Library Patrons in the Digital Age

By Aaron Tomak

We’ve established that libraries are not going anywhere anytime soon. And we know that librarians are more useful than ever. So what about the ones using the library? Those we lovingly refer to as our ‘patrons’?

The current population of library patrons ranges from avid readers that could care less about computers to junior software engineers to people just getting into emailing. How will the library remain cater to these diverse groups?

Dr. Steve Matthews at the 21^st Century Library Blog divided library users into three groups based on their understanding of and exposure to technology. These three categories are:

·         The Digital Fugitive – Those with little to no exposure to technology and those catered to by the traditional library

·         The Digital Immigrant – Those who grew up without technology but learned and integrated into their daily lives.

·         The Digital Native – Those who grew up with technology and for whom it’s an everyday part of their lives.

This is a very diverse group and represents the shift that is occurring within the industry. With such varying expectations, how do we provide these groups with the services they need and desire from the library?

We do so by best understanding not only what each group wants but by also realizing what serves both the user of the library and the underlying philosophy of what a library is. Those most interested in the traditional library still want books on shelves, helpful and knowledgeable librarians, and a quiet atmosphere. And consider this essay by Glenn Remelts of Calvin College in which he states “…when using the tools found in the digital library, it will be difficult to ignore the traditional library, because so many of the records found in the digital library refer to traditional paper sources.” There is still a place for the traditional library in the digital era.

For those patrons that are caught between the pre-digital and the modern age, the library is acting as a place to introduce them to new technologies and methods of learning, working, and communicating. The newest generation of librarians comes fully equipped with first-hand knowledge of many new and emerging technologies and it is their goal to teach these patrons how to navigate the digital age.

Lastly, and perhaps the most difficult, is making the library relevant to a generation of patrons that have always had Google and Wikipedia to answer their questions. This group is the future users of the library and it is they that will instigate a change in the nature and function of the library. For this group, technology is an integral part of their lives. It is these users we need to best understand.

Libraries 2020: Imagining the library of the (not too distant) future

View more presentations from Pew Research Center's Internet & American Life Project

Although libraries have not always operated as user driven entities, their modern day relevance relies heavily on providing the right services to the patrons. After all, these are the folk that are paying the taxes, driving the services, and gaining the most from the libraries. It is and always will be our goal as librarians to help shape society through education and access to information.

The Key to Building Relationships in RDA

by James Nauenburg

The relating of entities is one of the achievements in the organization of information around which RDA is built. The record holding these relationships and the creation and ease of use for the links between them allows patron driven research to accelerate in ways which are unrealizable in a MARC environment. As previously stated these relationships can be person-to-person, interfamilial, corporate, or resource-based and so on. For example:

·  Virgil is the author of the Aeneid

·  Dryden is the translator Virgil’s Aeneid

·  Heritage Press is the publisher of Dryden’s translation

·  The Kresge Library is the owner of a copy of the Heritage Press volume

In each of these instances, a dispersion of relationships can be created to facilitate a patron’s quest for information, leading to points of access for Virgil, The Aeneid, John Dryden, or works released by Heritage Press; and all within the confines of the Kresge Library Catalog in RDA (when that time comes).

One soon finds that relationships can and do exist between the resources themselves, for instance:

·  A Very Short Introduction to Continental Philosophy is a part of the series called “A Very Short Introduction.”

·  La stratégie Ender is a translation of Ender’s Game.

·  The journal “Flute” is a successor to “Pan,” and so on.

RDA strongly advocates the building of links between entities, but also the detailing of the nature of each of those relationships in the record/archive. RDA has a number of relationship designators for this very purpose. As a final quick example of only two such indicators, below we see in the RDA authority records by field:

100 1  $a Card, Orson Scott

500 1  $a Walley, Byron  $i alternate identity

…and its inverse in the record:

100 1  $a Walley, Byron

500 1  $a Card, Orson Scott  $i real identity

See also my references for this and previous articles, as well as so much more at:
http://www.mail-archive.com/rda-l@listserv.lac-bac.gc.ca/index.html
http://www.rda-jsc.org/rda.html

Where Are Librarians Headed?

