LIS 701 Spring 2008 Discussion Blog

Perceptions of Libraries problem #1 is the OCLC finding that “Books is the library brand. There is no runner-up.” Its what leads to the findings that “Most information consumers are not aware of, nor do they use, most libraries’ electronic information resources” as well as “They use the library less and read less since they began using the Internet.” Most unfortunate is that the last two reinforce the first via the OCLC finding that only 10% of students found their library website to be adequate for their needs. This shows that even though the library users tried and wanted the library to work for them they came up short, confirming that library is just a pile of dead wood!
To remedy this I offer the same solution for the online library and the library building. This is a virtue in order to keep things simple for what the study proves to be a confused user. My premise is that since the book is the library brand, this 500-pound gorilla in the room (or brain in this case) must be reckoned with, so both the library website and the building itself need a big sign that reads simply: Books. If the patron wants to go that route (in the building or online) they do just that. There will be one of two results. They either get what they were hoping for and are happy because it has been a simple adventure, or they don’t. If the latter, no big deal because they A) are at the end of their rope and know they’re in trouble, and B) upon walking or clicking out of the Books section they find another big sign of the same size that says “Electronic Information.” This second sign is the only one because when anyone is at the end of one rope and there is only one other rope available, that rope is welcome even if you don’t know how to use it. Plus, at least the ambiguity has been removed from the situation and its obvious that there is either one way to save yourself or you have to go back and dig deeper where you came from.
Keeping the two signs the same size is critical in order to nullify any value judgments in the mind of the user. It validates the user’s initial impression of “Book as brand” as important even if inadequate. But there’s no use pummeling the user with inadequacy, so by making the “Electronic Sources” sign the same size, the two worlds remain comfortably balanced in harmony for the user even as a vast electronic reality awaits. It is here that the patron is now willingly searching for guidance out of necessity from a Master of Library and Information Scientist, an apt title that reflects both the old and new perceptions and professions.

After reading the material “Perceptions of Libraries and Information Resources”, I decided to take a look at the Evanston Public Library website, which is where I live. I have only utilized the website to renew materials. In on of our classes we discussed the “retail expectations” that patrons have of libraries. The EPL has a broad website that encompasses lectures, civil issues, book groups, storytimes for children, catalog services within the library and in neighboring suburbs plus state-wide access to libraries, computer classes, teen performance nights, the list goes on. And this is all in a suburban library. Talk about retail expecations – somebody is doing a whole lot of marketing there.

Since Northwestern University is in Evanston, college students seem to be very evident in the public library even though they have access to the University libraries. As Michael said, I also remember spending lots of time in the library during my college years. But back then, my entertainment options were much more limited. I think people go through cycles in their library use. We use it when we are students, when we are parents of young children, then probably use it again as retirees. The advantage for retirees is that today they can turn to the library for technology training, since so many libraries seem to offer informational computer classes.

Again, however, my continuing concern is lack of literacy in our culture and I strongly feel that libraries should be at the forefront of the battle to make sure everyone can read and use technology.

I think that libraries have a huge PR problem, and since most library budgets don’t have room for marketing campaigns, they need to find some creative ways to let people know about the services they provide. Like many of the respondents in the OCLC study, I had no idea what kind of electronic databases were available until I started this program. And even if I had known about them, I’m not sure that I’d just intuit the reasons why they might be more helpful than Google. But they can be! They need to be easier to use, but they definitely provide access to information that isn’t freely available elsewhere. As studies continue to show, word of mouth or recommendations from friends/family is the way most people make choices about what information sources they use. I think this is one way that social networking sites can really work to libraries advantage.

If books are the library brand as the OCLC report concludes, then books are a good place to start building a base of loyal patrons. Goodreads.com is one of my favorite websites, and I use it frequently to keep track of all the books that look interesting to me and to keep up to date with my friends reading habits. If I could know, whenever I check my Goodreads list, what the library has available, I would be at the library constantly. If the library mailed out books (think netflix or bookswim), even at the patron’s expense, I think circulation would escalate dramatically. Online book clubs through myspace, goodreads, or the library’s own blog creates community and fits in with patron’s increasingly busy schedules. While I would love to see libraries become leaders in the technological and social transformations that are surely on their way, I think that many libraries need to take steps just to catch up to where we are right now. I don’t think that compromises our core values—I think it means taking advantage of technologies that help meet user needs.

Privacy and freedom of speech are important rights that are increasingly compromised by things like the Patriot Act, and I absolutely believe that librarians have a unique charge to protect those rights. I don’t think that conflicts with the goals of social networking sites, and I think that users are savvy enough to make their own choices about the information they put out into the world.