Check the facts!

In an article by Doug Johnson in his blog Blue Skunk Blog, he wrote;

"Joey Rodgers, Executive Director of the Urban Library Council, proposes that a sign be hung over library books shelves that reads "Carefully Selected by Professionals," and that a sign be displayed by the Internet terminal that simply reads "Whatever." "

Here is my cartoon of it;

Communicate or die!?!

The more I read about the future of libraries and schools and the direction of technology, the more I see that 'communication' is a key element. Whether through Web2.0 apps (Facebook, Twitter), communication (mobile phones, messaging, email), sharing knowledge and ideas or getting feedback from staff and students (clients) as to what they want; they all centre around communication.

The time of the librarian as an island is over. The way to stay relevant and necessary is to find out what clients want and provide what they want. We (librarians) can no longer dictate what services/resources we provide to our clients. There is enough resources (shops/online/Internet) that it is easy for our clients to bypass the library and find what they want elsewhere.

Libraries have to change to suit the needs of the clients (school community) and seek input from them as to what they need and how we can deliver it.

The digital age

I have had an interesting meeting today with a colleague. We work together in a library and are looking at making changes to our library database called Oliver. The GMDs and other areas needed a good 'clean out'. As we looked at what categories we needed, we were able to remove many as they are now redundant to our school ie. microfilm.

What was interesting was trying to 'future proof' the collection management system. Thinking of what categories to give to different objects. Pdfs can come on a CD, ClickView or other server or on a password protected website. So, what is thew GMD (General Material Designator) for something intangible like a website, URL or computer data? We had many interesting discussions as we thought about 3D hologram images, epubs and vodcasts.

Donham insight

What most struck me from the Donham reading was the need for a vision to guide the direction of the TL and the library. To just have a desire to serve the clients means that services are reactionary. Also, in respect to technology, if you have no vision, you can leap on to the next new thing and miss the whole purpose of why you are introducing it. A vision gives the why and the what, the goal and the path to achieve it.

A post literate society

Doug Johnson, in his article Libraries for a post-literate society, I think is on the ball. Not all schools have so far embrassed the new technologies that are currently on offer. Our school has recently adopted iPads for the senior (Years 11 & 12, soon to include 10) years, which has increased the use of digital resources and diminished the use of printed ones.

M. Lee, in his article A library without books, talks in disparaging terms of the library as anathema. That they are dead and should be replaced by the Information Services Unit. Schools, and libraries willl be replaced as physical walls are no barrier to the Internet and digital technology.

Our school does not have a library, it has an Imaginarium. A place where students and staff come to rest, study, play and learn, during lunchtime or school time, safe, encouraging and stimulating. A place where the joy of reading and learning is encouraged. An Information Services Unit is about as friendly as lump of concrete.

Do people still read?

‘It doesn’t matter how good or bad the product is, the fact is that people don’t read anymore. … Forty per cent of the people in the US read one book or less last year. The whole conception is flawed at the top because people don’t read anymore.’ Steve Jobs on ebook readers, quoted in New York Times, 15 January 2008

http://www.insidebookpublishing.com/?page_id=34

Sharpen the Saw

We often do rather than prepare or think through a problem. If we work until we can't work anymore, who will do the work?

http://www.cydcor.com/blog/2011/02/habit-7-sharpen-the-saw-is-all-about-you/


http://lifehacker.com/5814019/work-smarter-and-more-easily-by-sharpening-your-axe