Comments on: Thinking about the future http://librariansmatter.com/blog/2009/09/02/thinking-about-the-future/ It is and we do. Musing, enthusing, libraries, emerging technologies, balancing, being mum. Sun, 05 Feb 2012 13:43:42 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Kathryn Greenhill http://librariansmatter.com/blog/2009/09/02/thinking-about-the-future/comment-page-1/#comment-59552 Kathryn Greenhill Wed, 09 Sep 2009 08:53:31 +0000 http://librariansmatter.com/blog/?p=1305#comment-59552 Thank you for all the practical suggestions. Gee I love the way blogging works :) Tamara - I was thinking about our users who are working from home rather than staff - and have clarified the post :) I worked from home 2 days in my last job and it was a bit of a double-edged sword. Rather than slack off because I could, I felt so guilty about being relaxed and ploughing so quickly through my work that I tended to think "well, *that* wasn't just work", so put in extra hours :P Steven - The librarians have my admiration because when I have visited their libraries, they were lively places with many users who are obviously getting what they want :) I agree that we won't be out of the book business soon - but can see that like travel agents, Virgin megastores and video shops, we do have to adjust what we do in response to our users changing what they do. Joann - Thanks for the heads-up on Kea. Hadn't heard of it before and now I have something else to find out about. Karen - I think you are right on the money with our non-users still being supportive although they do not actively use us. Hadn't quite thought of it like that. Isaak - I like the idea of tying events with library materials and having a display in the run-up to an event - nice marketing. Penny - really thinking hard about moving the TEE paper collection to the mezzanine where students hang out. Was contemplating moving some leisure reading and study skills material up there, but I think it would be a problem for re-shelving :( Still toying with how to bring those resources together... Hoi - Here's my shameful admission of someone who is newb again in public libraries.... For now, I'm really enjoying seeing the stock and getting to know the collections via desk shifts and shelving... Merriwyn - your comments are so very welcome. Even a social event with the local school librarians maybe.... or attending one of their local meetings if they ever get together, just so I can find out what needs they think their students might have that I can help with? Thank you for all the practical suggestions. Gee I love the way blogging works :)

Tamara – I was thinking about our users who are working from home rather than staff – and have clarified the post :) I worked from home 2 days in my last job and it was a bit of a double-edged sword. Rather than slack off because I could, I felt so guilty about being relaxed and ploughing so quickly through my work that I tended to think “well, *that* wasn’t just work”, so put in extra hours :P

Steven – The librarians have my admiration because when I have visited their libraries, they were lively places with many users who are obviously getting what they want :) I agree that we won’t be out of the book business soon – but can see that like travel agents, Virgin megastores and video shops, we do have to adjust what we do in response to our users changing what they do.

Joann – Thanks for the heads-up on Kea. Hadn’t heard of it before and now I have something else to find out about.

Karen – I think you are right on the money with our non-users still being supportive although they do not actively use us. Hadn’t quite thought of it like that.

Isaak – I like the idea of tying events with library materials and having a display in the run-up to an event – nice marketing.

Penny – really thinking hard about moving the TEE paper collection to the mezzanine where students hang out. Was contemplating moving some leisure reading and study skills material up there, but I think it would be a problem for re-shelving :( Still toying with how to bring those resources together…

Hoi – Here’s my shameful admission of someone who is newb again in public libraries…. For now, I’m really enjoying seeing the stock and getting to know the collections via desk shifts and shelving…

Merriwyn – your comments are so very welcome. Even a social event with the local school librarians maybe…. or attending one of their local meetings if they ever get together, just so I can find out what needs they think their students might have that I can help with?

