Open Source for Patron Services

In the March 2008 Computers in Libraries there is a great article about how the Howard County Library in Md. have switched all public computers to open source software with great results. What I found particularly interesting is the survey conduced using “SmoothWall” to analyze which sites patrons use. Over 80% of web activity in our branches went to five websites in order of number of hits: MySpace, Google, the library catalog, Facebook and Yahoo. As noted in the article its nice to see that the library catalog is in the top five. Also of interest was what patrons are using the computers for–job applications which can sometimes take longer than an hour.

Libraries will not be obsolete in the coming years, but instead will continue to be viable places to locate information, improve lives and communicate with others! Take a look here (hopefully full text soon!!). If the article is not available locally, contact your local SC public library who will contact the SC State Library interlibrary loan services :-))

 

Library Design is not a one time project

Libraries need to change with the times.  Being able to design a new or renovate a library does not happen often.  More likely we have to adapt our physical building to our changing role in our community.  The way a library effectively functioned pre Internet is completely different to todays collaborative environment.  I just finished watching the College of DuPage’s latest teleconference — the subject of this session was trends in library buildings. I have always been fascinated physical arrangement of libraries and how it impacts on its functions. The teleconference gave lots of food for thought and will be archived and available soon.

Reference Desks is one area that definitely could use some improvement. Yesterday, at the Public Services and Reference Managers Exchange, Deb Salmond of the York County Library (Rock Hill, SC) described their new reference workstations that are scattered in the nonfiction, reference areas. The workstations have large signs with the words “JUST ASK ME”. Each station (there are three) has a small desk with computer printer, chair (for librarian) and chair for person asking the question. Wow, so simple and so effective. The best part of the plan is that everyone knows what “JUST ASK ME” means!! Deb is finding that there they have more business than ever before and staffing has had minimal changes.

Later, I was looking at one of my favorite blogs Logic+Emotion. David Armano blogged about another blog (how many blogs can you have in one sentence) on changing furniture to meet today’s needs. Take a look. It does not have to cost a lot of money to make your environment more inviting –

 

Libraries: Vanishing by 2019?

I came across this blog post in Slashdot this morning, where discussions about libraries sometimes occur.  It’s always useful to hear how our profession is viewed by people in other lines of work, particularly in technology fields.  I’m not sure I buy the demise of libraries as portrayed on this “Timeline” but it’s clearly food for thought, and I totally agree with the comment below on the role of libraries as social centers.

“Ross Dawson, a business consultant who tracks different customs, devices, and institutions on what he calls an “Extinction Timeline,” http://www.rossdawsonblog.com/weblog/archives/2007/10/extinction_time.html  predicts that libraries will disappear in 2019. He’s probably right as far as the function of the library as a civic monument, or as a public repository for books, is concerned. On the other hand, in its mutating role as urban hangout, meeting place, and arbiter of information, the public library seems far from spent. This has less to do with the digital world—or the digital word—than with the age-old need for human contact.”

 

 

Libraries helping women in business

Woman’s Day magazine and ALA recently announced the winners of a contest that asked participants to write about how they started businesses with help from their local library.  It’s a neat contest idea, and one that I think could be easily duplicated on the local level. We’re looking for ways to show the economic impact of libraries, and what better way to do that with stories from your own community about how your library has assisted in creating a thriving, revenue-generating business. This comes at an interesting time because the State Library is in the early phase of a new partnership with South Carolina Business OneStop and the SC Department of Commerce. (In the coming months, we plan to provide you with more information, but for now, you’ll have to settle for the “tease.”)

Have you talked to the small business owners in your communities to find out what your library could do for them? Are you in contact with your local Chambers of Commerce? How about local office of non-profits that advocate for business, like the SC Women’s Business Center or the Small Business Development Center?

Helen Oram, of Book Sale Finder, one of the contest winners, sent me her own press release.  Here’s what she says about how libraries have shaped her life:

“I’m proud to be recognized by Woman’s Day and ALA,” said Ms. Oram. “I have depended upon libraries all my life: as a child, as an adult, as a mother, and as a business owner. I hope this helps motivate others to use the unparalleled resources of their local libraries, and I especially hope that they will attend used book sales. Our motto is: Good Books at Good Prices for a Good Cause - Everybody Wins!”