It was like it was yesterday....

While I was researching topics for the Reference Services in Public Libraries discussion group, I came upon an article that discussed relevancy, sharing resources across library networks, centralized v. decentralized reference, increased use of para-professionals in reference, and maintaining a better catalog.

It's a very timely piece written by Geraldine B. King, entitled: Current Trends in Reference Service in Public Libraries. The most interesting thing is that it was written in 1983. (Library Trends, v31 n3 p447-56 Win 1983)

What does this say about our profession? It's been 26 years since this article was published and yet these issues are the thorn in our side.
We still haven't quite hit the mark with a catalog that is intuitive and not bogged down by search terms that even leave me scratching my head. Example: If one wants to learn how to speak Spanish, Greek, French or some other foreign language, one would use the search terms: " spanish language self instruction " and substitute the other language instead of spanish to find those materials.

It troubles me to say this but it's not our websites that we need to fix, it's our catalogs. However, does it really matter anymore? How can we earn back the public's trust in us to find information easily, place items on reserve, etc.? Are we too far gone and everyone's going to Google and Wikipedia?

Not to turn on a dime from my previous paragraph, I still think we need to fix our websites. Our databases are buried. These are things that could be immensely useful for our patrons. We spend thousands of dollars on these resources. We should make information easier to find!

I don't mean to be Little Ms. Negativity here. I want our users to have a welcoming experience. I want our users to be able to find the things they want and come back again for more. Our users need this. We, as a profession, need to do this.

Even though my library revamped parts of the Cleveland Heights-University Heights Public Library website last year, I want to change more. I'm going to invite members of the community to discuss their thoughts on our website, especially our Do Research page. (I wasn't keen on linking to it because I find it so ghastly but if others can provide insights/criticisms, I'm open.) I'd still prefer a better working catalog first.

These statements are not new. While we step into virtual realms and enter social networking environments, are we neglecting some of our most basic needs that are the platforms of our institution? I don't hold the catalog sacred. Yet, we need to seek out better catalog interface systems. We can't just make them for librarians anymore.

Choose to Read Ohio

I'm definitely looking forward to helping to get this implemented at my library.
Yes, I'm a technology driven librarian but I still get a kick out of community reading programs.

The website hasn't launched but it is a program that will be launching at the Ohioana Awards in May. It involves communities reading books for a six week period. The program lasts until the end of 2010.

For more information: http://winslo.state.oh.us/newsletter/jan09choosetoread.html

Here's the list of books that communities can choose from.

Children’s Titles
Margeret Peterson Haddix, Found, 2008, Simon & Schuster, Ages 9-12

Louise Borden, The Journey That Saved Curious George: The True Wartime Escape of Margret and H.A. Rey, 2005, Houghton Mifflin, Ages 9-12

Shelley Pearsall, Trouble Don’t Last, 2003, Yearling, Ages 9-12

Andrea Cheng, Where the Steps Were, 2008, Front Street Press, Ages 9-12

Children’s Classic:
Robert McCloskey, Make Way for Ducklings, 2004, (reprint - original in 1941),Viking, Ages 4-8

Young Adult Titles
Sharon Draper, Copper Sun, 2007, Simon Pulse, paperback, $8.99, Grades 8 up

Chris Crutcher, Deadline, 2007, Harper, Grade 9 up

Jacqueline Woodson, After Tupac & D Foster, 2008, Putnam, Grades 9 up

Jaime Adoff, The Death of Jayson Porter, 2008, Hyperion, Grades 7 up

Young Adult Classic:
Sharon Creech, Walk Two Moons, 2003, Harper, Grades 6-9

Adult Titles
Anne Hagedorn, Beyond the River: The Untold Story of the Heroes of the Underground Railroad, Simon & Shuster, 2002

Toni Morrison, A Mercy, Knopf, 2008

Dan Chaon, You Remind Me of Me, Ballantine Books, 2004

Lee Martin, River of Heaven, Shaye Areheart Books, 2008

Adult Classic:
Harriet Beecher Stowe, The Annotated Uncle Tom’s Cabin, edited by Henry Louis Gates Jr. and Hollis Robbins, W. W. Norton, 2007

Libraries can get their local independent book stores involved. There could be programming that ties into the history or other aspects of the books, not to mention book discussions! I'm definitely looking forward to this!

Free Book Download from Simon & Schuster - Night World

I love free books, especially free e-books. And vampires are hot right now. Yee-ow!
Twilight, True Blood and this latest launch by Simon & Schuster, the Night World series.

Check it out! Free book!!!!

