Jan's Blog

I have been devouring the new Pew research on ebooks.And I've also looked for thoughtful responses to what is presented there.

Like everyone else, I applaud any increase in reading. But like the ALA response, I am surprised disheartened, or so sorry to see the decline in readership in general.

Really? 22% of adults have not read a book in the past year? Really? and up from 17% in previous Gallup polls? May I suggest that at libraries, we have some work to do.

First of all--checking out ebooks with overdrive is barely working. In my view, it's not working. Too clumsy, too clunky, too many clicks. And alternatives are so slow in arriving... Most Americans prefer to own their books? I'm not so sure--I'm afraid they're being forced into it. I know my son-in-law is discouraged by the lack of ebook content available for checkout at his library. And for him, buying is not an option.

I am appalled at the gap between the amount of reading accomplished by those who can afford ereaders and the reading reported by those who can not.I echo the words of the ALA President, "the nation cannot afford to continue losing readers."  I have always thought that democracy will not stand in a nation where only the richest can read the constitution.

At my own library, we deliberately weeded out shelves and shelves of books whose content was available online through a purchased database. Guess what? The possibility exists that we won't be able to carry that database next year. We'll have alternatives, of course, but what happens to the student who prefers to read the print format or who doesn't have access at home to a computer to access the online library databases? Many formats still need to be retained to provide for the needs of all our patrons.  And knowing our patrons is becoming increasingly valuable.

Because what I am understanding here is that it's just too early in the game to declare that everyone is able to read digitally.

Keep learning,

Jan

One of the things I've enjoyed doing during March Madness (besides following Jayhawk basketball) is make an attempt to follow some of the blogs, tweets, and live-streaming from the annual Computers in Libraries Conference.  Someday I will get to attend...[sigh].  :-)   In the meantime, here are some random thoughts from my browsing this morning, highly inspired by Erin Dorney's notes and musing over at Library Scenester.

Might come from a book or blog..

Computers in Libraries (CIL) is underway with the theme, Creating Innovative Libraries. True to the theme, the conference kicked off with a keynote on innovation. The speaker, Jeffrey Phillips is a senior consultant for OVO, “a company that helps organizations to innovate, and author of Relentless Innovation and Make Us More Innovative.”

 #reading:  So I have requested his new book and also one I saw recommended highly, "In Pursuit of Elegance" by Matthew May which was the inspiration for a session titled In Pursuit of Library Elegance given by Erica Reynolds and John Blyberg.

Might come from a staff member..

  What are they passionate about?  What are they good at?  What could they teach us if given the chance?  These are ideas which could engage a community--

(And here I'm putting on my women's committee hat and thinking that this could really change the way I look at the committee.  To do: survey, talk, find their "dreams" and use them!  This I think is a whole other blog post.)

Might come from anywhere and I'd better be ready to capture it...

OK--I'm really tracking with Erin's thoughts here because I realize during the course of a day how many times inspiration strikes and when I try to recall it (even hours later) it's gone.  So get it captured!  I've been using notes on the iPhone, iPad, and even the desktop at work, but not too consistently.  Here's some suggestions:

Catch & Springpad

I'm already using Evernote and it's very simple.  Maybe just knowing that ideas need to be recorded and being more diligent about it will help?  Maybe one app for libraries, one app for church work, one app for quilting?  Will separating them work?  Care to share what's working for you?

Thanks Computers in Libraries--I'm working on my next great idea!

There's been a lot of water under the bridge since we marched down the aisle in the high school gymnasium, red robes flowing, hats tilted jauntily, Pomp and Circumstance in the air. Our parents were there that night. Some took pictures, others smiled and nodded. As we assembled again, many years later, one of the first questions asked was usually, "are your parents still living?" Most often the answer now is no.

Now we're the elders, the experienced, the proud, the encouraging. Now we're the ones showing support at graduations, and births, and funerals.

Twelve graduates and one faculty sponsor met last weekend to share a meal and some memories. The attendance was really pretty amazing. Two classmates are now deceased, several had conflicts, and only one was unsearchable. Leaving absolutely no trace at all is a pretty major feat in this information age! Most had sent greetings even if they couldn't attend. And we got down to sharing our lives. Stories of pranks, antics, athletics, and families filled the air. We talked about old times and recent times. We filled in gaps of missing information as best we could. We laughed.

There had been degrees earned, military service fulfilled, jobs, moves, children and now grandchildren born. A few noted divorces, but most had logged over 25 years of marriage--surely far above the national average! Some shared family challenges, untimely loss of children, or health issues. There were some tears.