By Aaron Tomak

A basic premise underlying the philosophy of the library and school system in a community is the importance of an educated society. Thomas Jefferson in a letter to his mentor, George Wythe, wrote, “…the most important bill in our whole code, is that for the diffusion of knowledge among the people. No other sure foundation can be devised, for the preservation of freedom and happiness." Public schooling is seen as a cornerstone of this belief.

But learning doesn’t have to end after adolescence. The notion of the public library upholds this core value, and it is shared by most people. Recently a public library in Troy, Michigan demonstrated this by taking on local tax protestors that wanted to vote against the library millage. By creating a fake campaign for a local ‘book burning’ they were able to gain attention and garner support from an outraged public:

It’s apparent to any community that an attack on the library is akin to an attack on its core values. But why would anyone feel that libraries are becoming obsolete? More and more people are turning to online resources to find the information they need. And why shouldn’t they be? It’s quicker, easier, and doesn’t require leaving the house. Something important that may be missing though is information literacy. Briefly, and according to the ALA, information literacy is the ability to “recognize when information is needed and have the ability to locate, evaluate, and use effectively the needed information.”

The Role of Libraries and Librarians in Information Literacy

View more PowerPoint from PLAI STRLC

And we’re in luck! Librarians are members of our community trained to be information literate. To a librarian the digital age offers not only challenges to their field but also many opportunities to prove how valuable they are. Here’s a few ways librarians are expanding their roles:

Distance Learning librarians: Distance learning librarians help patrons remotely via email and online chat

Cybrarians: The cybrarian specializes in using the web as a resource tool.

Digital Curation Librarians:  Digital Curation Librarians create and maintain archives of digital material

Teacher Librarian: although teaching and librarianship go hand-in-hand, modern teacher librarians are interested in teaching transliteracy: literacy beyond traditional platforms to incorporate knowledge in all formats.

So it’s apparent to us in the field that we are an invaluable part of society. And while our efforts may not be well rewarded we know that without our part, the world would simply be a much more confusing place.

How libraries are compensating decreasing budgets

By: Lindsay Fricke

With the decrease of funds, many libraries are trying to figure out ways to cut costs in order to save money. Driscoll (2012) explained “if you find a way to do something for 50 cents that formerly cost you a dollar, you get an extra 50 cents to put to other uses.” This is difficult for many libraries as they do not want to take away from the services that are being offered to the public. Hence, libraries are trying to come up with new ways to cut costs without the public directly being affected.

Driscoll (2012) found libraries are cutting costs by “outsourcing, cloud computing, using Netflix to supplement libraries’ audiovisual collections, buying used books for collections, re-evaluating standing order, and using free online tools instead of buying software of apps.” Additionally, Driscoll (2012) explained libraries are using “shared resources and increasing cooperation among libraries, putting pressure on vendors over pricing, directing users to free content through open-access sources, and accelerating the move from print to digital.”

Another area that libraries rely on for some of their budgets is fundraising. Each library has a different way of raising money. Driscoll (2012) found “successful techniques include appealing to donors’ egos, saying thank you, matching donors’ interests to library needs, and inviting donors (and potential donors) to join library boards and attend library-sponsored events.”

In addition to fundraisers, libraries also use annual campaigns to raise money. Driscoll (2012) pointed out “annual funds are important because the flexibility of unrestricted funds enables them to go toward the library's most pressing needs and because annual gifts can become stepping stones to higher levels of giving for donors.”

Besides fundraising and campaigns, libraries are turning to the friends of the library to help support programs and purchasing materials. However, Driscoll (2012) argues there can be problems with members of friends “including clashing personalities, unclear roles and responsibilities, occasional unreliability, and demands on library resources and staff time.”

Libraries also rely on gifts or donations to help provide resources to library users. According to ALA’s Frontline Fundraising Toolkit, “For libraries of all sizes, planned giving is the future—it is estimated that $20 trillion will be transferred intergenerationally between 2000 and 2020” (Driscoll, 2012). Driscoll (2012) explained:

           One of the biggest challenges in attempting to generate additional revenue is evaluating whether the investments in equipment and/or staff time are likely to pay off in the long run. If a library devotes a full-time position to rights and reproductions, for example, will revenue exceed the cost of the employee's salary and fringe benefits?

In any profession, it usually takes money to make money. In order to help offset decreasing budgets, libraries need to determine which strategies work best to help raise money. They need to continually find ways to improve ideas and learn to try new things so the library can determine what works and what does not work as well.

