What might be considered an extreme case of this is the Sacramento Public Library’s recent initiative to create a Library of Things. One aspect is a variety of instruments, including guitars, drums and ukuleles. They have board games for all ages and video games for circulation. GoPro cameras and sewing machines are also available. It is also possible to work with the library’s 3D printer and bike repair station, though these are not available for checkout.[2]

When considering a lending library of this sort, it is important to determine that it is in keeping with the library’s mission. SPL’s Mission Statement reads,  “Sacramento Public Library provides ideas, information, and resources to help our community discover, learn, and grow.”[3] Viewing the Library of Things in this context, not only does it seem appropriate to supplement their print collection with these items, but it could also be seen as a disservice to not allow these venues for learning, discovery, and growth.

It is important when building non-standard collections (as it is in all collections) to allow for vigorous assessment. 3D printers are a growing trend in public libraries, but a library needs to make sure that it is providing sufficient programming around such a costly addition. Moreover, it must ensure the public has both the opportunity and desire to use such equipment. Some of this assessment can only be performed after a purchase. Yet understanding the demographics most interested in 3D printers and determining if they are regular library users or might become regular users if a device was purchased can be helpful information to gather before a purchase is made. Also, surveys with realistic evaluations of the cost both in terms of dollars and products/services can help shift the decision from the library to the community.

It is also important to seek alternative revenue streams to supplement taxpayer dollars. The Library of Things was supported by a $10,000 grant through the Library Services and Technology Act.[4] Many object lending libraries either begin as a result of a donation, or are supplemented through later donations. Even with donations it is important to assess the community impact and how the objects help the library fulfill its mission as they require physical space and staff maintenance.

Finally, the library needs to determine what special policies (if any) need to be in place for these special additions. As noted above, items like the 3D printer can only be used in the library, while in some libraries, smaller portable ones may be brought off-site by a library staff member. Some libraries lend laptops or tablets for use in the library. The Sacramento Library notes that some of the more expensive items will include a written agreement before checking out items.[5] Other libraries may require a copy of a driver’s license to keep on file until the item is returned. Determining a policy that properly supports the library and the community’s investment while also not being onerous or excluding potential users can be challenging and may need to be amended over time.

Over the centuries libraries have evolved from maintaining collections of papyrus scrolls to lending books to the general public. Books should not define the legacy of the library, but instead be viewed as an important means through which libraries can serve their community. In many communities they still offer one of the best, most affordable means of promoting learning. Yet in some communities, and likely increasingly over time, libraries must seek new service opportunities within their neighborhoods. For one community this may mean a greater portion of the budget being spent on audiobooks or DVDs, in another it could mean adding board games. It is not the tool that defines the library, but instead the library, with the help of the community, defining the tools that enable it to serve most effectively. What tools does your library currently use and what  does it hope to incorporate in the future? How will these tools help serve your community? For more on the widening definition of the library’s collection see The Evolution of Library Collections.

[1] “Library.”  Merriam-Webster Dictionary.  Accessed April 18, 2015.  http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/library

[2] Milne, Steve.  “Library of Things Launches on Saturday.”  Capital Public Radio.  Accessed April 18, 2015.  http://www.capradio.org/articles/2015/03/12/library-of-things-launches-on-saturday

[3] “Strategic Plan.”  Sacramento Public Library.  Accessed April 18, 2015.  https://www.saclibrary.org/About-Us/Strategic-Plan/

[4] Milne, Steve.  “Library of Things Launches on Saturday.”  Capital Public Radio.  Accessed April 18, 2015.  http://www.capradio.org/articles/2015/03/12/library-of-things-launches-on-saturday

[5] Milne, Steve.  “Library of Things Launches on Saturday.”  Capital Public Radio.  Accessed April 18, 2015.  http://www.capradio.org/articles/2015/03/12/library-of-things-launches-on-saturday

The post Library of Things Shapes Dialogue on Library Collections first appeared on Public Libraries Online.

The Westport Library in Westport, Connecticut, has contributed a great deal of resources towards several expensive high tech purchases. One such acquisition is the SolidWorks computer-aided design software.[1] This was used to reach out to a niche community—primarily postgraduates trying to hone their skills—a purchase that benefits a fairly small audience.  Funding such projects could be controversial in some communities since it is funneling general funds towards a service that requires a fair amount of expertise to use and hence is fairly limited in reach.  The other way to view this is that the library is providing value to a group that might not otherwise look to the library for services.  It can also be a way to create advocates in the community from different sectors, particularly in this instance where it was in response to a suggestion from a local biomedical engineer.[2]

Generally, these decisions might be difficult to gain support for, but outside funding sources can greatly impact how an idea is sold to the Board of Trustees and the broader community.  The funding for a pair of programmable NAO Evolution robots was provided by a family foundation.[3]   While the funding for the robots was provided, it still required time and effort to promote these purchases, create programming around them, see that they are used in a manner that keeps them in good repair, and avoid any usages that might cause harm to patrons or the device.  This is not for every library, but it seems to have been well utilized by Westport.  The library received a great deal of media attention from news services throughout the country and from Russia, Spain, and Vietnam.[4]  This publicity can greatly enhance the library’s visibility and can inspire community members to look to the library for non-traditional services.

