcast files as well. Specifically I'm looking at blogging software so that the library can host its own blog. I'm looking into WordPress and Moveable Type, looking mildly at TypePad as well. I know there are likely other blogging products as well and I'll need to figure out exactly which one is right for the library.
Combine that with reworking the library with carpet and furniture and you have a very full summer!
I find that in terms of patron numbers and reference questions they usually are much quieter due to the far smaller number of students on campus. However, summer is generally the time where I work with my projects. And this summer there are a number of them. Everything from preparing the presentation of the OPAC catalog to working on technology savvy ideas for the upcoming school year.
This morning's project included creating a search form that will rest inside the online class software for the institution so that professor's can place the widget on their course home pages and students can search the catalog directly from their course page. Now, it's currently only sitting on my home page, but that's because I haven't shared it yet. Next week I'll be figuring out how to share it properly, but it appears to work and has all the most used information of the library page, which is the exciting part!
There are continual updates on the web pages. It seems like I keep finding typos are realising that information is no longer accurate after the library has joined a large consortium. And so I rewrite and send that information to tech services to get it properly updated.
I'm also interested in working with Camtasia to create library tutorials and potentially working to create podcast files as well. Specifically I'm looking at blogging software so that the library can host its own blog. I'm looking into WordPress and Moveable Type, looking mildly at TypePad as well. I know there are likely other blogging products as well and I'll need to figure out exactly which one is right for the library.
Combine that with reworking the library with carpet and furniture and you have a very full summer!
12 July, 2006
My Space -> At the library??
I keep running into personalized portal pages. Everyone has them: MSN, Netscape, even LiveJournal has jumped on board. They're nifty. I've found the LJ portal handy before, and I've customized them in several places so that it's useful, and so that it's my home page.
I love personalizing pages. I also love communication.
I have this dream of a library website that does a bit of everything. It's personalized, perhaps you get to select which databases show up in a module. You sign in and you automatically can see your checked out books, or what items might need to be renewed. The librarians keep up a blog that gives interesting information about changes in the website, databases, or new collection additions. You can save searches in your library catalog so that if you're working on a lengthy semester long project you don't have to repeat the search over and over again.
Beyond that you can choose to save books for check-out later. (How many times have you ran across a book that is of very little assistance to your current research but you really want to read it later? You can write it down of course, but inevitably that little piece of paper gets lost and later you think, what was that book? Who was it by? Did I write down the call number? And it's lost forever to the black hole of your backpack.) This library website has a "reading list" similar to Amazon's wishlist feature. Perhaps like LibraryThing's social statistics for a book it might tell you what other books people reading that book have also read.
As a librarian I use Library of Congress Subject Headings all the time, and I don't believe that any serious researcher would ever want to see them disappear. But what about personal tagging features? Language changes and LC subject headings change much less quickly. What about user generated keywords attached to librarian cataloged book records to help other users find that book or article?
There are pieces of this puzzle out there. Innovative Interfaces: My Millennium allows users to do some of these things. Yet, I have yet to see anyone pulling all of the pieces together. I think it's a market for an online library community that I have yet to see any library fill.
If you built it, the users will come.
I love personalizing pages. I also love communication.
I have this dream of a library website that does a bit of everything. It's personalized, perhaps you get to select which databases show up in a module. You sign in and you automatically can see your checked out books, or what items might need to be renewed. The librarians keep up a blog that gives interesting information about changes in the website, databases, or new collection additions. You can save searches in your library catalog so that if you're working on a lengthy semester long project you don't have to repeat the search over and over again.
Beyond that you can choose to save books for check-out later. (How many times have you ran across a book that is of very little assistance to your current research but you really want to read it later? You can write it down of course, but inevitably that little piece of paper gets lost and later you think, what was that book? Who was it by? Did I write down the call number? And it's lost forever to the black hole of your backpack.) This library website has a "reading list" similar to Amazon's wishlist feature. Perhaps like LibraryThing's social statistics for a book it might tell you what other books people reading that book have also read.
