Blog December Day 4 - It's the end of the (library) world as we know it - and I feel fine!

This morning I was going through my RSS feeds and came across a post from the What's Next: Top Trends blog which showed an extinction timeline.

According to this timeline by 2019 libraries will be extinct.

Of course, this is not the first time we as library professionals have heard/read/talked about the demise of libraries, but honestly, I'm a bit over it all.

If I had a dollar for everytime I've been introduced to someone as a librarian and they have said to me - well with eBooks libraries aren't going to be around anymore.  Prior to that it was - well with Google libraries aren't going to be around anymore.  The same can be said with any major technological change that impacts on what libraries do and how we do it.

Well sorry everyone but libraries are bloody good at taking advantage of these changes and running with them.

However, I must stop and make comment based on my own library community.  While some libraries have found that their members are ready to jump on the eBook wagon and embrace eReaders, tablets and iPads - I find that my own library community are still embracing the print book and traditional library services.

You may say, but Sharon, they may be ready but may not be coming into the library.  All those with eReaders and tablets may be buying online and satisfying their information needs in a different manner than walking into the physical library.  That may well be but in the four years I've been working in my library community, I have not noticed people not coming into the library - in fact I would say more are coming into the library. 

I have had a handful of people ask about eBooks because they have purchased a Kindle - and guess what??  While they purchase eBooks via Amazon, they also continue to borrow print books!!

So while we may often get caught up in the doom and gloom of possible extinction - I think there is still something to say with the traditional services we provide - they are still relevant.  And I actually think that in the future there will be a move away from technology and people will be wanting to get back to basics.  Or we may even be forced to turn away from technology due to economic or environmental reasons.

I know this might be a little bit left of centre but one of the more successful shops in our little town of Bellingen is the Bellingen Sweet Shop.  And guess what?  It is set up in the old fashioned traditional way the sweet shops used to be and you can also purchase the sweets you used to buy as a child those many years ago.

So my bet is that in 2019, there will still be libraries and there will still be print books and traditional library services!!

Public Libraries NSW Imagine Conference Part 4

Day 2 started with a bookcamp facilitated by Angela Meyer.  The broad theme was Booking into the future: transforming and supporting storytelling with new media.  Angela asked for some members of the audience to come up and help assist the conversation along it's way so the first part of the conversation focused on the never-ending story engaging readers + the power of story.

How do we get current and future readers into the library?  Some ideas included the Bookstart program (from memory this was where a bag of books and library information is provided to new mothers).  Offer a variety of events to cater for all ages.  Does it matter if the person doesn't enter the library but uses it virtually?  Getting people into the library is getting people using library resources and tools, wherever they are.  Some libraries used local bands to draw the young people in by having Live and Loud sessions.

The conversation then moved on to print vs digital.  Libraries should be role models for using new technologies.  We should offer technology petting zoos.  Library staff should have a wide range of digital skills.  Some libraries use volunteers who are technologically savvy to assist library users to use technology.  Library staff should be open to trying, learning and providing opportunities to our communities.  Some libraries have trouble convincing coucil of the importance in having new technology and being able to access it.  We should not forget our core business but the shelf is now also digital.

Does digital change the way we read?  An e-device makes it easier to read titles that the reader may be embarassed to be seen reading e.g. 50 Shades of Grey.  Reading in the digital world is rewiring our brains to how we read and we do more skimming over text.  eReading great for home library service as you can adjust the text size.  And then there are the digital reading groups like the Twitter reading group.

The topic then moved onto trends and constants.  We do have transient genre and must know what our community wants and will read.  How do we predict a trend?  eBooks make supply of popular books easier.  Libraries need to be aware of male readership and cater to their interests as well as those of others.  We must have a balanced collection.

And finally library users as content creators.  Must have qualitative assessment of what you are getting in content creation from your community.  And how do libraries integrate econtent into their collections?

And once more my blogging has been cut short as I have to go to work - more from day 2 tomorrow. 

Blog June Post 25 - Newspapers

Well I spent most of the morning warming my hands on hot porridge and warm milo whilst catching up with others #blogjune posts that I haven't left much time to put my post together.  2.2'C this morning when I woke up - just in case you were wondering - and yes I hate the cold!!

So yesterday I ended up taking the girls down the park.  I purchased the Telegraph (apparently I'm not a paper snob, if I were I'd read SMH).  Then while the girls were happily playing I devoured the papers contents whilst basking in the sun.  There is nothing I love better than reading the Sunday paper.

That brings me to the move of newspapers from print to digital.  Currently, the Coffs Coast Advocate has two print editions per week (these are free to residents) and the rest is online.  This year they decided instead of having a print edition 6 times a week they would move online and just keep the 2 print editions.

While this is ok, I find the online edition limited in news.  Perhaps this is why they made the move online, because there wasn't much news to report.  I also find it difficult for those that do not have access to a computer - yes there are still some people out there - who can't access the news.  Or if I was catching an early flight from Coffs to Sydney, I can't read the paper on the plane!!

Bellingen also has a local paper but it is only printed once a week and is also provided free to residents.  They also have an online prescence.  However, their online prescence isn't updated that frequently.  So you really only get a repeat of what will be printed.

Now I will be absolutely devastated if my Sunday paper becomes only available online.  I don't want to have to subscribe to it and access it via my tablet.  I don't want to bring my tablet down to the beach to get sand in it.  And what if my hubby wants to read the TV Guide while I read the other bits of the paper - how do you divide up a digital copy?  He doesn't have a tablet so we can't get two subscriptions.

Now moving to a library point of view.  Prior to me working in my libraries they did not purchase any daily newspapers.  They received the free newspapers but once I started I said we should get at least a daily major newspaper.  So we purchase the SMH daily.  We keep it for a week and then dispose of it.  I was told the SMH is a more reputable newspaper then the Daily Telegraph - I really can't comment.

Daily we have at least 10 people that come into our libraries to read the newspaper.  Now if we went digital - would we then have to purchase a subscription for each public computer?  Would the person who usually comes in and spreads themselves comfortably on the lounge now have to prebook a computer to sit ergonomically sound and read the paper at a computer?

While back issues of the newspaper can already be accessed via our electronic resources.  There are no pictures and the electronic edition doesn't follow the print layout - some people have real problems with this.  My hubby is one to complain if they move the horoscopes to a different page.  So really very rarely does anyone wish to sit down and read the paper using databases such as ANZ Reference Centre.

I do realise that the online edition that many newspapers are aiming for is really just like the print one with the same layout and being able to turn pages etc - if access on a mobile device - but what about those that don't have a mobile device?  How will they access it?

Anyway, I'm sure there are some people very excited about newspapers moving to online editions but I'm not one of them.

Well perhaps if I see one in action and the subscription is affordable, I may get used to reading on my tablet but please don't take the Sunday print edition from me!!!