Yet investing in makerspaces is not only about creating media coverage. The high tech resources allow the library to create and share knowledge in new and unconventional ways.  Maxine Bleiweis, executive director for Westport Library, has noted how these additions are in line with the latest information on learning theories and how creating new content shows a high level of understanding of a given concept. She also correlated these costs to subscription costs for databases.[5]

Libraries should consider whether they can and should contribute part of their collection development budget towards new learning technologies. A key question that every library needs to consider when making a large investment of time and resources is how it relates back to the institutions mission.  The mission of the Westport Library “to empower individuals and strengthen the community, providing a welcoming destination that stimulates curiosity, encourages lifelong learning and promotes the open and lively exchange of information and ideas.”[6]  The high tech additions of the makerspace seem to effectively fit into this mission, and they have the resources to support this new technology.

A recurring question in library circles is what the library of the future will look like.  A key aspect of this is the extent to which makerspaces and particularly high tech makerspaces are a part of this future.  While it is unlikely that every library will have highly technical, expensive equipment, it should not be inconceivable that a library can provide this type of support if there is the community desire and the available resources.

Works Cited

[1]    Enis, Matt.  “Westport Maker Space Expands with Robots, SolidWorks Courses and Volunteer Training.”  Library Journal.  Accessed November 22, 2014.  http://www.thedigitalshift.com/2014/10/hardware-2/westport-maker-space-expands-robots-solidworks-courses-volunteer-training/

[2]    ibid

[3]    ibid

[4]    ibid

[5]    ibid

[6]    “About WPL.”  Westport Library.  Accessed November 22, 2014. http://westportlibrary.org/about

Cover Photo Credit: CSM Library CC BY 2.0

The post High Tech Makerspaces first appeared on Public Libraries Online.

At the outset, I would like to point out that there is value in working with different age groups.  A teen may actually benefit more (both educationally and with regards to self-efficacy) by tutoring a tween in a particular subject than by being taught the information by an adult.  In creating activities, however, a librarian needs to consider if opening an event up to a wider public will alienate some of the potential participants.  An example might be creating a coding class that is open to everyone ages 10-18.  If there are teens ages 15 to 18 with some coding experience and then younger attendees with no coding experience, the instructor is going to have a difficult time keeping everyone engaged.  In this instance, there might be greater value in creating both a beginner and an intermediate class.  Will teens engage differently in a book group that is more selective or more inclusive?

To some extent this is about knowing the community you serve.  Some communities find it impossible to reach those between the ages of 15 and 18. If that age group comes into the library at all, it is only to checkout a book and be on their way.  In these communities it makes sense that a teen event might be catered to those between the ages of 10 and 14, because that’s the population who attends.  It can, however, be difficult to determine whether these older teens are not attending because they feel the library does not cater to their needs, or because they simply do not wish to be involved with the library.  For this reason, it is incredibly important for teen librarians to reach out to local high schools and other places where teens are and ask how they can best support what teens want.  Increasingly the library is becoming a place where teens can learn about vocations, college, and other educational opportunities, but that does not mean that they will naturally be drawn to the library.  “Teen” events that do not speak to their interests will reinforce this devaluation of the library.

I am not advocating for every program to have a very specific community in mind, with a different book group for those aged 10-12, 13-15, 16-17, and 18-25 (the growth of “new adult” programming is another topic that was brought up and whether or not this group should be under the direction of young adult or adult librarians).  Firstly, there are very few libraries that would have the space, personnel, or budget to make this a viable option. Secondly, not all programs would benefit from this exclusivity.  Yet, seventeen and eighteen year-olds may face very different issues from younger teens as they get ready for college, leave home, and/or start a vocation.  Focused outreach to this group might not only be of benefit to them, but could also create events that are well attended and future supporters for the library.  Similarly, a program bringing together incoming freshman with those entering their sophomore year could help first year high school students make a smoother transition.

Perhaps my greatest takeaway from this session was that none of these changes happen overnight, but if we can achieve even moderate success, some of these changes can last generations.  Teens have friends and siblings, and if a librarian can convince a few teens that the library can be an ally to them, this can have a rippling effect.  Perhaps, the libraries that have teens attending their events are the ones who listened to the needs of their teen community five or ten years ago and have been flexible enough to meet their changing needs in the ensuing years.  Successful programming is not about what we create, but how we respond. Particularly with teens, we only get a response if we can grab their attention.

Cover image credit: SCA Svenska Cellulosa Aktiebolaget

The post Teen Programming – Who Comes and Why first appeared on Public Libraries Online.

The people at Gluejar believe that there is such a way, and in May of 2012 they created Unglue.it.¹ Their vision is to provide a sustainable means for content creators to offer free Creative Commons works. They also seek to provide easy access to Creative Commons works by creating a broad database of works with this license. Finally, they seek to work with libraries to connect patrons with not only content, but also content creators.²

I first learned about Unglue.it at a presentation at the New York Library Association’s 2012 Annual conference. The primary focus of the presentation was on crowd-funding to purchase the license for works, and then re-release the content under a Creative Commons license. Once a title was under a Creative Commons license, the former license holder still owned the license and could provide new versions, translations, or movie rights under a proprietary license. The initial license, however,  makes the content universally and freely available. At the time they had only unglued a few titles, and some seemed skeptical about the range of this sort of campaign.

A year and a half later they are still going strong and now highlight three separate campaigns. The form I mentioned above is referred to as pledging to unglue. It is important to note that by favoring  titles that do not currently have pledge campaigns running, the content creators may take notice and create a campaign.³ Another mechanism is buying to unglue it. This allows consumers to purchase select titles from unglue.it without DRM restrictions (particularly valuable to libraries). At a date determined by the content creator, if sufficient funds are achieved, the title will be released under a Creative Commons license.⁴

The final campaign, “Thanks-For-Ungluing,” launched April 30, 2014.⁵ The question posed by this campaign is will readers financially support content creators on content that they can receive for free?  Uglue.it supports any donation over one dollar and readers can decide whether they wish to give a small amount, a large amount, or nothing at all.