As a librarian I use Library of Congress Subject Headings all the time, and I don't believe that any serious researcher would ever want to see them disappear. But what about personal tagging features? Language changes and LC subject headings change much less quickly. What about user generated keywords attached to librarian cataloged book records to help other users find that book or article?
There are pieces of this puzzle out there. Innovative Interfaces: My Millennium allows users to do some of these things. Yet, I have yet to see anyone pulling all of the pieces together. I think it's a market for an online library community that I have yet to see any library fill.
If you built it, the users will come.
02 July, 2006
The joys of Wikipedia
I get asked about Wikipedia all of the time. What I've found is that librarians and even other subject professionals have reviewed wikipedia, it's often with mixed results - some things manage to stay very up-to-date and other subjects and topics have incorrect information.
To be brief, I appreciate wikipedia for a very quick and dirty look up of something that I'm not knowledgeable about, however if I'm going to do in-depth research, I want information from other sources - at the very least more sources. I do find it interesting that even the founder of Wikipedia discourages academic use.
Generally speaking, it's not terribly different from asking students to look for subject encyclopedias edited by specialists in a field or area rather than using a general encyclopedia like World Book or Encyclopedia Americana. The general encyclopedias are obviously edited more than Wikipedia, but oddly enough, in some cases Wikipedia is probably more up-to-date and in some cases even more specific than a general encyclopedia, but that is the nature of the beast.
For those unfamiliar with Wikipedia, there's a basic lowdown here.
To be brief, I appreciate wikipedia for a very quick and dirty look up of something that I'm not knowledgeable about, however if I'm going to do in-depth research, I want information from other sources - at the very least more sources. I do find it interesting that even the founder of Wikipedia discourages academic use.
Generally speaking, it's not terribly different from asking students to look for subject encyclopedias edited by specialists in a field or area rather than using a general encyclopedia like World Book or Encyclopedia Americana. The general encyclopedias are obviously edited more than Wikipedia, but oddly enough, in some cases Wikipedia is probably more up-to-date and in some cases even more specific than a general encyclopedia, but that is the nature of the beast.
For those unfamiliar with Wikipedia, there's a basic lowdown here.
26 June, 2006
Ode to Daniel Boone Regional Library
I love Daniel Boone Regional Library. I love their third floor reading room. I love that I can drink Lakota coffee from their Lakota coffee booth in the lobby. I particularly am fond of their wireless access right now as it is allowing me to update my LiveJournal properly.
Beyond the building of delight, I love their collections - CDs and Videos and DVDs... and of course a collection that is a great deal of fun to browse through.
This morning's task? Quilting books - My Mother would like to make me a Christmas quilt and she has some books at home, but I'm going to take a peek and see what else might have fun patterns.
Beyond the building of delight, I love their collections - CDs and Videos and DVDs... and of course a collection that is a great deal of fun to browse through.
This morning's task? Quilting books - My Mother would like to make me a Christmas quilt and she has some books at home, but I'm going to take a peek and see what else might have fun patterns.
22 June, 2006
Final Musings
Ten hour drive tomorrow - that'll be all sorts of fun.
Yesterday we spent the entire day touring parts of the Chattanooga area. We visited a Railway library, rode the Tennessee Valley railroad and visited the public library as well as some other museums and such. It was a lovely, if somewhat long day. This morning I ended up being so tired and in need of gathering wedding presents and the like that I couldn't get up so I slept and then ran to get the presents taken care of and then came back for the afternoon.
Today was my busy day. I was moderator for the afternoon session, kept things moving, introduced people, etc. I also had to give the publicity report and tonight was the ever present resolutions committee. Different people are elected to the resolutions committee every year - and it's not a bad thing to do. I actually had fun with it and don't really mind. Basically it's amusing notes that happen during the conference and so forth.
I'll probably type up more later, but really should get myself to bed. So, this is all for the moment. I can't wait to have internet again.