What strategies do you think libraries should use in order to raise money? What are some ways that libraries can cut back on costs while still improving service to all library users?

References:

Driscoll, Anne. (2012). Books in print: indispensable or unnecessary for academic library collection development. Reference Reviews, 26(4), 4-8.

Are circulating books falling as e-books rise?

By: Lindsay Fricke

In many public libraries, one of the first areas that reduced budget effects is purchasing materials. With the rise of e-readers and downloadable books, it is no wonder that the number of circulating books is decreasing. According to Hoffert (2012), “Smaller libraries did better, averaging a one or two percent increase, but libraries serving every population range over 100,000 averaged decreases, and libraries serving populations 500,000 or more saw circulation tumble on average a disappointing 2.1 percent.”

Hoffert (2012) found “book budgets fell by 2.3 percent overall, with only 29 percent of respondents reporting an increase.” Could this decrease be a result of reduced book budgets? Not necessarily. Hoffert stated “despite the decrease, this year’s book budgets are higher than last year’s.” With this, it seems that your library would not have a problem getting the latest books for patrons to use. However, this is no longer the case as the number of e-books increases and becomes more popular. Hoffert (2010) explained “print books still account for most materials spending, averaging 61 percent of the budget compared with media (20 percent), ebooks (four percent), other electronic products (nine percent), and other materials (six percent).”

While every public library’s budget is different, the money spent to buy books ultimately comes to what the library can afford and what the patrons’ requests are. This is where e-books are starting to take precedence in libraries. Hoffert exclaimed “spending on books has trended downward since 2005 and fell on average three percent last year – about the same amount that ebook spending increased.” From this, one can see that collection budgets are making room for the upcoming trend of e-books.

Hoffert (2012) explained that sometimes spending money on books is not a matter of just not buying them more than it is about determining the best way to spend the money. For instance, with the rise of e-books, it seems more likely that a patron will request an author’s latest book on an easily downloadable e-book. Yet, there are still some people who prefer to have the actual book to read, check out, and return to the library. In the end, Hoffert (2012) declared “reducing funding confounds planning, so that librarians can’t even use their hard-earned skills to get what’s best for their patrons.”

Hoffert (2012) argued “the bigger is what the public’s ebook enthusiasm means for libraries generally, as patrons load up their ereaders with purchased ebooks they can’t get at the library.” Lately, there has been an issue with libraries being able to uphold licensing agreements and contracts with ebooks publishing companies.

Even with the rise of e-books, there are still some books that continue to circulate. Hoffert (2012) explained “cookbooks still hold the top spot, having knocked second-place medicine/health off its perch last year.”

Here is a video that discusses print books and how technology is affected their circulation.



Which do you prefer – a physical copy or an e-book? Have you seen a decrease in the amount of circulation at your library? Do you think this trend will eventually force librarians to spend less on books while purchasing more on e-books?

References:

Hoffert, Barbara. (2012). Book circulation takes a hit. Library Journal, 137(3), 22-24. Retrieved from http://lj.libraryjournal.com/2012/02/library-services/book-buying-survey-2012-book-circ-takes-a-hit/#_

Seek Out What You Do Not Understand

By Charlotte Walden

We've all seen them.  Every time we patiently wait to use that new software program that we have just downloaded off the Internet, it is there. It stands between us and our coveted application.  The “it” that is being referred to, of course, is none other than the legally binding license agreement. You know, the one everyone clicks “agree” to, but never reads the terms and conditions to. Yeah, that one. Yet, licensing agreements are important and should be read, not ignored just because you want the latest and greatest technology. The following provides a good example of this principle: seek out what you do not understand/know.

What is about to unfold, then, is a chilling tail of irony. A tale where those who are in a profession to assist others in research, fail to research something for themselves. It is a tale that teaches those who are not only in the library profession, but in any other profession, about the importance of knowing and understanding licensing agreements.  

In her article, located in the recent edition of American Libraries, Deborah Caldwell-Stone accuses librarians of meeting a demand without fully researching the effects of that demand (2012). Specifically, Caldwell-Stone is refering to the agreement between Amazon and public libraries that allowed users to borrow library books on their Kindles (2012).

