LIS 701 – Fall 2007 Discussion Blog

I’m sure there are some individuals who would feel pretty secure with the information found atop page 24 in the OCLC statistics report, the information that says 61% of those surveyed believe their library usage will stay the same over the next 3 to 5 years, but I am not one of them. I am sure the woman from question 1 (the same one who felt that it was not her duty to assist library users with computer/online tasks) would feel just fine with it. However, the library should grow as the Internet does. I think the major problem here is that the library and the Internet are seen as being mutually exclusive by many individuals (librarians included).

Then there is the issue of the library brand: books. The landslide victory of books as the face of the library is troubling when you consider that today’s information consumer is looking for “self-service, satisfaction and seamlessness” coupled with “ease of use, convenience and availability” (vii). It is troubling because books do not afford the information consumer all of the above. Books can be checked out (thus rendering the information contained within them unavailable to others), and if they are on the shelf, they must be read, or at least scanned, to find the information that a search engine or Wikipedia could give the consumer in a much shorter amount of time – and with much less effort on their part. The library would be seen as a more salient option in one’s quest for information if it could integrate the technology that people use into its services more fully. Schneider has a valid point when she says that if books are the library brand, and people believe that social networking in a library should take the form of book clubs, then the library would be offering a great service by hosting book clubs.

Give the people what they want. Sustaining the current level of service is certainly better than losing users; however, it would be much better if library usership would increase with the information boom.

I checked the website of the library I used to go to when I was growing up and there is nothing directly for the library but it is rather the collection of the libraries in the county. It was fairly easy to navigate however there was not much offered online by the library. I know that I use Shelfari and LibraryThing and many other people do as well. Why is it not being used by the library. Both sites you can create groups. When not make a book group on the website linked through the libraries website. This would allow people who are very busy to participate with an online version of a book club.

It seems like the answers to increased users is dependent on getting people from not only using the library’s website but getting them to come in. Going back to my old library’s website, searching the catalog is horrible. There are a number of links you have to try to navigate through in order to access the search bar. This is exactly what Schneider says. People are going to want to find materials quickly this is not exactly helpful. It seems like a good portion of the answers lie within being more user friendly at least on the website.

If patrons are reading less because they are on computer more often, then librarians should be making use of that. I do not spend much time on my local library’s website, other than the catalog for looking up books. I have no idea what electronic resources are available. Libraries should work to better present the resources of information—electronic as well as printed—for patrons.

I agree with Joe that library websites need to be more user-friendly. People are using the web more often now, but already being on the web, patrons can make use of the library’s website and library services through the web, but only if it is accessible, easy to navigate, and offers the information patrons are looking for. My public library’s website is largely text, and not very easy to navigate. There are a couple of databases and links to other resources that would be helpful for users in the community, but these are buried and hard to understand. If library users are now on the web, it makes sense to me that libraries try to meet the needs of users where they are—through websites and other online resources.

I think that the social status of the community the library serves has a huge impact on how the patrons view the library. It the library is in a wealthy community the patrons may not feel that it is important whether or not the library provides free internet access, because every member in their home has a laptop and wireless internet. However, take a lower income area and they may rank free internet access the number one service the library has to offers. I was surprised to see in the report that only 34% said the library supported nonnative speakers. I work in a library that serves a large Spanish population. We have a bilingual storyteller who does a family storytime in Spanish as well as other storytimes in Spanish. The patrons know when this person is working, so they can come and use the library and are able to communicate with someone for help and guidance around the library in their native language. I feel that if the library wants to keep their doors open and the patrons coming in, they need to appeal to everyone in the community.

I also found it interesting in the report part 4 page 9 where it listed what the advice given to the physical library building. My library was just approved for an expansion and all of these concerns were addresses. These were the items that we had to tell the public they would receive in the new library so they would pass it. The item I found interesting was to decrease the noise level. We visited a library in our area that was built by the same architects who are doing our library. The children’s department has a wooden play land similar to a McDonald’s play land. This was not a good idea because the wood is very loud. When we went to the adult quit study area that has a fireplace and overlooks the river, we heard this noise. The architects built the play area directly under the quite study room, so the room really isn’t quite during the time the children are jumping around and screaming.

In response to Katharine above…

I’ve been speaking with one of the librarians at EC about a possible website redesign and we’ve actually discussed this search idea thoroughly.

At a glance, a one search box/multiple search engine approach does have its benefits as demonstrated in your example. It surely fits the “Google theory” that nearly every college student (undergrad mostly) applies to: I search, therefore I get my desired results. However, you and I both know that this theory has serious problems. Rarely can you achieve the “desired” results as planned.