]]> By: merriwyn http://librariansmatter.com/blog/2009/09/02/thinking-about-the-future/comment-page-1/#comment-59513 merriwyn Tue, 08 Sep 2009 08:35:26 +0000 http://librariansmatter.com/blog/?p=1305#comment-59513 On the subject of building relationships with the teen community, the main issue you appeared to be raising was that of trying to get ahold of these teens so you can find out what it is they require. Perhaps one possible way to start to get an idea of what these potential users might need (and who they might be) might be to try and get into contact with the TLs at some of those local private schools (heck, any local schools, but those were the ones you mentioned) and see what they are doing and try to get some idea of what their needs and interests might be. If you could maybe arrange something relating to study and the TEE (it is coming to the pointy end of the year), which you could then offer to do at the local high schools, that might be a way to offer both the school and the students something they could use, whilst introducing yourself as the new teen services librarian, hopefully using the opportunity to give them a spiel about how you would like to find out about their needs/ask them to join the Teen Advisory Council etc. Whilst not all teens at these schools will be your direct potential user base it might be a good way to introduce yourself to them and to others which might become part of your user base if they find you have something to offer them. Just an idea, feel free to ignore it :) On the subject of building relationships with the teen community, the main issue you appeared to be raising was that of trying to get ahold of these teens so you can find out what it is they require. Perhaps one possible way to start to get an idea of what these potential users might need (and who they might be) might be to try and get into contact with the TLs at some of those local private schools (heck, any local schools, but those were the ones you mentioned) and see what they are doing and try to get some idea of what their needs and interests might be. If you could maybe arrange something relating to study and the TEE (it is coming to the pointy end of the year), which you could then offer to do at the local high schools, that might be a way to offer both the school and the students something they could use, whilst introducing yourself as the new teen services librarian, hopefully using the opportunity to give them a spiel about how you would like to find out about their needs/ask them to join the Teen Advisory Council etc. Whilst not all teens at these schools will be your direct potential user base it might be a good way to introduce yourself to them and to others which might become part of your user base if they find you have something to offer them. Just an idea, feel free to ignore it :)

]]> By: Hoi http://librariansmatter.com/blog/2009/09/02/thinking-about-the-future/comment-page-1/#comment-59305 Hoi Thu, 03 Sep 2009 05:35:05 +0000 http://librariansmatter.com/blog/?p=1305#comment-59305 I know it is never ending but why desk shifts and what? Shelving??? There are so much more to do yet we have to spend so much time on (for me, 50% of my work hour) desk shifts - checking in and out of books, renewal of items... oh yes, and more checking in and out of books.... I know it is never ending but why desk shifts and what? Shelving??? There are so much more to do yet we have to spend so much time on (for me, 50% of my work hour) desk shifts – checking in and out of books, renewal of items… oh yes, and more checking in and out of books….

]]> By: Penny http://librariansmatter.com/blog/2009/09/02/thinking-about-the-future/comment-page-1/#comment-59304 Penny Thu, 03 Sep 2009 04:32:35 +0000 http://librariansmatter.com/blog/?p=1305#comment-59304 The "my tutor" idea is excellent, and one that could be transferred into physical space as well? Thinking back on my teenage-library-usage, I admit that my major usage of *public* libraries was during the TEE. I'd meet with friends from other schools for study groups and we'd share resources. I'd also visit the state library in order to look at the teacher guides for the subjects I was studying, and to access sample exam papers. Now students can get exam papers from the Curriculum Council, but because the TEE has been replaced by the Courses of Study / WACE, there's not a whole lot of resources out there. If you could somehow get copies of past exam papers (especially "mock exams") from a range of schools and have them available for study groups... wow. That would certainly draw them in. It would even draw teachers in! I know, I know, we shouldn't be focusing on "the test" but thinking back to my major use, that would have been it :) The “my tutor” idea is excellent, and one that could be transferred into physical space as well? Thinking back on my teenage-library-usage, I admit that my major usage of *public* libraries was during the TEE. I’d meet with friends from other schools for study groups and we’d share resources. I’d also visit the state library in order to look at the teacher guides for the subjects I was studying, and to access sample exam papers.

Now students can get exam papers from the Curriculum Council, but because the TEE has been replaced by the Courses of Study / WACE, there’s not a whole lot of resources out there.

