WebJunction

The Internet has had a profound impact on the way libraries do business. As the Internet continues to change and grow, as well as our patron’s expectations on accessing information, how do you think this will change the way libraries look, feel and operate?

I am responding to Maria's post as sort of a test to figure out whether Web Junction is behaving. What struck me about Maria's posting was that computers will help us become more "green." I think you're right... Even though it's been said before I think that our culture is more amenable to this. In 1985 I worked for a company that introduced an automated order-entry system. The mainframe computer took up a large room on its own. It was extremely inflexible -- well, either that or the geeks behind it were -- I remember asking for reports to be generated and the waiting list was 3-7 years depending on what we asked for because they had to write the programs.

Anyway, back then we were told that we would be totally "paperless". That never did happen... maybe because the available technology couldn't truly support being "paperless" or maybe because workers didn't trust technology.

Maybe now with 5 back-ups to everything we can move toward "paperless"..

Technology has changed the way our library functions so much in just a few years. I can't imagine all the changes that we will be doing in just the next five years. I'm thinking now of Web Junction. Look at the change it has made in just a few months. This can be a great tool for us to discuss problems and get feed back from other Librarians once all the kinks get ironed out. We as Librarians need to push ourselves to keep up with the computer technology. Libraries will always have books. Many things are already on line. More patrons in the future will come to the Library to down load book and music and less will check out the book itself. We need to keep up the pace to give our commuity what they need and want.

I've been contemplating this quite a bit lately as I want to do a remodel of my library that takes it down to the bare walls and starts from scratch. I want a warm and contemporary library with really comfy furniture and twenty laptops with easy access to internet (I don't know if I can get wireless down in this valley, but I can always just add a whole lot of T1 outlets). I want this library to still be about books, but I like the idea of having ten or twenty kids sprawled all over the comfy furniture (with their shoes off) reading or using the laptops. I'd like to have a Barnes and Noble inspired library, hold the starbucks. Although if I let them put one in my storage room would they pay for my renovation....
Sorry, took a little wander there. I guess I don't see libraries changing much in the basic outline of their purpose. It's still all about information, but how we impart it and the tools we use are consistently changing. Libraries are going to have to be consistently on the cutting edge of technology which is a real budget stomper. We're going to have to be just as well versed in the lingo of the times as the tech natives floating in to check our wares. As much as I hate to say it, it may be time to loose our grip on the book and take up the mouse instead. Why keep an extensive non fiction collection when some of this material is outdated before it even gets into the building? Why not let the net take over? Why not just keep a very specified non fiction section of subjects your patrons like (here it'd be true crime, history, and biography) and let the rest be found via keyboard?
I'm deeply divided on this issue, because as someone who uses the internet as a research tool, I understand its potential to make life easier for all of us, but as a full blooded bibliophile I can't help bemoaning the loss of book culture. New computer smell is nothing compared to old book in my humble opinion, but then again, Socrates said writing would be the death of the mind, so why bemoan the internet?
I think I'll stop there, as I'm fairly certain I just hurt my brain..

I think the Library will have to offer more time for the availability of the computers. We in my case especially will have to convience the city council that we have to have the library open more hours so it will be more readily available to the public. With everything changing so fast we as a library will have to keep up with the changes in techology, that might be a little diffecult with our budgets. I think the library will still be a place to check out books, but we will need to keep up to date and still draw our younger patrons in. Elaine from Cushing Comm. Library

Maria I agree with you about the library not the "shh" you have to be quiet place, we to have 2-3 kids looking on the the same screen or one find something and call another over to look at it. I try to keep the noise to a soft roar butif there arn't alot of people in the library at the time I just let them go for it as long as it doesn't get to loud.

I would love to have a seperate computer lab so when there are a lot of kids on the computers it won't feel like they are right on top of my desk. If we did have a seperate computer lab we would have the space to add more computers. I would like my library to feel like a community center and gathering place for all our citizens.I would also love to automated in the near future. Since we do have a small budget I do see my library relying more and more on the Internet and databases for patrons accessing information.

I think in towns like this where the older, reading population is declining, the library's emphasis will be on the technology we can offer. Even the kids who come in with their moms to get books always have an eye on the computers. The interesting thing is, most of the people who come in strictly for books don't use the computers. I'd say over half the people who come and use the computers, then check something out before they leave. I believe it will be really important to stay as up-to-date as possible with thi internet, but don't forget to keep good reading material on hand, also. Libraries need to lose the impression that they are places of silence, where you have to browse quietly and speak in whispers. Who enjoys that? The kids who come in here, whether it's to play games on the computers or the Wii, are enjoying themselves. My board expressed concern at the first meeting after we purched a Wii, that they might be distracting the other patrons. In the first place, there were seldom any other patrons in. In the second place, I would sometimes ask adults, after the kids had left, if they were making too much noise, and they always said no. For other kids, it's never an issue; young people these days find it impossible to work in a quiet atmosphere. I see the libraries, hopefully, becoming more of a social place, a good place to learn manners and consideration, along with the things you can learn on the web.

All great ideas. We have a great many elderly here in town and I pick out their books and deliver them. What a good idea to centralize and give them more choices. Our younger people need a place to access the technology and everyone needs a gathering place. We have small groups come in for different activities and often they will wander around afterwards and check out a book. They more we get them in the door for whatever reason the more relevant the library can be to our community.

I would agree to a point. LOVE having headphones for them, so I don't have to hear everything they are listening to, games, music, etc. As a substitute teacher I have talked to the kids alot about books vs. movies, especially books made into movies. We discuss how when you read a book YOU get to decide how the character looks and the sound of their voice. With a movie, someone has already decided that for you. NO big surprise, the majority, by alot, prefer movies.