But the class of '71 has met the world with grace. We've accomplished maybe not so much what we set out to do, but created beauty of what came our way. And that changed us and our world for the better. Cheers, class of '71! God be with you.

Now when a 4-year-old doesn't get enough sleep, it's kind of obvious.  She misbehaves, cries, and has what her Mom affectionately calls "melt-downs."  I think that's the millennial name for what we used to call temper-tantrums.  On the other hand, when an adult in the work force doesn't get enough sleep, we're pretty good at hiding it--at least that's what we think.  When I'm tired, I come in late (not because I overslept, but because I just can't move fast enough to get there on time.)  I can't focus, or accomplish difficult tasks, my head hurts, and I make silly mistakes.

Well for some time now, I've been falling asleep during the evening while sitting on the couch, waking up when it's bedtime, and then starting the bedtime ritual of taking vitamins, making coffee, washing face and teeth, and on and on with myriads of things I think it's important to do. Then, surprise--I'm wide awake!

OK--be it resolved that for the next month/ year / and hopefully forever after, Nana will get ready for bed early in the evening so that only a change of location is necessary if awakened at bedtime.  And that, my friends, might be the most important thing I can change for my bettered health in 2012.

The day was spent enjoying colleagues on a roadtrip, meeting new friends, and catching up with older friends--touching base and finding commonalities once again.  We all long to make a difference in students' lives.  We all have families and homes outside of our libraries which deserve our attention.  And we are all learning.  Daily.

The content was similiar to my friend experience--some was old, some new.  All familiar, but all searching to make the college or university library relevant to today's student.  Some of the topics and research which has always interested me was addressed, reflected on, expanded.  Demographic trends for college students, what Next Gen students are expecting from academic libraries.  So how do we tailor our library services to them?

Tweeting and QR codes, apps and whiteboards.  These were topics constantly being presented, questioned, shared, talked over.  And my personal highlight was a review of Customer Service and then the tour of NWMSU's newly remodeled library.  How did they do that?  In one year's time? And yes, even on a Friday afternoon, there were students hanging out and studying--and mostly in groups.  I have pictures to share and posts to write to expand on my thoughts.

Here's my plan--I'll read the proceedings and then write a post with my thoughts on each of several presentations which intrigued me.  Maybe I'll develop an action plan--how am I going to change what I do?

Looking forward to it!

Jan

Some days I get to be the super-hero!  -I find the article, book, cd, piece of information that has eluded the patron for whatever reason. Some days it is so routine.  All parts of the process come off without a hitch-the MARC record is good and easily searchable, hundreds of libraries own the material, and all are willing to lend it.  The mail or electronic transfer is flawless and transpires in record time and wallah...I produce exactly what the patron wanted almost before they could hit the send button on their electronic request.  The patron is amazed!

And some days I produce what the patron wants, but only after fighting through elusive records, and prohibitive lending policies to find the one library which keeps the 1982 journal around and will scan a readable copy for my patron.  Some days, that very same article is missing the last page because the journal arbitrarily edited the article to place 4 pages in numerical order, but for the last page skipped to page 63 and the scanner didn't catch it the first time around.  But after a search and an e-mail to the lending library someone there fast-forwards that last page to our library.  I get to be the super-hero!

And some days the lending library sends the wrong item, but the resource-sharing librarian comes to the rescue with a very, very quick replacement.  Again--I (who alone knows the angst of the numerous searches, requests, and e-mails made to locate and obtain the correct audio cd and 287 page book) get to look like at least a hero if not necessarily super!

And what do all these scenarios have in common besides a smug borrowing interlibrary loan specialist and grateful patron?  They all require someone on the lending end who has the vision to create policy that allows libraries to share information.  They all have catalogers who worked hard at making their records descriptive and readily searchable.  And they all have numerous library staff who correctly located, scanned, processed, wrapped, addressed, and mailed or electronically sent the material--not to mention the courier or package handler who got it to the library.  Yep, it takes a village and behind every super-hero is a whole team of extraordinary people who work hard at their part of the transaction.

So in my case, where I work at both sides of interlibrary loan--I want to remember that principle when I'm working on my lendables. I want to get them correct, get them out, and on their way quickly to make that other librarian look like a super-hero!  Cause that's the way we do it in Interlibrary Loan!

Some things I want to take away from LibCampKs11:

     -It's all about learning...                                                                                       

     -It's all about connections...