If you could somehow get copies of past exam papers (especially “mock exams”) from a range of schools and have them available for study groups… wow. That would certainly draw them in. It would even draw teachers in! I know, I know, we shouldn’t be focusing on “the test” but thinking back to my major use, that would have been it :)

]]> By: Isaak Kwok http://librariansmatter.com/blog/2009/09/02/thinking-about-the-future/comment-page-1/#comment-59303 Isaak Kwok Thu, 03 Sep 2009 02:39:21 +0000 http://librariansmatter.com/blog/?p=1305#comment-59303 Hmmm ... Kathryn, lots of questions. And I hope you'll find some answers. As for getting non-users into libraries, we found that organising programmes that are not that typical of libraries could attract non-users. I know when I was working at library@orchard, we held monthly Industry Nites jointly with an online job recruitment company that attracted large crowds of PMEBs. And I guess a large majority of the PMEBs were non-users. Before the actual event started, we would do a little marketing for the library by showcasing books and/or materials relevant to the particular industry. After the event, we'll do a little more 'selling'. Although the returns are not obvious immediately, it does showcase what the library can offer. And I believe that eventually, some of these people will come back to actually make use of the library services. Hmmm … Kathryn, lots of questions. And I hope you’ll find some answers.

As for getting non-users into libraries, we found that organising programmes that are not that typical of libraries could attract non-users. I know when I was working at library@orchard, we held monthly Industry Nites jointly with an online job recruitment company that attracted large crowds of PMEBs. And I guess a large majority of the PMEBs were non-users. Before the actual event started, we would do a little marketing for the library by showcasing books and/or materials relevant to the particular industry. After the event, we’ll do a little more ‘selling’. Although the returns are not obvious immediately, it does showcase what the library can offer. And I believe that eventually, some of these people will come back to actually make use of the library services.

]]> By: Karen G. Schneider http://librariansmatter.com/blog/2009/09/02/thinking-about-the-future/comment-page-1/#comment-59294 Karen G. Schneider Wed, 02 Sep 2009 23:47:25 +0000 http://librariansmatter.com/blog/?p=1305#comment-59294 Interesting challenges. On the books question, can you make it both/and, with room for a variety of information services? I love books. I really do. So do your library's users. How have you reached out to the nonusers? It's possible they love libraries and just choose not to use them. In that case they are still your supporters... as long as you're fulfilling their idea of what a library should do. Maybe you can revisit this post every quarter and use it as a touchstone to see how you and your job are evolving! Interesting challenges. On the books question, can you make it both/and, with room for a variety of information services? I love books. I really do. So do your library’s users.

How have you reached out to the nonusers? It’s possible they love libraries and just choose not to use them. In that case they are still your supporters… as long as you’re fulfilling their idea of what a library should do.

Maybe you can revisit this post every quarter and use it as a touchstone to see how you and your job are evolving!

]]> By: Joann Ransom http://librariansmatter.com/blog/2009/09/02/thinking-about-the-future/comment-page-1/#comment-59290 Joann Ransom Wed, 02 Sep 2009 21:10:57 +0000 http://librariansmatter.com/blog/?p=1305#comment-59290 Hi Kathryn, Good luck with the new job. I can so imagine you doing good in the public library sector. I find it an incredibly rewarding experience and I hope you do too. On books, books and more books... We surveyed and held focus groups with the community when reviewing our library services and got exactly the same message. Our community wants the flashy IT stuff but not at the expense of books; happy to have a computer suite but line the walls with books! On Opacs and websites ... I feel the same way you do about OPACs and websites. Our new Koha 3.0 OPAC homepage will be the front door to our new library website. Happy to let you look at our test site but remember it is still in production: http://opac.koha.catalystdemo.net.nz/ Some of the inner pages of the site are items or pages from our institutional Kete, but we are also using Kea, another open source solution from Katipo Communications. Kea is good for the more static website pages as this automates the navigation links etc. So there are 3 open source products working together there: Koha, Kete and Kea. On the Kete development front, Kete and Koha are also now able to be searched together, RSS feeds are a really strong way to bring in dynamic data from other sources etc. There is heaps more happening with Kete - stuff I don't know about yet coz its developing so quickly but www.kete.net.nz is a good place to find out. Anyway good luck today; I can't see how you can possibly manage on 2 days a week ... you have too many good ideas and ambitions! Hi Kathryn,

Good luck with the new job. I can so imagine you doing good in the public library sector. I find it an incredibly rewarding experience and I hope you do too.