One goal of this new program is to thank those who have been willing to unglue their work. This also is important for supporting content creators in this new space. Another stated reason for thanks-for-ungluing is to show content creators not currently involved in Unglue.it that there is a sustainable future for their work under a Creative Commons license. The majority of the funds go to the content creator, with processing fees taking up much of the remainder and a small portion going to support unglue.it on larger contributions.⁶

A number of titles have been added to unglue.it’s collection for this launch.  Works by John Sundman, the Open Book Publishers of Cambridge, England,  Yelena McManaman and Maria Droujkova, and Jim Bowering and Jake Hartnell.⁷ It remains to be seen whether the free content providers will be compensated sufficiently for this to be sustainable, profitable, and effective in recruiting new talent to the Creative Commons’ cause. Whether or not unglue.it achieves the success they hope to, e-books present a new marketplace, and it is important that innovations in this new space continue to be tried.

1. Price, Gary.  “The Crowdfunding of eBooks: Unglue.it Formally Launches This Thursday.”  InfoDocket.  Accessed May 21, 2014.
2. Gluejar.  “Vision.” Accessed May 21, 2014.
3. Gluejar.  “Supporting.”  Unglue.it.  Accessed May 21, 2014.
4. Gluejar.  “Buying.”  Unglue.it.  Accessed May 21, 2014.
5. Polanka, Sue.  “’Thanks-for-Ungluing’ official launch today.”  No Shelf Required.  Accessed May 21, 2014.
6. Gluejar.  “Thanks-for-ungluing.”  Unglue.it.  Accessed May 21, 2014.
7. Gluejar.  “Thanks-for-ungluing Launches.”  Unglue.it.  Accessed May 21, 2014.  

The post Thanks for Ungluing first appeared on Public Libraries Online.

It is rare when a story out of New Hampshire reaches a national audience, but this is exactly what happened—at least within library circles—when a local news station ran the headline, “Thousands of UNH library books found in dumpster.”¹ This news coverage led the Annoyed Librarian to write a response article in Library Journal.² The central argument of the first piece seems to be that libraries should do a better job disclosing their collection development decisions. The latter piece contends that as professional librarians it is within our purview to determine how best to use the space and collection of the library.

From my own experience, though I am responsible for pulling titles off the shelf that have not circulated for a number of years, other librarians are allowed to veto my decisions. I also temper my decisions based on discussions I had while receiving my MLIS. For instance, though books on sexually transmitted diseases may not circulate, they may be used within the library by individuals who might be too embarrassed to check them out. Also, recipe books may see a page copied without the book ever being checked out. Once books are withdrawn from our collection they are not destroyed, but added to the Friends’ of the Library book sale. In general, I would say the library is conservative in its weeding decisions. Even still, hundreds of books have been removed from the shelves in this most recent set of withdrawals.

It seems that some within libraries, as well as those in the broader community, view withdrawals as an admission of wrongdoing: We have misallocated public funding on items that are no longer of any worth. Worse still, they may view this as a move against intellectual freedom, evoking images of Nazi book burnings. I believe both ideas are inaccurate on a number of levels.

First, I do not believe that libraries should be risk-averse in their collection development policies. It might seem like a wiser policy to purchase multiple copies of all the bestsellers instead of a wide range of texts, but this only serves a portion of the population who enjoys these mass market texts. Also, bestsellers may not have great staying power than other texts. After six months, will this policy actually lead to an increase in the number of titles being weeded?

Second, some texts, particularly those in the medical and scientific fields, are constantly being updated, and it is highly likely that older versions will be full of inaccuracies that might even have dangerous implications to their readers. Another article on Public Libraries Online, “Spring Weeding—Progress Should be Reflected in Your Collection,” focuses on this issue.³

Third, a library not having a particular text no longer means that a patron cannot access that material,. It may be in a different format or take a bit longer to receive.  Advances in Interlibrary Loans and increases in materials available digitally has greatly expanded what community members can access without it necessarily taking up a library’s limited space.

Fourth, and perhaps most importantly, communities change over time. It is essential for libraries to reflect their community’s changing needs, both in their collection and how they use their space. If, for instance, non-fiction only accounts for a tenth of total circulations, should it be stored in a room of equal size to that housing the fiction collection, which sees much greater circulation? Could relocating create a programming space that has been lacking in the past? Many years ago, it may have been entirely appropriate to have an entire room dedicated to public access to maps. Does this mean, however, that this space should still be dedicated to this use, now that all the maps are available digitally?

If these ideas about weeding are true about print texts, do the same principles also apply to audiobooks, DVDs and the plethora of unique materials that are now being circulated at libraries around the country? I had the opportunity to discuss this latter point with fellow librarians at a recent NHLA conference, and honestly, I was surprised by the answers I received. If a library has a collection of knitting needles, stamps, pans, telescopes or fishing poles that are not circulating, should they be disposed of? The general answer I heard was no, they would likely try to promote them in different ways, or move them, but not ultimately get rid of them.

I am all for promoting collections in novel ways. If a large portion of a given selection looks like it is not seeing much circulation, I may well try to include it in a future display before weeding it.  This was true of a number of books on photography. I learned that May was National Photography Month, so rather than weed out our photography books, I put them on a display where they might be more likely to get checked out. Come the end of May, however, I will see what books still have not circulated and determine whether they need to be withdrawn or not.

