Comments on: Service Response Discussion: General Information http://plablog.org/2006/08/service-response-discussion-general-information.html The official blog of the Public Library Association Sun, 20 Jul 2008 04:21:43 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5.1 By: PLA Blog » Blog Archive » PLA Service Responses discussion summary, plus deadline extended http://plablog.org/2006/08/service-response-discussion-general-information.html#comment-588 PLA Blog » Blog Archive » PLA Service Responses discussion summary, plus deadline extended Fri, 20 Oct 2006 19:27:46 +0000 http://plablog.org/2006/08/service-response-discussion-general-information.html#comment-588 [...] General Information (3 comments) [...] [...] General Information (3 comments) [...]

]]> By: Mala Muralidharan http://plablog.org/2006/08/service-response-discussion-general-information.html#comment-430 Mala Muralidharan Wed, 06 Sep 2006 19:02:40 +0000 http://plablog.org/2006/08/service-response-discussion-general-information.html#comment-430 Jan, I think we are rapidly losing out to the great Google! I find myself 'googling' when I need some general information quickly and I am not alone. With more and more "online databases" even getting authentic information online is not that much of an issue. I analysed the number of times my family and I went to the Public Library in the last 5 years (and believe me we read a lot) - and what we went there for, 1. to pick up novels 2. to get some talking book audios 3. for movies - videos DVDs 4. for programs 5. for books on the reading list that the Professor passed out but were all taken at the Univ library. My kids use the databases that the Univ gives them access to, for their information and home work needs and when we have appliances to repair.... we go online. General information in the form of books are already dying.... and may not be a relevant service response for libraries any more. I accept that not everyone has computers or internet access at home and hence may need to go to the Library to use them. But my entire city has wireless and computers are slowly becoming a necessity not a luxury. Libraries will stay relevant, only if we meet the needs of the customers, and they are voting with their fingers. The statistics of people using the common search engines - by themselves, far out weighs the statistics of those who come to the library and ask for human assistance to find information. People like to find information on their own and we need to find a role for ourselves in ways to enpower them to do so. I was one of those who swore that every library must line their walls with those wonderful encyclopedias! I have been a Librarian for 30 years now. I wish I could agree with you! Jan, I think we are rapidly losing out to the great Google! I find myself ‘googling’ when I need some general information quickly and I am not alone. With more and more “online databases” even getting authentic information online is not that much of an issue. I analysed the number of times my family and I went to the Public Library in the last 5 years (and believe me we read a lot) - and what we went there for,
1. to pick up novels
2. to get some talking book audios
3. for movies - videos DVDs
4. for programs
5. for books on the reading list that the Professor passed out but were all taken at the Univ library.

My kids use the databases that the Univ gives them access to, for their information and home work needs and when we have appliances to repair…. we go online. General information in the form of books are already dying…. and may not be a relevant service response for libraries any more.
I accept that not everyone has computers or internet access at home and hence may need to go to the Library to use them. But my entire city has wireless and computers are slowly becoming a necessity not a luxury.

Libraries will stay relevant, only if we meet the needs of the customers, and they are voting with their fingers. The statistics of people using the common search engines - by themselves, far out weighs the statistics of those who come to the library and ask for human assistance to find information. People like to find information on their own and we need to find a role for ourselves in ways to enpower them to do so.

I was one of those who swore that every library must line their walls with those wonderful encyclopedias! I have been a Librarian for 30 years now. I wish I could agree with you!

]]> By: Jan Walker http://plablog.org/2006/08/service-response-discussion-general-information.html#comment-426 Jan Walker Tue, 05 Sep 2006 01:36:02 +0000 http://plablog.org/2006/08/service-response-discussion-general-information.html#comment-426 General information is historically the primary function of public libraries. When it is no longer a priority for libraries to provide human assistance from individuals with expertise in navigating information systems to patrons seeking information, libraries will become irrelevant. Libraries can not survive by attempting to serve the fashion of the moment. They must remain the place to go, whether to learn how to repair an appliance or to learn who to write to in government. General information is historically the primary function of public libraries. When it is no longer a priority for libraries to provide human assistance from individuals with expertise in navigating information systems to patrons seeking information, libraries will become irrelevant. Libraries can not survive by attempting to serve the fashion of the moment. They must remain the place to go, whether to learn how to repair an appliance or to learn who to write to in government.

]]> By: Jan Walker http://plablog.org/2006/08/service-response-discussion-general-information.html#comment-425 Jan Walker Tue, 05 Sep 2006 01:28:50 +0000 http://plablog.org/2006/08/service-response-discussion-general-information.html#comment-425 General Information is historically the primary duty of the library. When this is no longer a recognized priority, libraries will become progressively irrelevant. Libraries are the primary point of access when seeking information about unfamiliar topics because a human being with expertise in navigating information systems is available to assist the patron. Everyting from how to repair an appliance to who represents the patron in government has always been readily available and should remain so. General Information is historically the primary duty of the library. When this is no longer a recognized priority, libraries will become progressively irrelevant. Libraries are the primary point of access when seeking information about unfamiliar topics because a human being with expertise in navigating information systems is available to assist the patron. Everyting from how to repair an appliance to who represents the patron in government has always been readily available and should remain so.

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