Yesterday we spent the entire day touring parts of the Chattanooga area. We visited a Railway library, rode the Tennessee Valley railroad and visited the public library as well as some other museums and such. It was a lovely, if somewhat long day. This morning I ended up being so tired and in need of gathering wedding presents and the like that I couldn't get up so I slept and then ran to get the presents taken care of and then came back for the afternoon.
Today was my busy day. I was moderator for the afternoon session, kept things moving, introduced people, etc. I also had to give the publicity report and tonight was the ever present resolutions committee. Different people are elected to the resolutions committee every year - and it's not a bad thing to do. I actually had fun with it and don't really mind. Basically it's amusing notes that happen during the conference and so forth.
I'll probably type up more later, but really should get myself to bed. So, this is all for the moment. I can't wait to have internet again.
20 June, 2006
Conferences...
Tennessee is absolutely beautiful. I've driven through it before, but I've never actually spent any time in the state - none of any consequence, at least. After all, driving through on your way to Florida does not add up to any amount of time spent in a particular state. I'm not certain I'll be able to say that I've spent any time in the state after this conference either, but I'll have spent a bit more at least.
There are so many trees, and the mountains or hills, if you will, are absolutely beautiful. It's humid and warm and I love bumblebees and fireflies in the evening. It feels much more like home to me - although I realise that it is technically south not Midwest - than Washington can fill. Ah well.
Conferences themselves are always an interesting mixture of being about ready to fall asleep (when one is three time zones earlier than one is used to and on a non-caffeinated campus it tends to make one want to fall asleep) and being inspired to work with all types of things.
My main interests right now deal with electronic ways of instruction. Podcasts, library blogs, and Camtasia based tutorials really intrigue me and I think along with my bibliography project this summer, these are things on which I need to spend time working later this summer. In the meantime I'm going to enjoy having a Target, Ann Taylor Loft, Panera Bread, Steak N' Shake, and Fazoli's within about fifteen minutes of me, and of course, the conference.
There are so many trees, and the mountains or hills, if you will, are absolutely beautiful. It's humid and warm and I love bumblebees and fireflies in the evening. It feels much more like home to me - although I realise that it is technically south not Midwest - than Washington can fill. Ah well.
Conferences themselves are always an interesting mixture of being about ready to fall asleep (when one is three time zones earlier than one is used to and on a non-caffeinated campus it tends to make one want to fall asleep) and being inspired to work with all types of things.
My main interests right now deal with electronic ways of instruction. Podcasts, library blogs, and Camtasia based tutorials really intrigue me and I think along with my bibliography project this summer, these are things on which I need to spend time working later this summer. In the meantime I'm going to enjoy having a Target, Ann Taylor Loft, Panera Bread, Steak N' Shake, and Fazoli's within about fifteen minutes of me, and of course, the conference.
14 June, 2006
Nothing like a cute cat with brilliant books
Now here's a documentary I really must see.
Puss in Books: the Adventures of a Library Cat
And they include the Baker & Taylor cats - I see them in the Baker & Taylor advertisements all the time and think they're adorable and want to use their photos in icons.
When I return from conference and have time I shall have to check this out. As well as possibly the Library Cat Society. After all, if one is a librarian and one loves cats, one should combine the two whenever possible.
Puss in Books: the Adventures of a Library Cat
And they include the Baker & Taylor cats - I see them in the Baker & Taylor advertisements all the time and think they're adorable and want to use their photos in icons.
When I return from conference and have time I shall have to check this out. As well as possibly the Library Cat Society. After all, if one is a librarian and one loves cats, one should combine the two whenever possible.
12 June, 2006
MySpace and the library
The September 2006 issue of Library Journal has a number of fascinating articles. As I look at the situation at our library regarding the possibility of a sorely needed new library building in the near future as well as the students that I work with on a day to day basis, there is a seeming contradiction in needs. When we recently surveyed a selection of twenty students regarding changes we had made to the physical building as well as changes they would like to see occur, it was interesting to me that although we had the requests for changes and improvements in technology, they did not comprise the entirety of requests: Equally focused upon were more study areas.