I feel that the importance of assessment and ultimately weeding are of particular value when working with novelty items, particularly if they are high in space requirements. For those who believe the library should be exclusively focused on texts, having space that is taken up by low circulating items—already of questionable value to them—can provide such opponents with political ammunition. Also, and this may seem counterintuitive, by not weeding these collections, you may make your staff more risk averse. Since the space taken up by yesterday’s novel idea is sacrosanct, new ideas are forced into an increasingly shrinking amount of free space. Perhaps even more compromising, before suggesting an idea, a staff member will have to feel it is worthy to stand the test of time.

I believe a library’s collection is a reflection of the values and aspirations of the community it serves. I understand how this view could lead some to the conclusion that weeding was a devaluation of the community’s past, but I disagree. To bring about the future the community strives for, weeding plays an essential part, and we should embrace this important role even as we remain cognizant and empathic towards those of differing opinions.

Resources

1. Sexton, Adam. “Thousands of UNH Library Books Found in Dumpster.”  WMUR New Hampshire.  Accessed May 14, 2014.
2. Annoyed Librarian.  “The Weeding Problem Solved.”  Library Journal.  Accessed May 14, 2014.
3. Simons, Ellie.  “Spring Weeding-Progress Should be Reflected in Your Collection.”  Accessed May 14, 2014.

The post Weeding Collections first appeared on Public Libraries Online.

The organizers seem to have agreed with my initial reason for attending. The keynote speaker, Matt Delaney, was currently a director in a suburban library, Manlius Library in New York , and had previously served as director of a rural library, Tully Free Library, also in New York. One of his central claims that should resonate with libraries of all sizes is that libraries are the bridge between where we are and where we could be. He also claimed that one of our greatest tools, whether advocating for funding or working through bureaucratic systems, was remaining true to our mission. He powerfully made the claim that alienating any of our community leads to our irrelevancy. It may not be possible to provide all the needs and wants of each segment of our community, but by actively trying to build these foundations we bolster support and can achieve incredible things. Finally, he expanded the goal of public access to include access to opportunities.

His keynote was not exclusively in the realm of philosophy. He had a number of anecdotes from his time at Tully Free Library, where he brought many of his views into reality. He helped create a library at the beach during the summer. The library facilitated a local teacher’s effort to continue a STEAM program that the school system was no longer able to fund. They did not control the effort, but rather provided space and an anchor institute to her for a grant she had already written. The ability of libraries to connect needs and aspirations to the appropriate resources is of incredible importance even if (and perhaps even more so moving forward) those resources are not directly owned by the library. He warned that we need to stop being library property evangelists.

After the keynote there were three separate rooms that ran sessions for the day’s remaining time slots. The complete schedule is available on the conference’s website.

In the space I have remaining I wanted to highlight one other presentation that I had the chance to attend, Empowering and Engaging Teens. Syntychia Kendrick-Samuel of Uniondale Public Library spoke about the programming they had done. She argued that the library should be seen as a safe space not merely to be, but also to experiment.

A number of classes were brought to the library through a grant Ms. Kendrick-Samuel wrote, and young adults were encouraged to apply for these classes. She notes the important paradigm shift between a sign-up sheet and the commitment of an application. The application required either receiving a letter of recommendation from an adult or a written essay on why participation in the class would benefit the student. Also, unexcused absences were grounds for being removed from the class. These efforts create a level of value for the program. They not only enhance its standing, but also the student’s own self-conception if they complete the class. There were also prizes given out for completion of the class such as Best Buy gift cards (one of the sponsors for the program). Having recently read Alfie Kohn’s Punished by Rewards, I had mixed feelings about this aspect, though overall the program’s success cannot be questioned.

Another advantage of the classes is that they connected teens with professionals in the area. This gets back to Mr. Delaney’s point that the library should absolutely elicit the aid of willing community members instead of focusing all services on what the library staff can provide. Uniondale Library was able to motivate students who might not have found success in the school system because the classes were taught in different fashions and had different forms of assessment. The classes created mutual respect between the participants as well, particularly during the panels on leadership and communication. Finally, it let teens find their voices and use them to engage the community in meaningful ways.

One of the unexpected benefits of being a scholarship recipient was a chance to go to lunch with Lauren Comito, Director of Operations for ULU, and John Chrastka, Executive Director of EveryLibrary. It was great to share ideas with some of the movers in the library field while they took a moment away from the madness of keeping everything running. I feel incredibly fortunate that I was able to attend. Please feel free to get in touch with me if there is anything else about the conference you would like to know. I hope there will be many future Urban Librarians’ Conferences, and that my schedule and living situation allow me to continue engaging with this great group of professionals.

The post The Bridge Between Where We Are and Where We Could Be: The Urban Librarian’s Conference first appeared on Public Libraries Online.

I do not advocate that every library should become a sports bar on Sundays, but instead that providing this service should not be seen as anathema to a library.  If the mission of a library is to serve the needs and recreational goals of the community, allowing public viewing of sports events may be in keeping with this goal.  If the mission is more focused on vocational and educational usage, then perhaps this is not an appropriate usage of the space. 

There are pros and cons to sports-viewing in the library, and I will try to bring some of these to the forefront, though I welcome additions and amendments in the comments.  First, sports viewings may bring in a different demographic from the community.  It might be a way to reach out to young adult men, for instance.  Alternatively, it might create a space for sports viewers who do not feel comfortable in sports bars, or who do not have interest watching games at home.  Will this be an incentive for them to use other library services? 

Sports-viewing creates a community space of people with similar interests.  It also can provide equity, by allowing sports fans who might not be able to attend live games, or afford big screen televisions and pricey cable and satellite packages,  to truly have a sports experience. 

