Final Reflection For This Semester

It was an extremely cold and snowy day when I started my Intro to the Information Profession class.  School did not start out as I had planned.  Mondays were my day off of work and my plan was to spend the entire day working on school work.  Instead school for my kids was cancelled, my husband wasn't able to make it into work and I found myself attempting to do school work with chaos instead of quiet.   Today as I reflect back on this past semester, I am sitting at my desk with the windows and doors open to the fresh air although the kids are off of school again so chaos is reigning!

This semester has made me stop and think many times about my ideas of what a library is.  During my library visits, I went to an academic library that really turned my thoughts completely around.  During my time at college, the library was a place to grab information.  While some students went to the library to study, it was at tables with uncomfortable chairs which never appealed to me.  Now academic libraries are seeking ways to make themselves user friendly.  There are comfortable chairs, reading nooks, fireplaces, tables and chairs that can be moved and reconfigured for group work, computer areas that allow several people to collaborate on a project and food and drinks are welcome.  This made me rethink how even public libraries could use these same principles for their own patrons.  Not everyone just runs into the library to grab a book.  Some patrons would like to have comfortable spaces to sit and read, chat with friends and maybe enjoy a cup of coffee or tea.  Why can't libraries be this?

Each community faces different challenges and I believe that libraries need to be a part of the solution.  This involves the library staff working with community services, helping to figure out what challenges are being faced and being part of the solution.   This might involve changing up how things have been done in the past.  Maybe the community has many working parents that cannot attend the regular story time during the morning.  The library could host a story time in the evening so these children can attend then with their parents and they can use the library then. 

The library profession needs to be able to constantly change as the community and needs change.  We cannot find a groove where we feel we fit best and stay in the same tracks for years.  We need to evolve, change and be flexible always.  We need to stay relevant to the community or we will lose their support.  I am excited to see where the library world takes me.  I hope that during my journey I can continue to learn, grow and make positive changes to my library as well as to myself.  What a wonderful opportunity it will be.

 

Revisiting: What is a Library

Way back in January, I posted an article on what a library and librarian are to me.  Now that the semester is ending, I am revisiting this idea of what a library is. 

My beliefs are still the same.  I believe that a library is many different things to many different people.  Each one walks away with a different experience.  The community utilizes the library in many ways as well.  Librarians must learn to adapt to all these changing needs.  One person may need to use the computers and internet in the library to apply for a job.  Another may come to pick up the latest  book by their favorite author.  Another uses the library to tutor students struggling in school while another teen might use the library as a place to sit and read instead of heading home to an empty house.  Somehow libraries need to have spaces where all of these activities can go on at once.

The library profession is undergoing a transition at the moment.  We have one foot in the past with the other in the future.  Many of our patrons still want a physical book to enjoy however many patrons want access to e-books.  Patrons are also approaching librarians for help in learning how to use e-books and computers.  Library staff needs to know how to find a physical book, an e-book and how to obtain information for patrons both on-line and in actual books.  I believe that this straddling the line will continue for awhile but eventually something will shift. 

I am excited to see what the future holds for libraries.  I am excited to be a part of this future as well. 

 

Looking at Professional Blogs....the good, the bad, and the ??

In 2011 I began a blog about my personal struggle with fibromyalgia and the changes that I was making to make a better life for myself.  Today my blog is on hiatus due to work, school and family life. 

Something I loved while building my own blog was visiting other blogs!  I have viewed some blogs that I loved.  I have viewed blogs that have hurt my eyes because they are so cluttered with ads.  I have read posts that made absolutely no sense.  I have blog hopped, participated in a comment-athon and viewed blogs that I planned to never visit again. 

While researching blogs to follow in the library field, I have once again found blogs that are great and some that I question why they are in the field.  The best thing about blogs- is that everyone can chose to write what they want and the readers can either chose to follow or walk away. 

One of the blogs that I decided to follow is Librarian By Day by Bobbi Newman.   Many of the posts that she writes makes one stop and think about the post.  Often these topics follow me through the next several day usually because these topics come up in conversation.  One post that I really enjoyed was "Why Libraries Should Look Beyond Library Card Ownership As A Measure of Support".  Why did this post hit me?  Well it talks about how we really should not measure community support by how many library cards our community holds.  Just because someone does not use the library doesn't mean that they do not support the library.  Many people will still respond that libraries are important, maybe just not something that they need in their life at that time.  It is an interesting concept because many of us who work in libraries do seek out those who use libraries to continue to support us.  Maybe we need to stop looking at just our patrons but looking to the community as a whole. 

Another blog that gives some great information is David Lee King written by David Lee King!  This blog has some great information on libraries using social media.  One idea that I really enjoyed was his post on "Building A Wall of Fame."  What is a wall of fame?  Well a wall of fame is all the positive comments and feel good material that patrons, library staff and others post on social networking sites or on the libraries website.  Wouldn't it be great to have a place where the community could go to see all the wonderful things that the library is doing?  Where people can see their positive comments listed?  Even suggestions for future programs would be great.

So far I have shown you two examples of the good.  Now for the not so good or the ??  While searching I found a blog that at first glance looked like it would be entertaining.  I suppose that on one level it is entertaining.  On another level it seems to be a place for this librarian to voice her frustrations from work.    Miss Information was listed when I searched for blogs written by librarians.  While it can be somewhat fun to read, after several posts, I started feeling slightly depressed.  We all have difficult patrons and I can understand her need to write about her frustrations.  But it would have also been nice to have read about some good things that happened to her as well.  Maybe that patron that came to her seeking information and she was able to help them.  Maybe the book suggestion that bloomed into an entirely new love of an author or genre.  Just because we all have difficult patrons, we also have some great ones that make your day, week or month.

 Everyone enjoys something just a little bit different.  These are just a few blogs that I found.  My struggle was finding blogs that are still be published or where they are updated with frequency.  I know, we all think that our blogs are going to go viral, we are going to make millions and be able to work from home.  Sadly at this point, that opportunity has come and gone.  Still there are some great blogs out there that shouldn't be missed.