One of my biggest concerns that I shared with my colleague is that it actually trains the user incorrectly. If we subscribe to the “Google Theory,” then we are actually doing a disservice to our users by reinforcing incorrect searching habits.

Like I said, in your particular circumstance the UIUC search would have worked perfectly, but with a serious (or at least slightly more complex) query any user would be swimming in unnecessary results.

So what do you do? Give the user what they want or be the bad mom trying to teach them a life lesson?

Kyle, I completely agree. Again, I think that is where the (sometimes hidden) advanced search comes in. I think that for the ignorant undergrad, this method at least exposes them to the databases and other search functions that they might not have known to look for otherwise. And with a few clicks they can at least SEE that the information is there.

But again–sometimes it is too much. How do we mend the divide?

he problem with libraries today is that they don’t know how to sell themselves. For too many years, libraries have been the primary source of information for the public and they haven’t had to compete with anyone else. Obviously, times have changed. Libraries and librarians can no longer sit back and wait for the public to come to them because that’s not going to happen. The public has found that they can acquire the information they need themselves and this information is just as accurate and as credible as what they used to get from the library. And they can get it faster! If libraries want to retain their current users as well as increase memberships, they need to market themselves. The place to start is with their websites. They need to showcase their electronic resources. Make searching options available on the home page. If people have to search around to find a link to databases or electronic resources, they’re going to look elsewhere. Libraries also need to show the public that it doesn’t have to be an either/or situation. Let people know that the library can supply all their information needs. Show the public that the library and the internet make a great team.

Libraries also need to make their physical space more inviting. The fact that customer/user services yielded the highest number of negative associations followed closely by facility/environment tells me the public doesn’t feel welcome or comfortable in our libraries. We are not doing enough inside the building for these people. This is something we have to change and can change. If we can bring them in and make them feel welcome, we can expose them to all we have to offer both in the physical building and via the internet. After all, if 61% of the survey participants stated that they learned about electronic information sources from a friend, just think how many people we could reach via word of mouth.

I agree with Kyle that we need to give users what they want. I work in a public library and patrons are always asking for a history of what they’ve checked out. I have to tell them that we can’t access that information after an item has been returned. Why not? As Kyle stated, the user should get to choose what to do with their information. Being a librarian is all about providing a service. We need to be able to provide the services for our patrons.

I find it refreshing to know that our users still feel that they can trust libraries as reliable sources of information. It makes me think that my career goals in pursuing librarianship are worthwhile so that people might access information…seeing as how that is one of the ALA core values. However, the fact that our users are unaware of the vast content they can access through use of electronic databases, search engines, and the like disappoints me. I have to say, though, that without proper user instruction, I myself would not have the knowledge of how electronic content can—and should—be accessed through the libraries. What does this mean for librarians? As perfectly stated by ALA’s core values, we promote and desire a learning society. Does that not also mean that if we can, we should take it upon ourselves to be the educators? I feel this might be one of our core values currently being threatened. If a library is a place that promotes education and lifelong learning, and there are people out there in our society that do not know where to go to continue their own intellectual development, we should take larger and more drastic steps to see that our users know where and how to access information. I think perhaps an ever larger part of this is that we as part of the library services division needs to be away of their own professionalism. As stated by in the Code of Values, “It is of vital importance that there be professional education available to meet the social needs and goals of library services” (ALA). Are we really meeting the social needs and goals if our public is unaware of how much information they can access through our facilities? From reading the results of these studies, it does not seem as if we are.

Libraries have to focus on marketing themselves to the public they serve or the public will not see the need to keep funding libraries in the future. Libraries need to realize the importance of their webpage. Considering that people prefer the internet, libraries need to monopolize on that and gear their webpage toward the internet user. Libraries that adapt to the popular culture are doing the right things. The library in Joliet has the ability to browse the online catalog, reserve items and even has a drive through so patrons don’t have to leave their vehicle to get the items they want. However, these innovations are useless if the public does not know they exist. Libraries need to start thinking of themselves in marketable ways rather than just trusting that the public knows what a library is and will travel to find out what the library offers. People who don’t know what they can find at the library will not be likely to utilize its services. I know I have heard many times people starting a conversation with did you know you can get movies, or music, or audio books and most often the response is: really? Wow! We tend to go to Borders or Barnes and Noble, mostly because we know what they have, we know where they are, and we can shop online or at the store. Libraries are often located in out of the way streets and how often do you hear of a library advertising their services? Not much, it is great to offer services, but if you don’t get the message out that you have them, they will not be utilized. People say their usage will most likely be flat, but that does not mean that they will be using them, it means that those that don’t already use them, still wont and those that do realize what a great deal they have, will continue to use them.