The potential issues of sports-viewing in the library are also fairly numerous.  What are the copyright implications?  Are there limits on the number of people who can view the sporting event?  The size of the television permitted?  Churches have been having Superbowl parties for some time and the NFL has provided some guidelines–such as a need to use the church space rather than rented space and not charging for the event.[3]  Would these guidelines be the same for libraries? 

There is also a moral question with regards to sports.  Hockey and football have been embroiled in concussion controversies, for instance.  Will there be a negative response from some members of the community as a result of sports screening?  Will staff members have issues with this?  A logistical problem also presents itself: if some community members are interested in spending quiet Sunday afternoons at the library, does the space allow for this, in addition to sports viewing?  If a game goes into overtime could this cause a conflict with the library’s hours?  What should the library do in this instance? 

If a library decides to bring sports viewing into its space an important decision is how often are they going to show games?  During the playoffs exclusively or also when there are big regular season events?  Should it be limited to certain sports based on their popularity or other considerations?  Should it be focused on local sports or a way for people who might not have access to their teams at home to be able to see them? 

The answers to these questions and to whether sports should be shown in the library, in general, are based on the mission of the library and the desires of the community.  But the idea should not be discarded simply because  the library does not wish to embrace change.  Does your library offer sport-viewing? Tell us about it in the comments below.

The post Super Bowl Sunday @ The Library? first appeared on Public Libraries Online.

A recent Pew Research Study shows that a number of innovative library services are being offered at libraries across the country and library collections are beginning to reflect this evolution.

Does your library have an astronomy section?  Does it include a circulating telescope?  Three Maine libraries have recently added them to their collection.[1]  Dependent on what type of telescope this can be a large capital investment.  Are there school, college or community groups you can pool resources with?  Do potential damage and theft concerns outweigh the value they may bring to your community?

Adding a music library as well as texts on music has been fairly common since cassette tapes, and thanks to Sony’s Freegal and similar offerings, even digital music on demand has become standard fare at many libraries.  Less common is a library that actually lends out musical instruments, but the Lopez Island Library in Washington is doing just that.[2]  As with the telescopes the costs and community desire must be considered before pursuing this, as well as the particular types of equipment desired.  A few banjos might cost less than an electric guitar or drum set, but may appeal to a very different demographic in your community.  Another consideration is what impact your free resources have on the business climate.  Will offering a few instruments have a negative impact on a local music store?  Are there ways to use library lending as a way to assist local businesses, and does this need to be a consideration for your library?

As disparate as many of these resources may seem and with definite potential for exclusively recreational usage, they are also knowledge resources.  Is this a significant distinction?  Some circulating items that might bring this concept into question are tools, cooking pans and fishing poles.  The Honeoye Public Library was recently featured on NPR for the eight fishing poles they lend out from the Department of Environmental Conservation. They also provide tackle boxes stocked with extra hooks and bobbers from the local fish and game club.  Furthermore, they advise borrowers to pick up tackle at the nearby gas station.[3]  Multiple parties collaborating and also enfranchising local businesses seems like a great success, but is the library where this should be taking place?  It is a worthwhile conversation to have with your community.

Everything listed above shares another quality: they are all inanimate, but if a library is for the community, can it not also be by the community?  Two programs that believe this should be answered in the affirmative are the dog lending library and the human library.  Formerly at Northern Onondaga Public Library[4] in New York and at Havard’s Medical Library[5] and Yale Law Library[6], it is possible to check out canine companions.  In the former instance they could acclimate children towards a potential future pet or listen as they work on reading skills (non-judgemental support), while in the latter they are a great means of stress relief.  In both instances the dogs are certified service animals.  Human libraries offer a wide variety of services.  Want to learn about what it means to be a plumber?[7]  What about coming in contact with people from different ethnic or religious traditions?  The Copenhagen Library in Denmark is working to discourage prejudices by allowing dialogs with people of different backgrounds.[8]  These initiatives have great potential, but will likely also face some challenges.  Would it be acceptable, for instance, to seek legal aid during one of these sessions?  Does the same confidentiality apply?  Would the lawyer feel that they were being misused in this instance and not take part?  Can this be a means of the individuals or firms marketing their services?  All of these questions and many more need to be carefully considered, but for many communities this can be a great mechanism for the library to be a social hub.

I am not advocating that every library needs to shift its collection development to novel resources.  In some communities the desire might be to have close to one hundred percent of the collection development budget to go towards books.  What I am advocating is that we do not allow perceptions of what the library is to minimize the positive impact we have on our communities.  This list of items only scratches the surface, but I hope it gets public librarians thinking about the possibilities.  Please share in the comments innovative additions to your collection or anecdotes about issues that have arisen with such new additions.

The post The Evolution of Library Collections first appeared on Public Libraries Online.

Young adults need to be in a position to create, present, educate and interact.  This is about giving them a sense of empowerment and ability to impact their world.  It also provides them a space to learn and build their resume outside of the scholastic framework.  Technology can play a huge role in this.  For instance, creating Youtube videos or library podcasts.   The key, according to Taylor Bayless, a librarian at the Chicago Public Library, is “to have the capacity and desire to learn new technology.”[1]  A librarian can be learning the new technology along with the young adults and in some ways this can further enhance the young adult’s sense of empowerment.  At a presentation at Computers in Libraries 2013 entitled, Teens: Cool Cases[2], the point was made that teen led initiatives will enhance popular support for the teen services even if they ultimately do not meet with success.