On books, books and more books…

We surveyed and held focus groups with the community when reviewing our library services and got exactly the same message. Our community wants the flashy IT stuff but not at the expense of books; happy to have a computer suite but line the walls with books!

On Opacs and websites …

I feel the same way you do about OPACs and websites. Our new Koha 3.0 OPAC homepage will be the front door to our new library website. Happy to let you look at our test site but remember it is still in production: http://opac.koha.catalystdemo.net.nz/

Some of the inner pages of the site are items or pages from our institutional Kete, but we are also using Kea, another open source solution from Katipo Communications. Kea is good for the more static website pages as this automates the navigation links etc. So there are 3 open source products working together there: Koha, Kete and Kea.

On the Kete development front, Kete and Koha are also now able to be searched together, RSS feeds are a really strong way to bring in dynamic data from other sources etc. There is heaps more happening with Kete – stuff I don’t know about yet coz its developing so quickly but http://www.kete.net.nz is a good place to find out.

Anyway good luck today; I can’t see how you can possibly manage on 2 days a week … you have too many good ideas and ambitions!

]]> By: Polyxena http://librariansmatter.com/blog/2009/09/02/thinking-about-the-future/comment-page-1/#comment-59289 Polyxena Wed, 02 Sep 2009 21:05:08 +0000 http://librariansmatter.com/blog/?p=1305#comment-59289 Dear Kathryn Good luck and enjoy and be challenged! You raise lots of interesting questions that I could speculate on at length - but not at 7am! I look forward to ongoing questioning about public libraries Dear Kathryn Good luck and enjoy and be challenged! You raise lots of interesting questions that I could speculate on at length – but not at 7am! I look forward to ongoing questioning about public libraries

]]> By: Steven Chabot http://librariansmatter.com/blog/2009/09/02/thinking-about-the-future/comment-page-1/#comment-59285 Steven Chabot Wed, 02 Sep 2009 19:17:19 +0000 http://librariansmatter.com/blog/?p=1305#comment-59285 <blockquote> During community consultation about the new library in the last few years, the requests have been for books, books and more books. Some of the new libraries I most admire have created more room for users and less room for books.</blockquote> I will never understand the mindset of my colleagues in this respect. If these people are advocating for something that is <em>opposed</em> to what people have been telling you over and over--books, books and more books--why do these librarians have your admiration? People say the library is getting out of the book business, but I don't think it is because people are into books. Librarians want to be on the cutting edge, and are choosing what is new and shiny over what is working and sorrily needed.d

During community consultation about the new library in the last few years, the requests have been for books, books and more books. Some of the new libraries I most admire have created more room for users and less room for books.

I will never understand the mindset of my colleagues in this respect. If these people are advocating for something that is opposed to what people have been telling you over and over–books, books and more books–why do these librarians have your admiration?

People say the library is getting out of the book business, but I don’t think it is because people are into books. Librarians want to be on the cutting edge, and are choosing what is new and shiny over what is working and sorrily needed.d

]]> By: Tamara http://librariansmatter.com/blog/2009/09/02/thinking-about-the-future/comment-page-1/#comment-59281 Tamara Wed, 02 Sep 2009 19:02:48 +0000 http://librariansmatter.com/blog/?p=1305#comment-59281 That's a lot of questions--I hope you find some answers! I'm especially intrigued by the "work from home" idea. It would be great for the people handling the online teen tutoring and social networking (blogging, Facebook etc.). Our library, up here in the US, provides a Meebo chatbox on our site for quick questions. You just have to be careful to draw boundaries--we've had some individuals abuse the IM as a 24/7 write-my-thesis-for-me service. That’s a lot of questions–I hope you find some answers!

I’m especially intrigued by the “work from home” idea. It would be great for the people handling the online teen tutoring and social networking (blogging, Facebook etc.). Our library, up here in the US, provides a Meebo chatbox on our site for quick questions. You just have to be careful to draw boundaries–we’ve had some individuals abuse the IM as a 24/7 write-my-thesis-for-me service.

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