So the modern library is in a quandary of how to best serve its users. The physical building and print materials contained within, supplanted in importance by many both by the misleading campaigns from computer and internet companies that "everything" is available online as well as equally misleading and sometimes inaccurate opinion pieces in the Chronicle of Higher Education, are clearly still important. This is also made clear in the number of students, books and laptops in front of them inside the library building itself throughout the quarter.
Libraries need to define what their services are, and while I believe in the importance of the print media - and it is clear these have not been supplanted by computer information (nor do I personally believe they will be) - I truly believe one of the biggest things that libraries can do for their patron is to promote an information community wherever it may occur. This may be in the physical building, it may be on a Social Networking Site.
Ironically this seems to come at a time when congress, obsessed with "deleting online predators" is trying to create and enforce a wide net that would supposedly "make the world a safer place". But similar to large fishing nets that may catch things other than their intended prey, these acts - supposedly making us safer - also serve to make it extremely difficult for some libraries to use these sites for what would be, without doubt, an extremely useful service. Ironic, that by "deleting" the bad we are also making access to the site easier for those who would use it well, without truly deleting those who mean ill will, something that will effectively restrict the very environment the fear mongers claim they are will help to create by their regulations.
The MySpace Gap editorial has some really interesting things to say about this.
And in the NextGen column, we have Priorities & Professionalism - an article that I can well relate to and seriously appreciate. Americans work a lot longer than many other countries and my generation is beginning to say, look - we want to spend time with our families and we want the flexibility to do so.
I concur.
And perhaps, what all of these are pointing to is the need to really create a MySpace account for our library - if users are there, it might just be worth it.
So the modern library is in a quandary of how to best serve its users. The physical building and print materials contained within, supplanted in importance by many both by the misleading campaigns from computer and internet companies that "everything" is available online as well as equally misleading and sometimes inaccurate opinion pieces in the Chronicle of Higher Education, are clearly still important. This is also made clear in the number of students, books and laptops in front of them inside the library building itself throughout the quarter.
Libraries need to define what their services are, and while I believe in the importance of the print media - and it is clear these have not been supplanted by computer information (nor do I personally believe they will be) - I truly believe one of the biggest things that libraries can do for their patron is to promote an information community wherever it may occur. This may be in the physical building, it may be on a Social Networking Site.
Social networks, Abram says, everything from MySpace and Facebook to blogs, to creating folksonomies and message boards, or even the simple act of letting users append reviews to the library catalog is the long-term trend. These represent a big opportunity for libraries.- From Google is not the Net
Yet, despite the site’s surging popularity, access to MySpace, often portrayed in the major media as little more than a haven for spammers, identity thieves, and predators, remains blocked in many libraries, schools, and workplaces. Library administrators, burdened by everything from endless task forces and preconceptions of what library service is to federal legislation like the Children’s Internet Protection Act (CIPA) or, potentially, the Deleting Online Predators Act (DOPA) or even just the fear of facing disgruntled parents, have been slow to harness the power of social networks. The Internet, however, waits for no librarian.
“We’ll study things to death until death,” Abram says. Meanwhile, he notes, a generation of users go online, and libraries risk losing virtually uncontested a generation of potential library patrons to commercial ventures.
Ironically this seems to come at a time when congress, obsessed with "deleting online predators" is trying to create and enforce a wide net that would supposedly "make the world a safer place". But similar to large fishing nets that may catch things other than their intended prey, these acts - supposedly making us safer - also serve to make it extremely difficult for some libraries to use these sites for what would be, without doubt, an extremely useful service. Ironic, that by "deleting" the bad we are also making access to the site easier for those who would use it well, without truly deleting those who mean ill will, something that will effectively restrict the very environment the fear mongers claim they are will help to create by their regulations.
The MySpace Gap editorial has some really interesting things to say about this.
And in the NextGen column, we have Priorities & Professionalism - an article that I can well relate to and seriously appreciate. Americans work a lot longer than many other countries and my generation is beginning to say, look - we want to spend time with our families and we want the flexibility to do so.