We also need to interact with young adults where they are.  If they are on Facebook or Twitter then we can meet them there.  Flickr, YouTube, Goodreads, Instagram and Reddit might also be great resources, but we as librarians have to handle this effectively.  We need to show them what resources are out there and connect with them where they already are, but I do not believe it is wise to set up a resource and then try to bring the community in.    In a recent Connected Learning webinar, YALSA president Jack Martin, mentions the need of adult mentors being in the same space as teens.[3]  This is not to say that they share a space with adult services, but instead adults are coming into the teen space as guest participants.  Mike Hawkins also notes that one of the best marketing tools for any library is to have teens directly engaging with their peers and bringing them in.[4]

Another consideration is what young adults want to do at the library and how we can best serve them.  Should we be supplementing what they learn in school with career and college aid?  What sort of technologies can best serve these needs?  Do teens want to use the library as a makerspace?  Should we have 3D printers, open hardware such as Arduinos and Raspberry Pi’s (which I have written another blog post on), recording booths for creating music and podcasts?  There are also opportunities for collaborative online projects using tools such as Drupal, Mediawiki, and GoogleDrive.  Alternatively, young adults might be in search of a recreational space.  Bringing in video games, tablets, card and board games can all provide value.  Learning what your community needs and what technologies can help meet these needs is essential.  The other question your library needs to ask is if it is at all possible to bring in some of these technologies into an exclusively teen space.  The importance of having teens “own” their own technologies and space is of incredible value and is often overlooked.  Admittedly, some libraries lack the financial means to meet these needs, but it has to be an aspect considered at the highest levels of the library.  We have an opportunity to engender a sense of community and ownership in the next generation of library members, and help them as they prepare to meet the challenges of a highly variable future.

The post Meet YA Patrons Where They Are first appeared on Public Libraries Online.

The New York Civil Service Law is in place for the following reason: “to help ensure that the hiring process is competitive and fair.”^[2]  While this is a noble effort, the problem is that one aspect of the law, for the Librarian I position specifically, makes it impossible for librarians without prior public library experience to be eligible for many positions.

One of the primary principles of the New York civil service exam is the “rule of three,” which states that in order for a candidate to be eligible for a position they must be in the top three scores received.^[3] For an objective test this would provide an opportunity for only the most competent applicants to be given an opportunity.  The benefit of limiting any cronyism would likely outweigh any loss of autonomy felt by the institution. The problem with many of these tests and specifically with the Librarian 1 exam, is that they do not objectively measure competency for a specific task.  In fact, the “exam” is basically a CV with possession of a master’s degree and years of experience post-graduation seemingly holding the greatest sway on the score given.

This creates the problem that it does not link specific skills to eligibility.  Would years of being a children’s librarian be of greater value on being a successful cataloger than taking courses, working at internships, and library staff positions in cataloging? This dissociation between passions, skills, and projects not only undermines job applicants, but can also create a situation where a library cannot hire anyone, because the only candidates who meet their qualification are not eligible due to the examination.

Within New York state there are also free and association libraries that do not fall under civil service.^[4]  I bring these up to highlight successful libraries in New York that follow a different hiring mechanism.  In a recent conversation with a director of a free library, it was stated that in determining a fit for the library, passions and projects play a far greater role than years of experience, where the applicant went to school or their GPA.  Another example of a library that does not use the civil service exam to vet candidates is Fayetteville Free Library  which has recently received a tremendous amount of acknowledgments, awards, and grants.  Much of their staff have come directly out of library programs.  New York librarians can find tremendous success without first holding professional positions in other states or in a temporary capacity.

Finally, the civil service exam is not a good mechanism for narrowing the selection process.   According to the Monroe County Exam Information forty-eight applicants scored 100, and one hundred four applicants were within the scope of the rule of three.^[5]  What it does not show is how many individuals took the exam or how much lower #105 was to #104.  What is clear is that only those on this list can legally be hired for openings in public libraries that are subject to the exam. This means that not only does the exam create an exclusionary atmosphere, it also does not have a significant impact on the number of resumes a library needs to consider.

The goal of any hiring process should be that it fairly brings in the candidate who best meets the needs of their future institution. I believe that at its best the current civil service exam is antiquated. At worst, it is discriminatory against new professionals and undermines the autonomy of libraries. I close with two questions: One, am I missing something or misrepresenting the civil service process?  What hiring policies exist elsewhere, and how can we make the process more equitable and transparent everywhere? Feel free to leave your insights and opinions in the comments below.

The post New Librarians and the Civil Service Exam first appeared on Public Libraries Online.

Open source literacy is a piece of digital literacy that is often given scant regard, if any at all.  Yet, when training community members on how to use Word and other Microsoft offerings, do you know if they will have access to these resources when they go home?  Open Office  and LibreOffice both offer powerful, free word processors (spreadsheets, etc.), but also a community that develops a wiki that can walk users through many questions of functionality.  I do not wish to imply that these solutions should be used instead of Microsoft, but instead that we need to know what our community actually needs and then respond appropriately.  Many libraries use Firefox, but do not necessarily point out that it is an open source application to their members.  Perhaps even acknowledging this would help disperse the myth that open source software is completely foreign.

Open source software also offers the opportunity for cost-saving measures within the library.  Many library websites are built around WordPress or Drupal, while few know the complete functionality of these resources, libraries, and users in general, have been able to create what they want with a relatively low learning curve.  Integrated library systems such as Koha, Evergreen and Greenstone require more programming knowledge.  Understanding whether they can be incorporated with the current staff, or if they will require paid expertise that will be in excess of a commercial solution is a question each library must consider within its own context.  I am not insinuating that we should move exclusively towards open source resources, but in conversations with vendors it is important that as consumers we understand what our options are.