First I have to agree with Maggie, Libraries don’t know how to sell themselves. My library Director is a firm believer in “whoring” the library out. Meaning if it gets our name out there, we should do it. But again, not all libraries are fortunate enough to have a director like that.
What I found was so interesting in the freerangelibrarian article was the fact that not very many library directors knew what were going on. I know in my library, while the director believes that we should do all of these things, she hasn’t a clue as to what we are doing. I think the first thing that needs to be addressed is that library directors need to be involved in not just managing the library, but running the library. They should know what is going on, what types of programs there are, different reference databases that are available to our patrons and so forth.

Another big thing us as librarians can do in our own libraries is talk to one another. I don’t know how many times a week something has happened and I didn’t know it. Co-workers need to be able to talk to one another and let each other know what is going down. If there is no communication, how are we suppose to help our patrons?
Finally, I am a firm believer that social networking is a tool that will be around for quite some time. My library has a blog for our staff that we write important or fun information on. While it seems to be a good idea, not very many people read the blog on a regular basis, therefore people are still out of the loop. In order for social networking to happen, people need to learn the basics of what social networking is. Once we do that, technology becomes our friend instead of our enemy.
One more thing, as for the website and the percentage of people that use library websites being down, It’s understandable. Library websites aren’t geared toward the patron, they are geared toward the librarian so it is like an extra ready reference tool. Libraries need to re-evaluate the area in which they serve and take a look at their website. If it doesn’t fit the area, fix it.
Lara W.

The website of the library where I work offers several extremely helpful reference databases regarding a variety of topics from the general (FirstSearch, ECO) to the specific (Auto Repair Reference Center, HeritageQuest). We even offer the Rosetta Stone language program in several languages through our website. The problem is, however, that no one knows about these things. While I was working at the circ desk about a month ago, a patron came up who had put the Rosetta Stone CD-ROM program on hold, and had been waiting for it for ages. She was completely surprised when I told her it was available online for free (and with no limitations in terms of a check out period). It’s really unfortunate that my public library and I’m sure many (if not most) others are shelling our major cash for these programs and databases only to have them go unused. I think that one way to get our patrons more interested in using the library as an information tool is to show them all the wonderful resources that we have that we have not made them aware of. Every month our newsletter goes out with word of great programs that our library is offering in the physical library space, but without a single mention of the online databases that are just seconds away. We don’t only need to be counting the numbers that walk through our doors every day. We need to be counting the number of hits on our websites and figuring out ways that we can make that number go up.
I’m also not surprised that college students have the highest rate of library use, both physical and electronic. Not only have college age people been raised in the advent of the Internet and current technological trends, but college students are generally required to go to the library for training in the computer labs during one of their class periods. They experience the databases first hand and then go on to implement them into their own research. We need to find a similar way to get our public libraries’ reference databases into the hands of their patrons. Use every teachable moment possible at the reference desk. Offer classes specifically in the use of the library website. By letting these resources go to waste, we are letting our patrons believe that the library has nothing more to offer them than books, which (as great as those books are) is completely untrue.

In response to this section of Lorna’s post: “It’s really unfortunate that my public library and I’m sure many (if not most) others are shelling our major cash for these programs and databases only to have them go unused. I think that one way to get our patrons more interested in using the library as an information tool is to show them all the wonderful resources that we have that we have not made them aware of”

This year our school board started asking questions about teachers use of Discovery United Streaming, an online streaming subscription program that enhances instruction through materials from AIMS Multimedia, PBS, Planet Earth, BBC, and Clearvue. The board realized that few teachers were utilizing the technology. ..and it turned out that VERY few teachers actually knew how to navigate the database or were unaware of it. Two years ago teachers were given the resource and offered zero training or information. Only those who stumbled upon it started using it (maybe 4 teachers out of 50). Therefore, I volunteered to run a practical hands-on workshop that allowed teachers to see all of the extraordinary resources available. Teachers walked out with folders full of streaming videos to enhance instruction. Due to the success of the small informal training sessions, a small group of teachers will continue to give these workshops (without compensation) to make teachers feel comfortable with technology and be motivated to use it.
Small steps…

John Schu

I think that libraries need to diversify their holdings and programming offerings in order to improve their perception and integration into the community. Younger generations that are growing up as electronic resource natives have less motivation to utilize library resources. They have a tendency to want information immediately, and will tend towards Internet resources instead of using the library. If there were other activities that the library could offer, such as gaming nights, that appeal to the interests of youths, then it would be possible to establish a link to their everyday life. This, in turn, could lead to increased utilization of library resources as the youth is already actively part of another aspect of the library.