I concur.
And perhaps, what all of these are pointing to is the need to really create a MySpace account for our library - if users are there, it might just be worth it.
MySpace and the library
The September 2006 issue of Library Journal has a number of fascinating articles. As I look at the situation at our library regarding the possibility of a sorely needed new library building in the near future as well as the students that I work with on a day to day basis, there is a seeming contradiction in needs. When we recently surveyed a selection of twenty students regarding changes we had made to the physical building as well as changes they would like to see occur, it was interesting to me that although we had the requests for changes and improvements in technology, they did not comprise the entirety of requests: Equally focused upon were more study areas.
So the modern library is in a quandary of how to best serve its users. The physical building and print materials contained within, supplanted in importance by many both by the misleading campaigns from computer and internet companies that "everything" is available online as well as equally misleading and sometimes inaccurate opinion pieces in the Chronicle of Higher Education, are clearly still important. This is also made clear in the number of students, books and laptops in front of them inside the library building itself throughout the quarter.
Libraries need to define what their services are, and while I believe in the importance of the print media - and it is clear these have not been supplanted by computer information (nor do I personally believe they will be) - I truly believe one of the biggest things that libraries can do for their patron is to promote an information community wherever it may occur. This may be in the physical building, it may be on a Social Networking Site.
Ironically this seems to come at a time when congress, obsessed with "deleting online predators" is trying to create and enforce a wide net that would supposedly "make the world a safer place". But similar to large fishing nets that may catch things other than their intended prey, these acts - supposedly making us safer - also serve to make it extremely difficult for some libraries to use these sites for what would be, without doubt, an extremely useful service. Ironic, that by "deleting" the bad we are also making access to the site easier for those who would use it well, without truly deleting those who mean ill will, something that will effectively restrict the very environment the fear mongers claim they are will help to create by their regulations.
The MySpace Gap editorial has some really interesting things to say about this.
And in the NextGen column, we have Priorities & Professionalism - an article that I can well relate to and seriously appreciate. Americans work a lot longer than many other countries and my generation is beginning to say, look - we want to spend time with our families and we want the flexibility to do so.
I concur.
And perhaps, what all of these are pointing to is the need to really create a MySpace account for our library - if users are there, it might just be worth it.
So the modern library is in a quandary of how to best serve its users. The physical building and print materials contained within, supplanted in importance by many both by the misleading campaigns from computer and internet companies that "everything" is available online as well as equally misleading and sometimes inaccurate opinion pieces in the Chronicle of Higher Education, are clearly still important. This is also made clear in the number of students, books and laptops in front of them inside the library building itself throughout the quarter.
Libraries need to define what their services are, and while I believe in the importance of the print media - and it is clear these have not been supplanted by computer information (nor do I personally believe they will be) - I truly believe one of the biggest things that libraries can do for their patron is to promote an information community wherever it may occur. This may be in the physical building, it may be on a Social Networking Site.
Social networks, Abram says, everything from MySpace and Facebook to blogs, to creating folksonomies and message boards, or even the simple act of letting users append reviews to the library catalog is the long-term trend. These represent a big opportunity for libraries.- From Google is not the Net
Yet, despite the site’s surging popularity, access to MySpace, often portrayed in the major media as little more than a haven for spammers, identity thieves, and predators, remains blocked in many libraries, schools, and workplaces. Library administrators, burdened by everything from endless task forces and preconceptions of what library service is to federal legislation like the Children’s Internet Protection Act (CIPA) or, potentially, the Deleting Online Predators Act (DOPA) or even just the fear of facing disgruntled parents, have been slow to harness the power of social networks. The Internet, however, waits for no librarian.
“We’ll study things to death until death,” Abram says. Meanwhile, he notes, a generation of users go online, and libraries risk losing virtually uncontested a generation of potential library patrons to commercial ventures.
