The sky's the limit!

Once upon a time libraries were places of intense quiet and study. I distinctly remember library rules and decorum being a step above any classroom (and quite frankly, any church) experience. (After all, at least you were allowed to sing in church!)

That traditional view of libraries however is long gone. Now it’s as much a place of socializing as any other place in town; kids and parents meet for regular ‘Storytime’ events; teens come to video game nights; adults gather for book clubs.

So, it’s not surprising that libraries are jumping on the technology bandwagon either. The fact is, libraries need all the patrons they can get these days and they need to be where the users are. If smart phones open up a venue for library access and patron contact that was not possible before, libraries should be embracing the opportunity.

I must admit though, I was stuck in tradition too. When I first began thinking of the potential for smart phones in libraries, I audibly gasped! “But who would think of using their phone in a LIBRARY!?”  

But the fact is, there are many opportunities for smart phones to enhance library service without taking away from traditional forms. Perhaps one of the most obvious is with app development. These days there is an app for everything. Why not have one to help navigate around the local library? There is also an app out now that will allow you to upload your library card to your smart phone. When you’re ready to check out, your phone will display the barcode of your card ready for easy scanning. I’ve also recently heard about ‘text-a-librarian’ and ‘text-a-call-number’ features. In our immediacy ridden society this sounds like just the fix!

Ultimately, there are an infinite number of possible uses for smart phones in the library. I find it quite exciting that as libraries we get to explore their uses just as much as the next organization. And I think that’s the right attitude to have….explore, play, discover. The possibilities are endless.

Free or not for free...

The only open source software that I am aware that I have used is OpenOffice. And I can definitely see the benefits for both individual and library use. That fact that these types of resources are available for free is an immense benefit. Especially when we consider the increase in budget reductions libraries are often faced with.

But I think we need to err on the side of caution with OSS as well. Just because something is free, we shouldn’t all rush out and convert. The old adage, ‘you get what you pay for’ rings a little too true. Oftentimes there are compatibility issues that cause more problems for people and organizations and result in a greater loss of money, time and energy than the use of ‘purchased’ software would. There are ways around many of the issues of compatibility but it often does require a more in-depth knowledge of the programme and/or a little extra time and training.

Having programming code that is open to anyone allows for the opportunity for continual enhancement and upgrades. And I really like the idea of being able to access these updates without investing too much time or money. However, if something seems too good to be true…..it usually is. I think that OSS has it niche but I am wary of thrusting my individual or library’s needs wholly and directly into its arms.

Content Enrichment in the ILS

Less is more?? Not always. When considering content enriched MARC records I say, “Go big or go home!” And why not?! Today library’s have to compete with the ever increasing amount of information that is freely and easily accessible on the web. Major book distributors such as amazon have already began offering added browsing features such as reviews and even a “look inside” feature that allows patron to electronically browse the contents of their books. I’ll be the first to admit that I prefer browsing the amazon website when completing an acquisition list for my library due to these available features. I can easily find new books, read reviews on them and actually browse through many selections without leaving the comfort of my computer screen! (And let me tell you, when you work in an isolated community in the Canadian Arctic, this is an incredible advantage!)

If library systems are able to enrich their content with this type of similar information and resources, I see it as a huge advantage. Let’s face it, today’s society is obsessed with having information available at their fingertips IMMEDIATELY. Anything we can do as a library to provide that to our patrons is essential. I myself, light up a little when I import MARC records that contain a cover photo of the book! And it has in fact made my own work a little easier. When a patron is checking out materials, I now have a visual cue to assist in the identification of the item and it certainly speeds the circulation process along. It also aids the process of book retrieval as content enrichment allows me to determine that what I am looking for is appropriate and already shows me what it looks like.

To me, the answer is obvious….bigger is definitely better!

Book Value

“you can blog about anything this week…”

Funny how an open ended topic creates insurmountable writer’s block!

Ironically, there is so much going on in my life library-wise that I should have no problems establishing topic parameters.

I recently read an article in “Today’s Parent” magazine (March 2003) by John Lorinc entitled Book Value. It basically talked about ‘new’ research that shows a strong link between student achievement and a well-stocked and easily accessible (something Lornic referred to as ‘healthy’) school library.

(And as we all know, in order to achieve a healthy status a library must have a healthy budget.)

Which got me to thinking….

I am currently in a position as a Teacher-Librarian but I am a nearly extinct species (a fact that exists mainly due to budget cuts and the like). And as it is….I am a Teacher first and a Librarian second. Even now my time must be split between the classroom and the bookstacks and that invariably leads to stack neglect as library tasks get pushed to the wayside while student needs are addressed.

So I thought some more….

Isn’t there an easier way to bridge the gap between library and user (and in this case student) that makes my job as a Teacher and a Librarian easier??

How can I get my students involved in library use AND get homework handed in?! And HOW can I use wiki’s and blogs (and other such technologies) to give these kids the immediacy today’s generation craves so much??

The answer to that…..I am still working on….

In the meantime I’m off to update the current collection to at least one step higher on the technological front….barcodes on books…..here….we…..go!!!

In the beginning...

Phew! So here I am....post # 1.

Boy, this is exciting!

...

So......

What now????

Well...This blog is beginning as an assignment for an online course in Library Studies. But...I hope it becomes much more than that! Having only experimented with livejournal in the past, I feel pretty green when it comes to blogging. In fact, I feel as if it is reserved for those advanced computer techie types and find the entire process rather daunting. Which is why it feels sort of strange to be here....blogging. I feel almost as if I have taken on a new persona....like Carrie Bradshaw in 'Sex and the City'...except I'll be blogging about librarianship in a small northern town instead of making poignant observations about men and shoes.

Okay...maybe I'll throw in a line or two about my shoe of the day....just to mix it up a bit!


Surprisingly, setting up this blog was a super easy experience! The hardest part was deciding on a title. Otherwise it felt as if I had simply sat down and opened up Microsoft Word in order to do some typing. In fact, it has felt so easy that I feel strongly that one of two things must be happening: Either a) I am most certainly doing something wrong or b) my lofty opinions of how tricky and advanced those techie computer guys were was greatly overrated!


In any case, it's great to finally be here! While there will definitely be a large learning curve when it comes to all the lingo and how to use it (ie. RSS feeds = Really Scary Suggestion) I hope that it all works out in the end. Gulp!

I'm also curious to explore the world of blogs for library use. Particularly for library use within a high school setting. I am currently in a new position as the high school librarian for a grade 9-12 school in Nunavut. Many of these kids are unfamiliar with written language, particularly English, yet most excel with technology. What are the implications for blogging in the northern school setting? I'm curious how this new tool can help make this library (and language) more accessible for these kids.

And who knows, maybe I'll learn enough to impress my computer savvy fiancee! Stranger things have happened in the world of blog-dom!


Stay tuned!