     -I understand QR codes a bit better and have lots of examples of using them in libraries.  My favorite?  Library places QR Code on buses.  Patrons download an audiobook and listen while they're riding.   Same library places QR codes in books which refer patrons to other books they might like to read.   http://guides.ccclib.org/qr

(My hint--I can only see the QR image in Firefox--not IE and if viewed through Qrafter, it should take you to my Twitter profile.) 

I think in the academic library, maybe you use QR codes as signage to direct students to research--On posters around campus, at the library sign-up table at Campus Craze Days, on browsing periodicals to direct to an appropriate database...those are some of the uses that came to my mind.  The demonstrated website to generate QR codes is here:  http://qrcode.kaywa.com/

     -I'll be checking out more inspirational videos via TED.  TED stands for Technology, Educational, Design     -

     -"Google+ is like a sophisticated cocktail party and Twitter and Facebook are more like being in a crazy family reunion."  Here's the best article I've found so far to get us started: Google+ Complete Guide  It's not for libraries yet--but we should be watching to see if this is how our patrons will be communicating soon.

        Tools I want to use (all from the lightening round!):

  -Shuu.sh, a tool for turning down the whitenoise in your twitter feed, via Michael Sauers

-Gimlet for tracking reference Q&A, via Megan Schulz

-Scoop.it,which is a curation tool for students that reminds me a little of Tumblr, via Buffy Hamilton

     -So mostly what I re-discovered was the inspiration to keep learning and growing.  I renew my vow to allow time for my personal growth and development! Starting with conversations with inspiring people (like Thursday evening with Heather, Buffy, and Cindy--rethinking lifelong learning!), reading, and just dreaming.

     -And I will enjoy the people around me!  Can't wait to share with others in my library on Monday!

#The mission of Librarians is to improve society through facilitating knowledge creation in their communities.

-Libraries are in the knowledge business, therefore the conversation business. 

-Change thinking from artifacts and items to conversations and knowledge.

     librarians facilitate the creation of knowledge.  They're conversation starters.

Questions to answer:

What is knowledge?

How do we facilitate knowledge creation.

The best take-away from the class--white gloves!  no kidding--these things grip the fabric and help you move it as you work--what a relief for my hands when I put them on! 

I found myself being pulled into the ACRL conference this year--following on Twitter and reading proceedings. There are so many exciting things happening in academic libraries these days.  And then Jennifer Howard caught my attention with an article in the Chronicle, "College Librarians Look at Better Ways to Measure the Value of Their Services."  which got me to thinking--how are we assessing and evaluating what we're doing?  I know what I'd do if I was teaching classes. Everyone would have a minute to tell me something they learned.  But how do you evaluate interlibrary loan services?  And in these days of zero-based budgeting, where every service must be documented as to it's effectiveness--just how are we showing our value?  And what is our value anyway?

So I found and read James G Neal’s ACRL paper, “Stop the Madness: The Insanity of ROI and the Need for New Qualitative Measures of Academic Library Success,” because I pretty much know that I'm going to enjoy anything which calls itself a "polemic and a call to action."  I was not disappointed.  Neal determines that rather than showing what the library's return on investment is to the university, the question should be posed to the user themselves.  "How much did the user receive through an investment of time, energy, and resources in the resources and services in the library?"  Using that question brings a whole new frame to the evaluation of the effectiveness of our work.  Just exactly where do we intersect with our users and how are we making that increasingly beneficial for them?  This mindset moves us away from assessment based on what we own or what we have access to and moves us directly into thinking about what services we're offering to our patrons.

I like the idea of library being "public interest" and providing "barrier-free access to information."  I see daily that we have to fight for that right.  Why should downloading an ebook take about 25 clicks and an occasional wait of up to a month?  And why do availability notices continue to go out in the mail when maybe it's time to text the student and shorten their wait?  What are we doing to make sharing between libraries easier?  What am I doing?

But I loved how he turned it back on the staff in the end.  He suggested a new and more rigorous set of expectations for the staff.  A sense of mission and vision and "committment to continuous improvement."  The idea of being an entrepreneur, of providing extra value to our patrons by repackaging and building new customers is an exciting new way of looking at our daily workloads.  Neal finished with a tip of the hat to the work currently being done by Carol Tenopir and to the ACRL study, The Value of Academic Libraries: a Comprehensive Research Review and Report.

Next up: yep, I'm going to tackle that ACRL study!

Keep reading,

Jan