LIS 701 – Fall 2007 Discussion Blog

LIS701 – we will meet in Crown 111 on Monday night. I want to spend sometime on the technology competencies required by the school after we wrap up.

See you then!

 In May 1984, William Miller published a comprehensive critique of reference service entitled “What’s Wrong with Reference: Coping with Success and Failure at the Reference Desk” (American Libraries). Some 24 years later, I wish I could say things have improved, but, in fact, they have gotten even worse.

Indeed, the major problem with reference service today remains much as it was in 1984: we still cling to the idea that our mission is to provide a wide array of sources when our real mission ought to be educating users to distinguish between their information wants and needs.

http://www.libraryjournal.com/article/CA6497259.html 

http://www.newsweek.com/id/70983/page/1

This week Bezos is releasing the Amazon Kindle, an electronic device that he hopes will leapfrog over previous attempts at e-readers and become the turning point in a transformation toward Book 2.0. That’s shorthand for a revolution (already in progress) that will change the way readers read, writers write and publishers publish. The Kindle represents a milestone in a time of transition, when a challenged publishing industry is competing with television, Guitar Hero and time burned on the BlackBerry; literary critics are bemoaning a possible demise of print culture, and Norman Mailer’s recent death underlined the dearth of novelists who cast giant shadows. On the other hand, there are vibrant pockets of book lovers on the Internet who are waiting for a chance to refurbish the dusty halls of literacy.

Thoughts? Opinions? What does this mean for libraries?

Greetings! The online discussion is going well. I’ve enjoyed reading the conversations as they flow. If you haven’t posted, please post by tomorrow at 6pm!

ALSO: A note about the subject bibliography. I had a couple of questions — which I am glad folks asked. Do not use articles for your bibliography. The assignment is intended as a collection building exercise for physical materials and Web sites. If you have any questions, please email me!