A more recent development in open source is open source hardware.  At Computers in Libraries 2013, Jason Griffey presented on this trend, highlighting Arduino, a platform that can be used for a variety of educational and technical interfaces, and Raspberry Pi, a computer the size of a credit card running a fully operational Linux machine.  I have written a blog focused exclusively on open source hardware for InfoSpace at Syracuse University if readers are interested in more details about this.

More generally, I learned at this same presentation the extent of material that was already freely available and ready for download at sites such as Source Forge and GitHub.  While open source is a participatory activity, there is a wealth of material available for free download and to be modded to fit an institutions individual needs.  As budgets for libraries in many communities continue to be slashed, we cannot ignore the potential for open source, because it seems inaccessible.  Instead, we must, where possible, enhance its profile, and implement it where it is the cheapest best solution for our community.  The collaborative possibilities for libraries and open source programmers are great if we are willing to make their materials part of our strategic goal.  If we succeed we may see greater offerings for our communities at discounted rates, or at least a more equitable rapport with our vendors.  If we fail, we may find it impossible to afford to remain technologically relevant to our communities.  I cannot stress enough that open source is not a panacea, but we ignore its potential at our own peril.

The post The Evolution of Open Source in the Library first appeared on Public Libraries Online.

Onsite, once we greeted the participants it was time for us to step back and allow the participants to determine the individual sessions. Within the sessions we were available (one to each of the four concurrent sessions) to help if conversations got bogged down or if individuals’ expressed interests were not being met, but overall we took a hands-off approach

Twelve total sessions were selected: Virtual learning commons, library outdoor space, geo-visual search, patron-driven acquisitions, making the most of small library spaces, non-public/special libraries, new technology in libraries, library as a virtual space, library as community center, making use of “crappy” furniture, makerspaces, and finally developing polices for public usage of spaces. Within the context of these topics, here are some key takeaways.

Library usage of outdoor spaces, using small library spaces and the library as community center dealt with some of the changing paradigms that are occurring in some communities. Does the library not have enough space within its walls to provide the programming and services their community desires?  Some specific descriptions of the first are the library farm at the Northern Onondaga Public Libraries, and the books at the beach program at the Tully Free Library. The first does not immediately deal with books, though it supports knowledge exchange in a different form, and the books at the beach program occurs outside of  a place owned by the library.

The appropriate usage of small library spaces also dealt with, to some extent, potential activities that could occur outside of the library. Examining needs with regard to stack space, meeting space and public space is particularly difficult when the overall space is very limited.

The library as community center shows the changes in the perception (in some communities at least) of what sort of services are provided by libraries and librarians. Do things like yoga and knitting meet informational needs? Do they have to in order to be appropriately allocated in a library? Generally, a community center would not have a librarian with a master’s degree in charge, how can these professionals apply their unique skill set to meet both informational and community-related goals? When community center is examined more literally, the library takes on the role of representing the community to the wider world. I appreciate this vision and do think that it is becoming more accurate in some communities.

Two sessions that I had an active role in were patron-driven acquisitions and developing policies for usage of public spaces. In the first there was some discussion of e-books and the limitations of not necessarily owning content, thereby limiting the library’s ability to share these materials.  Another topic area was determining how many copies of incredibly popular temporal texts ought to be purchased. Such phenomena as 50 Shades of Gray that initially had dozens of holds would cause libraries to purchase five or more copies, only to have all those copies remain on the shelf once  its immediate cultural relevance passed. One interesting solution presented was considering using the library as a network hub through which community members share privately owned works. What sort of technical support would be needed to facilitate this? Online databases of willing participants could be shared through the library, and a member history could be made available to all willing participants to help facilitate trust. Interestingly, this is easier to accomplish with print books versus ebooks, because DRM takes precedence over the first sales doctrine in some senses.

The session on policy was wide-ranging. Librarians want to avoid the stereotype of shushing or being overly controlling. However, policy protects the library and its staff.  It also helps to define members’ roles, and how they can best and safely utilize the space without interfering with the goals of other members.  Ideally, policy will help the library achieve its mission.  Policy should be an evolving, transparent document that is discussed and refined internally, then made known to the community.  How this last step is provided gets to image curation. Having policy available on the library’s website may send a very different message than having rules displayed on banners at the entryway. Understanding the community and the impact of these decisions needs to be considered and discussed internally. The library should be a safe and welcoming space; both the policies selected and how they are displayed can have either a positive or a negative impact on this.

Perhaps the most interesting takeaway from the Unconference was how the space (temporarily) became a library: librarians were collaborating, sharing knowledge, teaching and learning. All of the participants were fulfilling both the role of librarian and community member. I am curious what this implies and whether or not readers agree that a library does not, necessarily, require stacks of online resources. What is the essential quality that makes a library? I would say it is the librarian or librarians, and while I know I am not the first to say this, I wonder what alternative opinions exist on this topic.

The post Unconference on Spaces and Places first appeared on Public Libraries Online.

The truth is that anyone, regardless of where they live, what their education level or what precautions they take, can be a victim of identity theft.  As a case in point, Matt Honan, a writer for the tech magazine, Wired, had his personal information hacked.  In summation, he writes: “We don’t own our account security. And as more information about us lives online in ever more locations, we have to make sure that those we entrust it with have taken the necessary steps to keep us safe.”  Unfortunately, the keepers of this information do not have sufficient incentive to keep this material particularly secure, and even if they did, it would be impossible to maintain absolute security.  A reality of the benefits gained from email, online business, and cloud computing, is that it comes with the dark side of online fraud.  This is not to say that things cannot be made better, but instead that a perfect panacea is not out there.

