Hi. Aaron’s library and my library are now friends on Flickr. In other tech news, I have to apologize for not paying much attention to the newish podcasting craze sweeping the blogosphere out here, though I hear that Lessig has finally gotten on the bandwagon. In short, the reason I like tech tools like RSS and del.icio.us and feedster is that they allow me to take in news fast and scan-like, faster even than it takes to write it down. When I want to interact with information slowly, I’ll read a book. I know many people listen to the radio recreationally and so podcasting probably works for them. For me, taking in information in a 1 minute=1 minute ratio actually slows me down. I don’t mean to sound all “oh listen to me, I’m so busy” because I’m not. I have a lot of leisure time. I don’t have information overload. I enjoy the amount of media I interact with. However, I usually listen to the radio, or new music, or silence when I’m working. My multitasking does not extend to the audible realm. I’m looking forward to reading what others have to write about podcasting.
Month: February 2005
take this survey
Any librarians who got their degree in 1996 or after [that’s me, is it you?] please take a few minutes to take this survey about new librarians and the five year itch.
ALA Council information
Anyone who is curious what I do at ALA Council meetings is welcome to take themselves to this URL
http://www.ala.org/ala/ourassociation/governanceb/council/councilagendas/councilagendas.htm
and follow along with the [Word] documents and three separate Council pages and see if you can follow along at home. No, I haven’t been keeping this from you since early January, this page was just posted.
cell phones in the library
I’m not sure if I would call Dear Abby “the best opinions in the universe” but she’s right on when she says that the reference librarian has no obligation to assist a patron who wouldn’t get off his cell phone to talk with her. We have many patrons with cell phones in our library and a fairly loose policy that states that if your cell phone is disturbing other patrons you may be asked to take it outside into the lobby. I’m becoming the master of saying “Hi, if you’re going to be a while, would you mind taking your conversation out to the lobby? Thank you!” and it’s worked fine for me, but I know other staffers are more timid about approaching patrons who are being noisy on their phones. In our library, it’s just an extension of the “please don’t be noisy” policy which we have most places except the children’s area and upstairs in the classroom. LISNews folks discuss the issue a bit more.
the noble tradition of libraries
A long but worthwhile article on where libraries are going with some reflections on where they’ve been.
Although the computer terminals tend to be the busiest area in the library these days—and remain the only place where people who do not have internet access at home, which includes half of all households in Brey-Casiano’s district, can use the internet for free—librarians maintain that the internet should supplement, not supplant, traditional sources. [thanks robert]