Comments on: Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh Rocks! http://www.davidleeking.com/2009/01/08/carnegie-library-of-pittsburgh-rocks/ David Lee King is the Digital Branch & Services Manager at the Topeka & Shawnee County Public Library, where he plans, implements, and experiments with emerging technology trends. He has spoken in the U.S. and Canada about emerging trends, website usability and management, digital experience planning, and managing techie staff, and has been published in many library-related journals. David writes the Internet Spotlight column in Public Libraries Magazine with Michael Porter. David maintains a blog at http://www.davidleeking.com Thu, 09 Feb 2012 15:38:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Librarian http://www.davidleeking.com/2009/01/08/carnegie-library-of-pittsburgh-rocks/comment-page-1/#comment-23599 Librarian Mon, 14 Dec 2009 12:55:12 +0000 http://www.davidleeking.com/?p=913#comment-23599 Digital reference does not lend itself to in-depth research. Like telephone reference this service is intended for quick, ready-reference types of questions. In depth research questions require time and the involvement of the customer. In these instances we are perfectly justified in asking the customer to come in to do the research. Do you honestly believe people can do things like legal research, patent/trademark searching, etc. through digital reference? Digital reference does not lend itself to in-depth research. Like telephone reference this service is intended for quick, ready-reference types of questions. In depth research questions require time and the involvement of the customer. In these instances we are perfectly justified in asking the customer to come in to do the research. Do you honestly believe people can do things like legal research, patent/trademark searching, etc. through digital reference?

]]> By: We’ll Answer Within Two Business Days | David Lee King http://www.davidleeking.com/2009/01/08/carnegie-library-of-pittsburgh-rocks/comment-page-1/#comment-21290 We’ll Answer Within Two Business Days | David Lee King Tue, 28 Apr 2009 15:17:39 +0000 http://www.davidleeking.com/?p=913#comment-21290 [...] staff?” These are all quotes from real librarians, commenting on my two previous posts about electronic reference service needing a [...] [...] staff?” These are all quotes from real librarians, commenting on my two previous posts about electronic reference service needing a [...]

]]> By: jenjen http://www.davidleeking.com/2009/01/08/carnegie-library-of-pittsburgh-rocks/comment-page-1/#comment-20141 jenjen Fri, 23 Jan 2009 05:07:11 +0000 http://www.davidleeking.com/?p=913#comment-20141 Heh... can't wait to see what random avatar I will get.... Not to harp on the fine people from Pittsburgh here... the new wording is definitely friendlier. But if the turnaround is really the same, is less news automatically better news? It reminds me of a local shuttle bus system that responded to criticism of infrequent buses by removing the schedules. It seems like there should be a middle ground for people who DO care to know the details. That's the great thing about the web - you could have a link like "read all the picky details" and satisfy the general user and the library administrator who want a friendly message as well as the picky. And the latter of course includes the reference librarians! Heh… can’t wait to see what random avatar I will get….
Not to harp on the fine people from Pittsburgh here… the new wording is definitely friendlier. But if the turnaround is really the same, is less news automatically better news? It reminds me of a local shuttle bus system that responded to criticism of infrequent buses by removing the schedules. It seems like there should be a middle ground for people who DO care to know the details. That’s the great thing about the web – you could have a link like “read all the picky details” and satisfy the general user and the library administrator who want a friendly message as well as the picky. And the latter of course includes the reference librarians!

]]> By: jenjen http://www.davidleeking.com/2009/01/08/carnegie-library-of-pittsburgh-rocks/comment-page-1/#comment-26731 jenjen Fri, 23 Jan 2009 05:07:00 +0000 http://www.davidleeking.com/?p=913#comment-26731 Heh... can't wait to see what random avatar I will get.... Not to harp on the fine people from Pittsburgh here... the new wording is definitely friendlier. But if the turnaround is really the same, is less news automatically better news? It reminds me of a local shuttle bus system that responded to criticism of infrequent buses by removing the schedules. It seems like there should be a middle ground for people who DO care to know the details. That's the great thing about the web - you could have a link like "read all the picky details" and satisfy the general user and the library administrator who want a friendly message as well as the picky. And the latter of course includes the reference librarians! Heh… can’t wait to see what random avatar I will get….
Not to harp on the fine people from Pittsburgh here… the new wording is definitely friendlier. But if the turnaround is really the same, is less news automatically better news? It reminds me of a local shuttle bus system that responded to criticism of infrequent buses by removing the schedules. It seems like there should be a middle ground for people who DO care to know the details. That’s the great thing about the web – you could have a link like “read all the picky details” and satisfy the general user and the library administrator who want a friendly message as well as the picky. And the latter of course includes the reference librarians!