Ironically this seems to come at a time when congress, obsessed with "deleting online predators" is trying to create and enforce a wide net that would supposedly "make the world a safer place". But similar to large fishing nets that may catch things other than their intended prey, these acts - supposedly making us safer - also serve to make it extremely difficult for some libraries to use these sites for what would be, without doubt, an extremely useful service. Ironic, that by "deleting" the bad we are also making access to the site easier for those who would use it well, without truly deleting those who mean ill will, something that will effectively restrict the very environment the fear mongers claim they are will help to create by their regulations.
The MySpace Gap editorial has some really interesting things to say about this.
And in the NextGen column, we have Priorities & Professionalism - an article that I can well relate to and seriously appreciate. Americans work a lot longer than many other countries and my generation is beginning to say, look - we want to spend time with our families and we want the flexibility to do so.
I concur.
And perhaps, what all of these are pointing to is the need to really create a MySpace account for our library - if users are there, it might just be worth it.
03 June, 2006
The thing about public libraries...
I love working in an academic setting. I enjoy assisting students in finding information. I enjoy the more serious nature of requests you generally receive at the reference desk. However, I was reminded today of how nice public libraries are.
My first memories of libraries come from the small public library in Brunswick, Missouri - a town with a population of 925 compared with approximately 7,800 in the town I currently live in. It was a tiny library tucked away in a brick building right next to the city hall, but I remember it despite the fact that we moved from Brunswick when I was about six years of age. I remember how wonderful it was to go to the library, look at the books on the shelf, check them out, the delight of so many books on the shelf. I don't know how many hours the library was open each week, nor could I tell you the numbers of the collection, but I can tell you that in spite of the town's extremely small population, the town cared enough to make certain there was a library.
The thing about public libraries is that they have a different collection from academic libraries. An academic library, regardless of how open to community members it is - and many are not - are no replacement for public libraries. Public libraries focus on children's programs, on continuing education for adults who are out of school. They may offer a place for communities to come together for meetings or gatherings. They may offer internet access to those who might not otherwise afford it. They may offer ESL opportunities in communities where a high number of individuals speak other languages. Public libraries too, have an atmosphere that you come to learn what interests you. In an academic library, so often the focus is so narrow and on what someone else wants you to learn. A public library the books intrigue you because you are interested in what they speak about.
I feel sorry for towns without public libraries. I cringe at communities that do not care enough about being lifelong learners to support a public library. I despair at the lack of a place for children to learn to love reading - a place where the books on the shelf are to be read because they want to read them, not because a teacher is demanding it. I may work in an academic library, and I may enjoy it, but when I want to renew my love of books and learning, it's often a public library which will catch my eye.
Long live the public libraries!
My first memories of libraries come from the small public library in Brunswick, Missouri - a town with a population of 925 compared with approximately 7,800 in the town I currently live in. It was a tiny library tucked away in a brick building right next to the city hall, but I remember it despite the fact that we moved from Brunswick when I was about six years of age. I remember how wonderful it was to go to the library, look at the books on the shelf, check them out, the delight of so many books on the shelf. I don't know how many hours the library was open each week, nor could I tell you the numbers of the collection, but I can tell you that in spite of the town's extremely small population, the town cared enough to make certain there was a library.
The thing about public libraries is that they have a different collection from academic libraries. An academic library, regardless of how open to community members it is - and many are not - are no replacement for public libraries. Public libraries focus on children's programs, on continuing education for adults who are out of school. They may offer a place for communities to come together for meetings or gatherings. They may offer internet access to those who might not otherwise afford it. They may offer ESL opportunities in communities where a high number of individuals speak other languages. Public libraries too, have an atmosphere that you come to learn what interests you. In an academic library, so often the focus is so narrow and on what someone else wants you to learn. A public library the books intrigue you because you are interested in what they speak about.
I feel sorry for towns without public libraries. I cringe at communities that do not care enough about being lifelong learners to support a public library. I despair at the lack of a place for children to learn to love reading - a place where the books on the shelf are to be read because they want to read them, not because a teacher is demanding it. I may work in an academic library, and I may enjoy it, but when I want to renew my love of books and learning, it's often a public library which will catch my eye.