Public libraries can work to enable their communities to combat this growing issue.  I believe that our core principles of educating and disseminating knowledge can and should be applied to this epidemic, particularly if it is something that our communities have directly suffered from.  Again anyone can be targeted, just as any computer can have a hardware malfunction, but it is difficult to expend time and resources combating a problem that is not palpable.

We all recognize the potential problems that could ensue from either of these events. Yet, we become complacent if they are not something we have suffered personally or  if they haven’t happened recently.  For instance, when I was in Costa Rica, it was a very common problem to lose data due to faulty Internet connections or power loss.  Once this happened the first time, I was more inclined to back up my data on a flash drive regularly.  Upon returning home, this zeal lasted for a while, but little by little it faded, because I realized it was not a likely occurrence.

Equally troubling, is the fact that many of us do not assess what could potentially be lost.  Honan mentions how his greatest concern was losing family photos of his child, because they were unique and irreplaceable.  I believe one of the areas where public libraries can provide the greatest instruction is in reminding their communities of what can potentially be lost if their identities are compromised.  I believe through using interactive games and fictional (or real) scenarios, we can instill a sense of this potential loss.  This creates some complications of its own, because we wish to motivate our members without actively manipulating their behavior.  Imagine instilling this concern into our community leading them to assert time and effort to greater security, only to have these efforts undermined by a particularly crafty malefactor.  Our goal must ultimately be to enlighten our community about what has the greatest value to them so that they can assign their time and effort to protect what matters most.  Irreplaceable pictures must be backed up on a CD, DVD or flash drive; put away a bit of cash so you can survive if your credit card becomes compromised.  These are not difficult tasks, but unfortunately they are all too easy to ignore until we suffer a painful lesson.  As more and more data moves to the cloud we must also try and keep our most precious information moored in the physical world.

The post Safeguarding Against Identity Theft first appeared on Public Libraries Online.

First, I am not in collection development.  Many will probably argue that I do not understand collection development.  They would be correct.  Second, I promise not to write another blog post about e-books until such time as I am involved or at least more knowledgeable with collection development.  Third, my voice matters, because many of our users and funders do not have a great deal of collection development knowledge, and they would likely have strong opinions on the costs associated with e-books if they were widely publicized outside of the library walls.

The Fabian Strategy

An idea based upon the Roman general who was opposed to direct conflict and instead fought battles of attrition, and allowed the opposition to defeat itself rather than a more conventional road to victory.  The term generally has a negative connotation despite its relative success.  The reason for this is the high value of perception.  Believing an individual or entity is defeatist or insufficiently motivated to engage an opponent directly can prove more fatal than even powerful opposition.

E-Books and Libraries’ Fabian Flaw

The wait and see decision by many librarians has not only placed us in an awkward situation with publishers, but it also damages our credibility with our communities.  How will they translate our actions?  That we are no longer gaining a net benefit, but merely redistributing wealth from one segment of the community to the other?  That we can be swayed to meet the needs of for-profit entities?  We will economically support entities that we are not philosophically aligned with?  We are willing to spend more on less content (some of which we do not even own) while espousing that we are not merely repositories?  We have no other way to exist in the current marketplace?

Possible Courses of Action

Promoting efforts such as Unglue.it and Kobo may be important means of supporting library convictions.  ALA’s open letter to the APA was an important step, but does it go far enough?  Sarah Houghton writes poignantly and metaphorically on her blog about the betrayal of e-books.   We cannot inspire our communities if we allow our core principles to be compromised in an attempt to bring them content.  I do not have the answer to the e-book dilemna, but I believe that if we do not have a frank conversation about this content, both internally and with our communities, the power to make any decision on this matter will be wrested from our hands.  I hope you will use this space to build on this conversation, and please feel free to refute what I have said! I look forward to hearing what you have to say.

The post The E-Book Dilemma first appeared on Public Libraries Online.

One of the sessions was Creating the Future: A 2020 Vision Plan for Library Services in New York State. In this working session, small groups discussed which of sixty initiatives, some general and some focused on specific types of libraries, were the most important. The consensus was that it was most important to improve the marketing of library services to all clientele and communities by rebranding libraries, while addressing the erroneous perceptions about the need for libraries in a digital world. In other words, can we make library services relevant to current non-users? Equally important: how can we make people who do not go to the library aware of the great contributions libraries are already making to their community?

One potential route was discussed in a different session, Grassroots Advocacy 101 presented by Christian Zabriskie and Rebekkah Smith Aldrich.  Zabriskie is a founder of Urban Librarians Unite (ULU), an advocacy group that has staged a number of  events in support of libraries. He discussed important considerations that often are not considered by library advocates, including gaining the appropriate permits, making events child-friendly,gaining the participation of youths, and making sure to include the media in your events. Finally, he gave examples of several of the events organized by ULU, including hugging New York Public Library and the Zombie walk over Brooklyn Bridge.

I would like to end this piece through a theme that I hope I will be able to connect to future blog posts. I will call them the three goals of librarianship (not because they are the sum total of our goals, but because I think they provide an interesting frame for me to view different issues): present, translate, and inspire. In order to maintain our vitality we must reach new target audiences and we cannot do this  using antiquated methods. How, where, and to whom we present value to will be one of the great challenges for current and future librarians. Second, we must be able to translate our skills to meet diverse needs of our communities.  Finally, it is not enough to merely meet needs, as David Lankes, has noted, the future of librarianship is in our ability to support the dreams and aspirations of our community. We must bring energy and vitality to our community to prove our commitment to bringing their own aspirations to fruition.

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