Night World No. 1

By L.J. Smith
Cover by Howard Pyle

To coincide with the release of the Twilight movie on November 21, 2008, S&S is offering a free download of the first book in the New York Times bestselling Night World Series, Secret Vampire.

Secret Vampire will be available for free download for 1 month—November 21st-December 21st.

Vampires, werewolves, witches, shapeshifters — they live among us without our knowledge. Night World is their secret society, a secret society with very strict rules. And falling in love breaks all the laws of the Night World. In Secret Vampire, Poppy thought the summer would last forever. Then she was diagnosed with terminal cancer. Now Poppy's only hope for survival is James, her friend and secret love. A vampire in the Night World, James can make Poppy immortal. But first they both must risk everything to go against the laws of Night World.

The 242 page book is the first in the Night World series of 9 books, and the first book in the 3 book bind-up Night World No. 1—available now. Night World No. 2, containing the next three books in the series, is also available, and No. 3 will be available on June 23, 2009. The never before published 10th book in the series will be released by Simon Pulse in 2010.

Click here to download your free book.

Interested in presenting at ALA Annual 2009 in Chicago?

One of my friends and colleagues on ALA Council, Aaron Dobbs posted an entry on his blog to get the word out of an amazing opportunity for those that are not affiliated with a committee/round table/etc. in ALA.

Aaron the Librarian's blog entry

It would be a great opportunity for those that want to get more involved and share what you are doing that can improve library services.

I would love to pair up with someone on free software, reader's advisory and/or using Twitter as a library tool for marketing, etc. I'm just not sure who/how to get this off the ground. I'm just starting to think about making presentations about what I'm doing, what I'm really excited about and what I see as the future of library services. It's not that I want to be the next Helene Blowers or the next Nancy Pearl. I am really excited about the tools that we can use to be where our patrons are, that enable libraries to provide quality service to those aren't even *at* the library, that launch us into the 21st century.

I sent out the call to all of our reference and children's staff in hopes that they might be inspired to create a program and share it at ALA Annual 2009.

I hope the Creating Connections initiative by Jim Rettig, ALA President has some fantastic programs. Maybe one of them will be yours?

Cool signage @ Cleveland Heights

Re-post from Ohio Library News which is a re-post from PLA Blog October 24th, 2008 by Anne Heidemann

http://oplin.org/ohiolibrarynews/?p=268

We have lots of cool signage and it was noted by Anne Heidemann from Canton Public Library in the Greater Detroit Area. She was visiting our library since she was in town for the PLA Results Boot Camp.

I'm so glad that someone else thinks our signage is pretty nifty. While we still get questions on where's the bathroom and the like, I think our signage is pretty informative and useful. I think when the library renovated in 2006, it gave them the opportunity to wipe the slate and start anew.
I think many libraries should do that. Sometimes there is way too much and the landscape is cluttered with signs. In some ways, I wish there were more.
Things like table tents and flyers just lying on tables to advertise activities and services. Little things can help in such a big way.

OPLIN list firestorm

There is a bit of a firestorm going on the OPLIN list-serv discussing one library's decision to disallow patrons to check out books if they have > $0 balance on their accounts.

Many people, including myself, find this less than desirable. While it is not necessarily a punishment, the plan leaves a very sour taste in my mouth.
In these tough economic times, we need to innovate to find new ways that we can raise funds. Yes, fines are a revenue source. But we should *never* rely on that and hold our books hostage. Fines are merely to deter the patron from keeping the books.
It would be fantastic if we were able to move to a model of "If you want to keep it, we'll bill you for it, no questions asked." That way, we can replace that book immediately. Should a book be irreplacable, we should scan those. The patron is still billed for keeping the book but the digital copy will be also available.
Irreplacable is typically out-of-print. Out-of-print does not necessarily mean out of copyright so that would be something to consider.

By no means have I figured out the perfect solution to the library fines dilemma. However, zero balance for checkout is not an option.

EBSCO Publishing and Marketing

EBSCO has launched a brand new promotional/marketing page on their site.
Public Library Marketing Materials

Also, there are two resources that are free that we should promote.
History is Happening

Reading Rave

I sometimes think that the databases are the ones that should be marketing themselves better. Why is the onus on libraries to do the marketing, get people excited about these resources, etc?

It's great when companies put out this stuff though. Don't get me wrong. I just wish that database companies, etc. would take into account that libraries themselves are not exactly masters of marketing. How can we change that?

I'm trying to market the library's website, Facebook, Flickr, YouTube and other social media things. But what else can we do?