Long live the public libraries!
23 May, 2006
So what about that book?
It seems elementary to those who have used libraries on a regular basis, or those who, like me, barely remember a time when they weren't in a library on a weekly basis, however it often times isn't. The proof is in the pudding because I still get the question at the reference desk:
A touch of History
Once upon a time, there was something called a card catalog. I'm dating myself as I say this, but I'm only in my twenties and I remember the card catalogs at the public library when we first moved to Columbia, Missouri. Granted, I found them confusing, and I didn't use them much, but my mother did, and occasionally tried to show me how to use them as well.
Card catalogs were large wooden boxes and could be searched by author, title, or by subject. If you were searching by author, it was alphabetical by last name of the author - so, a book How to stand on your head by John Smith, would be located in the author card catalog under S - Smith, John. As well, you could find the book if you knew the title, but not the author because it would be located in the title card catalog under the H's - How to stand on your head. You notice that you would need to know the exact title, because if you thought it was Stand on your head, you would be looking under the S's and you would not find How to stand on your head. 1
You would also be able to find this book in a subject card catalog, which might be under the subject heading "Gymnastics -- Study and teaching".
The Card Catalog in the Twenty-first century
Of course, somewhere about the mid nineties something called the World Wide Web became more popular, and libraries began to make the transition from the little 3x5 cards of the card catalog - which required you to know very specifically the author, title, or subject of the book - to something they called the OPAC. The OPAC was the card catalog in the twenty-first century - the card catalog on the web.
With the introduction of the card catalog to the web format, searching becomes much easier, but it remains firmly rooted in the foundation of the original card catalogs. The three ways you could search through the card catalog still exist, title searches, author searches, and subject searches, and have not changed greatly. You still must know the exact title. The author is still searchable by last name, and subject searches are still available. However, with the advent of the web you can now search by keyword, call number, and other options.
But aren't keyword and subject the same thing?
In a word, no. If you thought they were, don't feel bad. I thought they were interchangeable until I went to graduate school to get my masters in the world of libraries!
Subject searches require and have always required that you know the Library of Congress subject heading. If you don't know that if you are looking for books on the death penalty, you need to look for the subject heading "capital punishment", you will have a difficult time using subject searching.
Keyword searches are more similar to how Google and other search engines look for websites. The computer looks for the words that you enter anywhere they may show up, the subject, the title, the table of contents if they are listed, or in any notes. The good side of this is that you are not required to know the specific wording and if you type in "death penalty", you will find books about the death penalty. The down side can be that because it does not require that words by in the title or subject, or even that they be together - you may find a title that has 'death' in the title, but has a note that has the word 'penalty', and the book has absolutely nothing to do with the death penalty. In a keyword search there is the danger that your search results will be less relevant.
What this does is make keyword a good beginning search, but for the serious researcher, it is helpful to find out what the Library of Congress subject headings are, and use them to research your topic(s). 2
I found the book in the catalog, now what?
Sometimes people write down title, sometimes they come to me with ISBN numbers or OCLC numbers. After you've used the online catalog to find a book, how do you find it in the library?
Essentially you need to look at three things, and they will sometimes be referred to slightly differently in every catalog.
1 Occasionally if there were a title that people often used, but that was not the exact title of the book, an entry might be made under what librarians like to refer to as a 'uniform title'. For instance a book titled The Annotated Christmas Carol : A Christmas Carol , which would be found under A if you were looking at the exact title, might also be housed under the 'uniform title' Christmas Carol, as that's where most people would look for copies of Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol.
2 I usually tell my students to begin with a keyword search, find a book they think will be really useful for them, and then look at the subject headings for that book to help find other books on their topic. Although there are other ways to find out the Library of Congress Subject Headings, this is certainly the easiest.
How do I find a book on ________?
A touch of History
Once upon a time, there was something called a card catalog. I'm dating myself as I say this, but I'm only in my twenties and I remember the card catalogs at the public library when we first moved to Columbia, Missouri. Granted, I found them confusing, and I didn't use them much, but my mother did, and occasionally tried to show me how to use them as well.
