Comments on: Not a Destination

By: the strange librarian » Internet Desintation

the strange librarian » Internet Desintation — Thu, 04 Oct 2007 19:53:19 +0000

[...] reminded me of David Lee King’s post about the Library not as destination but as providing ACCESS to the destination (which would be [...]

By: Charles

Charles — Thu, 20 Sep 2007 06:31:13 +0000

I doubt that many librarians would dispute the value of the Internet in research. It provides access to numerous reputable free or low-cost databases, journals, books, reports, and other publications as well as to many important commercial resources. Oftentimes, the Internet serves as the sole source of information, or offers the shortest path to an answer.

Conversely, libraries house mounds of materials that are not digitized, and likely never will be – at least, not in my lifetime. Libraries give patrons access to databases that sometimes would be otherwise unavailable, or available at a significantly higher cost. Libraries also may provide a greater number of authoritative resources in certain subjects.

By: Rob

Rob — Tue, 18 Sep 2007 22:31:41 +0000

I think it is interesting that a number of us are looking at this issue in different ways. It indicates to me that we are no different than our public who see and value the library in a variety of ways. I think a lot of us use the library to meet our needs at the time. For me that is one of the exciting aspects of the 2.0 stuff. It provides additional alternatives or new and different ways to get at stuff; some of it traditional some of it not. The neat part is that we can more or less do what we want when we want. Which means I can still get my stack of books, read in a quiet corner or do stuff at home at 3:00 am all at the same library or through the same library. For those of us that wax nostalgic for the old days, it makes you wonder what our current kids will remember about the library of their childhood. Will they think fondly of the days when they had to go to the library to play a “clunky” game called Runescape and laugh at how primitive it all was?

By: 2.0: Benchmarking and ruminating « Library Alchemy

2.0: Benchmarking and ruminating « Library Alchemy — Tue, 18 Sep 2007 22:29:59 +0000

[...] at long tables with bound journals and print reference books, so I question whether the library is no longer a destination. And I wonder whether the paradigm absolutely has to be either/or. On any given day @ my [...]

By: K.G. Schneider

K.G. Schneider — Mon, 17 Sep 2007 23:38:57 +0000

The point about synthesis is key. The last time I used my library, I took out a big stack of books. I can’t do that anywhere else.

By: Greg

Greg — Mon, 17 Sep 2007 20:41:03 +0000

I for one am a strong believer in synthesis. For what it’s worth, I think the strength of libraries today is their willingness to embrace the “old” (books) along with the “new” (emerging technologies). This synthesis of ideas and methods has made for a wonderful thing in libraries. While I long for the library of my youth that was nothing more than rows and rows of books with a few nooks and crannies to read in, I’m more than happy to step away from that and into the digital realm too, and am glad to have a library where I can still do both. I’m just writing to say I agree. Libraries are not a destination — they’re a portal. But, then again, they always have been.

By: Terry

Terry — Sat, 15 Sep 2007 00:08:49 +0000

Well, I still disagree. A lot of people are still using traditional services. And for that matter, isn’t a person using someone else’s “services” whenever they read an encyclopedia or a work of fiction or a self-help book? The Web is just the latest medium for many of the same age-old human needs. And thank goodness we have it! But I just don’t see the library as a conduit for “going somewhere else.” We will always be a place for people to think and explore and expand their worlds. Thanks for letting me think out loud on your blog, too.

By: davidleeking

davidleeking — Fri, 14 Sep 2007 19:35:32 +0000

Terry: of course people are still using our resources! And that’s great. But whether or not they know what a 2.0 site is isn’t really the issue. Because if you walk around right now, you will see Runescape, MySpace, even Amazon and Ebay – all sites with interaction, participation, 2.0 services, etc. So they are using them whether they know it or not.

My point was that they aren’t coming in to use traditional library resources. Instead, those users are coming in and then using someone else’s services – like MySpace. They are interacting within MySpace – but using us as a jumping-off point to get there.

And again – just thinking out loud. I do that with this blog quite often!

By: davidleeking

davidleeking — Fri, 14 Sep 2007 19:32:24 +0000

Lissa: yes, I think you’re right in the physical sense – we are the destination. But I was thinking about digital destinations. Even though the kids playing Runescape are interacting with each other, they are visiting not tscpl, but Runescape.

but still – they are sorta in BOTH places at the same time – the physical building, with their preferred community.. and in Runescape/Myspace etc. Interesting…

By: Terry

Terry — Fri, 14 Sep 2007 18:49:55 +0000

As a reference librarian, I can tell you that people are still using our resources. In fact, I would venture to say that 90% of our current users have no idea what Web 2.0 is. Even if they are using the Web, they are using a computer, which is a tool (library resource) for gathering information. Maybe in the “olden days,” a patron would come in and use a physical map to find his/her way to an event, where now they will print off a Mapquest copy and leave the library. But, the library is still a destination to find information. I don’t think it has really changed because of 2.0. The reality of library users just doesn’t yet reflect the emerging model.