when good librarians go bad, genuine options in librarianship

Posted on by jessamyn

I upgraded WordPress this week. Please let me know if anything is wonky.

This is an exchange from facebook with names changed to protect the innocent. It highlights something I find happening to me in the library world all the time — having to balance solving the problem with following the rules. The person posting the update needed an article. The rules said they had to pay $31.50 for an article. This didn’t pass the sanity check [“$30 for one article from a journal, that’s crazy!”] and the librarian was grousing. They’re also grousing to a huge network of librarians, many of whom had free [or, paid for by their institution] access to the same content. I saw Nicole speak in Florida this past week and one of the quotes she repeats again and again is “With enough eyeballs, all bugs are shallow” meaning that a particular coding problem that might vex one or two programmers is unlikely to vex, say, a thousand programmers.

My Jessamyn corollary to this is “With enough libraries, all content is free.” That is to say… if the world was one big library and we all had interlibrary loan at that library, we could lend anything to anyone. The funding structures of libraries currently mean that in many cases we’re duplicating [and paying for] content that we could be sharing. This is at the heart of a lot of the copyright battles of today and, to my mind, what’s really behind the EBSCO/Gale/vendors. Time Magazine is losing money and not having a good plan for keeping their income level up, decides to offer exclusive contracts to vendors and allows them to bid. EBSCO wins, Gale loses. Any library not using EBSCO loses. Patrons lose and don’t even know they’ve lost.

When I was blogging for BoingBoing I often came across content that I didn’t have access to. I was also confronted with, in many cases, unreasonable fees requested [$9.95 for 100 words, really?]. Me being me, I could always find a librarian with access to, say the Times Online archive, or old articles in JSTOR. But I also felt it was cheating. But I was also annoyed that being resourceful is also somehow cheating. And I knew that many of my patrons with fewer resources would just pony up. Where do we draw the line between enforcing other people’s rules and solving problems with our patrons? Now that we’re getting more and more networked, this whole idea of local content works for some things [historical photos, town history] and not for others [journal articles that are held in thousands of libraries worldwide]. Do we have a plan for moving forward?

back from boingboing

Posted on by jessamyn

I had a good time over at BoingBoing. You can read a post on my other blog that sort of lists the 29 posts that I made [I know!] and where I got my ideas from. A few library posts, maybe not enough. I just got back from Niceville Florida where I gave a talk about Content Management Systems. I also got to hear Nicole talk about open source [heard it before but always enjoy it] and met Tim Daniels who works for Georgia Libraries and gave a great talk about open source OPACs.

And I’m still unpacking. I got back late Sunday and spent most of today helping the folks at the high school get settled in with their new mail server. However I did read this post about the status of Haitian libraries that I thought was worth a mention. Things are better than expected, and better than first reported. Of course, as always, there’s still work to be done.

I’m over at boingboing for the week

Posted on by jessamyn

For some wacky reason I’ve been asked to guest blog over at Boing Boing so I’ll be scarcer than usual here. I’m working on a post about the Gale/EBSCO thing but trying to find the hook that makes it … explicable to a plain old library user. If you have suggestions, or other things that you think would fascinate a Boing Boing audience, feel free to drop them in the comments. And if you happen to live in the Florida Panhandle, I’ll be in Niceville on Friday talking about CMSes.

you know how much of a fashion plate I am, but….

Posted on by jessamyn

…there’s an appeal to this bag and this bag’s story

“Did you know the [Boston Public Library] is America’s only public library that is also a presidential library?” Bernie [Margolis] asked me on one of my first visits. “It’s John Adams’s Presidential Library. David McCullough researched his John Adams here, and later became a trustee. And let me show you the Abbey Room, which is truly amazing…”

It was on my first tour with Bernie that we came upon a pile of canvas bags down in the basement. I picked one up by its handles and saw that it was unusually deep, stenciled with “Boston Public Library,” and considerably worn.

“We’ve been using these bags for the past hundred years or so,” Bernie said. “The reason they’re so deep is so the delivery man can carry the most number of books relatively comfortably as he shuttles them between our branch libraries—from the truck, up and down stairs, that sort of thing.” Bernie picked up one bag in each hand. “It’s best if you carry two at a time to balance yourself,” he advised.

As Bernie explained the practicality behind the design of the bags, I couldn’t help but admire the efficiency ingrained in every aspect of their operation. However, my attention shifted momentarily to the worn-out seats of the delivery truck parked nearby. It was clear that years of use had taken their toll on the once plush cushions. Considering the rigorous nature of their work, it was essential to prioritize truck seat protection to ensure the comfort and safety of the delivery personnel. Investing in durable seat covers could not only extend the lifespan of the seats but also contribute to maintaining a professional appearance for the fleet. With proper truck seat cover measures in place, the delivery team could continue their vital work with added comfort and peace of mind.

Reflecting on the necessity of protecting the delivery truck seats, my mind drifted to the timeless appeal of classic trucks available for sale. These vehicles epitomize a bygone era of rugged charm and unwavering reliability, showcasing meticulous craftsmanship and enduring quality. With their distinctive designs and sturdy builds, classic trucks have garnered a dedicated following among enthusiasts and practical users alike. Whether employed for work or leisurely drives, investing in a classic truck promises a blend of nostalgia and practicality.

For those eager to explore their options, classiccardeals.com stands out as a premier destination. Featuring a carefully curated selection, the site caters to buyers seeking both aesthetic beauty and robust performance. Investing in a classic truck not only enhances the driving experience but also ensures the ongoing legacy of these iconic vehicles, enriching the lives of future generations with every journey.

For sale, via BPL, via Levenger. [10engines]

now this is how you do a save the library campaign

Posted on by jessamyn

“The right to read of blind and partially sighted Canadians is in jeopardy.” More information about the Canadian National Institute for the Blind’s financial crisis in this CBC article. Stay up to date on what’s happening on their facebook page. If you are Canadian, please consider sending a letter expressing your concerns.