Card catalogs were large wooden boxes and could be searched by author, title, or by subject. If you were searching by author, it was alphabetical by last name of the author - so, a book How to stand on your head by John Smith, would be located in the author card catalog under S - Smith, John. As well, you could find the book if you knew the title, but not the author because it would be located in the title card catalog under the H's - How to stand on your head. You notice that you would need to know the exact title, because if you thought it was Stand on your head, you would be looking under the S's and you would not find How to stand on your head. 1
You would also be able to find this book in a subject card catalog, which might be under the subject heading "Gymnastics -- Study and teaching".
The Card Catalog in the Twenty-first century
Of course, somewhere about the mid nineties something called the World Wide Web became more popular, and libraries began to make the transition from the little 3x5 cards of the card catalog - which required you to know very specifically the author, title, or subject of the book - to something they called the OPAC. The OPAC was the card catalog in the twenty-first century - the card catalog on the web.
With the introduction of the card catalog to the web format, searching becomes much easier, but it remains firmly rooted in the foundation of the original card catalogs. The three ways you could search through the card catalog still exist, title searches, author searches, and subject searches, and have not changed greatly. You still must know the exact title. The author is still searchable by last name, and subject searches are still available. However, with the advent of the web you can now search by keyword, call number, and other options.
But aren't keyword and subject the same thing?
In a word, no. If you thought they were, don't feel bad. I thought they were interchangeable until I went to graduate school to get my masters in the world of libraries!
Subject searches require and have always required that you know the Library of Congress subject heading. If you don't know that if you are looking for books on the death penalty, you need to look for the subject heading "capital punishment", you will have a difficult time using subject searching.
Keyword searches are more similar to how Google and other search engines look for websites. The computer looks for the words that you enter anywhere they may show up, the subject, the title, the table of contents if they are listed, or in any notes. The good side of this is that you are not required to know the specific wording and if you type in "death penalty", you will find books about the death penalty. The down side can be that because it does not require that words by in the title or subject, or even that they be together - you may find a title that has 'death' in the title, but has a note that has the word 'penalty', and the book has absolutely nothing to do with the death penalty. In a keyword search there is the danger that your search results will be less relevant.
What this does is make keyword a good beginning search, but for the serious researcher, it is helpful to find out what the Library of Congress subject headings are, and use them to research your topic(s). 2
I found the book in the catalog, now what?
Sometimes people write down title, sometimes they come to me with ISBN numbers or OCLC numbers. After you've used the online catalog to find a book, how do you find it in the library?
Essentially you need to look at three things, and they will sometimes be referred to slightly differently in every catalog.
- Look at the location of the book - this is important because it will tell you what section of the library to go to. If you are in a library system that has many branch libraries, it will tell you which branch the item is located at as well.
- Look at the call number of the book - not the OCLC number, not the ISBN number. The call number whether it be in Dewey Decimal classification or Library of Congress classification will tell you exactly where on the shelf your book should be located. Library of Congress, usually used by academic libraries or very large public libraries, works alphabetically and numerically, Dewey Decimal, usually used by elementary & high school libraries and smaller (under 300,000 books) public libraries works entirely numerically.
- Look at the book's status - the book may be checked out, in which case you will want to ask a library staff member about putting a hold on the item for when it is returns, most libraries will do this.
1 Occasionally if there were a title that people often used, but that was not the exact title of the book, an entry might be made under what librarians like to refer to as a 'uniform title'. For instance a book titled The Annotated Christmas Carol : A Christmas Carol , which would be found under A if you were looking at the exact title, might also be housed under the 'uniform title' Christmas Carol, as that's where most people would look for copies of Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol.
2 I usually tell my students to begin with a keyword search, find a book they think will be really useful for them, and then look at the subject headings for that book to help find other books on their topic. Although there are other ways to find out the Library of Congress Subject Headings, this is certainly the easiest.
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)