Well, that’s not so bad isn’t it? Shouldn’t we be happy that libraries will still be able to provide a service in the digital age? Yes, but not when these agreements violate a user’s privacy, like the Kindle, Amazon, and public library’s agreement does.

According to Caldwell-Stone,

[The agreement between Amazon and digital publishers] govern users’ rights and define the rules that control what can and cannot be done with the ebook or other digital content.

Thus, if the license that governs the library’s loan of the ebook requires the library to track and retain user data associated with a particular ebook and disclose that information to [Amazon], the library is obligated to track, retain, and disclose that information…

(2012)

Wait!?!?!?! Did that just say something about the “library tracking and retaining your data” and “disclosing” it to Amazon? Yes, it did. And so, every time someone checks out a book from the library on their Kindle, Amazon has access to that library user’s information. (Caldwell-Stone, 2012)  And aren’t librarians suppose to uphold users’ privacy rights?  Indeed they are, which is why some librarians, even before Caldwell-Stone’s article came out, were very upset by this arrangement (please see the video). As the LibrarianinBlack points out, this lack of research on may have also broken a few laws (2012).

Yet, as many have contended, licensing agreements are hard to understand (Patoway, 2012), which is probably why many of us just click. Or, as Caldwell-Stone contends, in our haste to provide the latest and greatest service, we make detrimental decisions. But, either excuse is a poor justification for not learning what you are agreeing to. Library professionals should be ashamed of such thinking. If you don’t understand a license agreement, find a way to understand it.

In this world of technology, we are used to instant gratification—and don’t think companies do not love to use instant gratification against us—but instant gratification has consequences that could affect us and our users. Thus, in our professional lives, we should always research what it is we are agreeing to—as it is legally binding—or else we will face the disdain of our peers, lawsuits and/or lose the trust of our users.

References:

Caldwell-Stone, D. (2012, May 29). A digital dilemma: E-books and user’s rights. American libraries. Retrieved from http://americanlibrariesmagazine.org/features/05292012/digital-dilemma-ebooks-and-users-rights.  

LibrarianinBlack (2011, October 18). Libraries got screwed by Amazon and Overdrive. YouTube video. Retrieved from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=moy1w89TOss&feature=plcp.

Patowary, K. (2012, June 4). Make EULAs easier to read with EULAlyzer. Instantfunds. Retrieved from http://www.instantfundas.com/2012/06/make-eulas-easier-to-read-with.html. 

So What Makes a Library Anyway?

By Aaron Tomak

Is it a building to store books? Is it a place to quietly read? Is it a place to rent movies for free?

Many of our preconceived notions about libraries have been challenged in the Internet age. But what remains consistent about libraries is the philosophies it represents. Freedom of, and access to information are foundations of what the library wishes to accomplish. In the digital age though, this basic principle is no longer as important. Instead libraries are focusing on other foundations of the field: Service, literacy, and rationalism.

The libraries of tomorrow cannot rely on old habits to remain relevant. Instead they are taking new and important steps to better aide their communities. Hellen Niegaard states in her article “Library Space and Digital Challenges” that libraries are already beginning to make the transition away from the “shelving-dominated library space”.  She points out that access to information resources and technology is what is driving the new age of public libraries.

A presentation by the Library Leaders and Management Association shows what the District of Columbia Public Library is doing to stay modern.

TOP LIBRARY BUILDING TRENDS

View more PowerPoint from Library Leadership & Management Association (LLAMA), American Library Association (ALA)

While still providing all of the traditional services expected of a library, the DCPL has expanded its mission to place itself as a community learning center, providing the tools and facilities for educational growth, collaboration, and instruction.

Around the globe, in Japan, is the Sendai Mediatheque. This unique library also includes an art gallery, cinema, and a cyber cafe. Designer Toyo Ito says the library prides itself on being 'barrier free' - that is free to all people, free from the constraints of traditional libraries, and even free of literal barriers such as standard walls and rooms, instead hoping to integrate the building with the natural flow of the city. Its unique architecture and mission may well be an example of where the future of libraries lies.

Sendai Mediatheque is a large clear cube built upon "tubes". The architecture is meant to integrate the building into the city and create an "ephemeral connection with infinite space".

New services, new technologies, and new ideas are shaping the modern library into a public space provided freely for the betterment of the community. And whether or not the there are any books contained within, the library will continue to provide the crucial services needed by any enlightened society.