]]> By: davidleeking http://www.davidleeking.com/2009/01/08/carnegie-library-of-pittsburgh-rocks/comment-page-1/#comment-20075 davidleeking Tue, 13 Jan 2009 13:10:29 +0000 http://www.davidleeking.com/?p=913#comment-20075 Marian - yes, some libraries use the 24/7 subscription service, which would be that state-wide thing you mentioned. But most libraries don't - they simply offer email and/or IM reference service on their own. "cutting budgets ... simply don't have the staff" - email and IM are free, and I know extremely small libraries that are doing a great job with these types of services, so I'm not sure that's really the issue. I think it's more of a mindest change than anything, unfortunately (unfortunate, because that can be difficult to change). Marian – yes, some libraries use the 24/7 subscription service, which would be that state-wide thing you mentioned. But most libraries don’t – they simply offer email and/or IM reference service on their own.

“cutting budgets … simply don’t have the staff” – email and IM are free, and I know extremely small libraries that are doing a great job with these types of services, so I’m not sure that’s really the issue. I think it’s more of a mindest change than anything, unfortunately (unfortunate, because that can be difficult to change).

]]> By: davidleeking http://www.davidleeking.com/2009/01/08/carnegie-library-of-pittsburgh-rocks/comment-page-1/#comment-26730 davidleeking Tue, 13 Jan 2009 13:10:00 +0000 http://www.davidleeking.com/?p=913#comment-26730 Marian - yes, some libraries use the 24/7 subscription service, which would be that state-wide thing you mentioned. But most libraries don't - they simply offer email and/or IM reference service on their own. "cutting budgets ... simply don't have the staff" - email and IM are free, and I know extremely small libraries that are doing a great job with these types of services, so I'm not sure that's really the issue. I think it's more of a mindest change than anything, unfortunately (unfortunate, because that can be difficult to change). Marian – yes, some libraries use the 24/7 subscription service, which would be that state-wide thing you mentioned. But most libraries don’t – they simply offer email and/or IM reference service on their own.

“cutting budgets … simply don’t have the staff” – email and IM are free, and I know extremely small libraries that are doing a great job with these types of services, so I’m not sure that’s really the issue. I think it’s more of a mindest change than anything, unfortunately (unfortunate, because that can be difficult to change).

]]> By: Marian http://www.davidleeking.com/2009/01/08/carnegie-library-of-pittsburgh-rocks/comment-page-1/#comment-20071 Marian Mon, 12 Jan 2009 22:59:46 +0000 http://www.davidleeking.com/?p=913#comment-20071 I can understand the concerns with serving the local populace, as it is a common concern, though unfounded since these systems are either nation or state-wide. The thing is that the customer thinks it's their local library and we very often get questions about policies, procedures, fines, holds, renewals, shelf-checks - not the high-minded purpose some would ascribe. Also, in these tough economic times many libraries are cutting budgets and staff and simply don't have the staff to devote to doing this. I can understand the concerns with serving the local populace, as it is a common concern, though unfounded since these systems are either nation or state-wide. The thing is that the customer thinks it’s their local library and we very often get questions about policies, procedures, fines, holds, renewals, shelf-checks – not the high-minded purpose some would ascribe.
Also, in these tough economic times many libraries are cutting budgets and staff and simply don’t have the staff to devote to doing this.

]]> By: Marian http://www.davidleeking.com/2009/01/08/carnegie-library-of-pittsburgh-rocks/comment-page-1/#comment-26729 Marian Mon, 12 Jan 2009 22:59:00 +0000 http://www.davidleeking.com/?p=913#comment-26729 I can understand the concerns with serving the local populace, as it is a common concern, though unfounded since these systems are either nation or state-wide. The thing is that the customer thinks it's their local library and we very often get questions about policies, procedures, fines, holds, renewals, shelf-checks - not the high-minded purpose some would ascribe. Also, in these tough economic times many libraries are cutting budgets and staff and simply don't have the staff to devote to doing this. I can understand the concerns with serving the local populace, as it is a common concern, though unfounded since these systems are either nation or state-wide. The thing is that the customer thinks it’s their local library and we very often get questions about policies, procedures, fines, holds, renewals, shelf-checks – not the high-minded purpose some would ascribe.
Also, in these tough economic times many libraries are cutting budgets and staff and simply don’t have the staff to devote to doing this.

]]> By: Meg http://www.davidleeking.com/2009/01/08/carnegie-library-of-pittsburgh-rocks/comment-page-1/#comment-20068 Meg Mon, 12 Jan 2009 08:23:22 +0000 http://www.davidleeking.com/?p=913#comment-20068 Well, so long as you aren't bothered by receiving comments from a gnome, I'll just ignore it for now. Well, so long as you aren’t bothered by receiving comments from a gnome, I’ll just ignore it for now.

]]> By: Meg http://www.davidleeking.com/2009/01/08/carnegie-library-of-pittsburgh-rocks/comment-page-1/#comment-26728 Meg Mon, 12 Jan 2009 08:23:00 +0000 http://www.davidleeking.com/?p=913#comment-26728 Well, so long as you aren't bothered by receiving comments from a gnome, I'll just ignore it for now. Well, so long as you aren’t bothered by receiving comments from a gnome, I’ll just ignore it for now.

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