Comments on: Pursue the Authentic http://plablog.org/2008/04/pursue-the-authentic.html The official blog of the Public Library Association Sun, 20 Jul 2008 04:18:27 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5.1 By: Rick Roche http://plablog.org/2008/04/pursue-the-authentic.html#comment-2132 Rick Roche Wed, 09 Apr 2008 23:22:18 +0000 http://plablog.org/2008/04/pursue-the-authentic.html#comment-2132 There are more choices than customers and patrons. I prefer clients because it really denotes a professional relationship. I know I am in a minority, as it has never caught on. There are more choices than customers and patrons. I prefer clients because it really denotes a professional relationship. I know I am in a minority, as it has never caught on.

]]> By: Katharine Phenix http://plablog.org/2008/04/pursue-the-authentic.html#comment-2120 Katharine Phenix Fri, 04 Apr 2008 19:14:45 +0000 http://plablog.org/2008/04/pursue-the-authentic.html#comment-2120 Michael, I went to Birchbark Books and fell in love with the store. Small, but beautiful, appears to have a birch tree growing in the middle. Titles were the best of everything, Native American and best seller. Music was aboriginal. I bought cone flower salve and warrior tea. I'll send you pictures if you want. Katharine Michael, I went to Birchbark Books and fell in love with the store. Small, but beautiful, appears to have a birch tree growing in the middle. Titles were the best of everything, Native American and best seller. Music was aboriginal. I bought cone flower salve and warrior tea. I’ll send you pictures if you want.
Katharine

]]> By: Sheila Hammond-Todd http://plablog.org/2008/04/pursue-the-authentic.html#comment-2119 Sheila Hammond-Todd Fri, 04 Apr 2008 16:58:57 +0000 http://plablog.org/2008/04/pursue-the-authentic.html#comment-2119 I find the idea of a "McDonald's of libraries" one of the saddest goals for a library I have ever heard. McDonald's ONLY goal is to make as much money as possible, and they have accomplished this partly by making every restaurant exactly the same, so that customers don't have to waste time on things like reading a menu. Libraries clearly should not be the same; and while high circulation is great - it is ONE measure of how well a library is serving its community - many people come to libraries and get exactly what they needed without checking anything out, so it can't be the ONLY measure. I find the idea of a “McDonald’s of libraries” one of the saddest goals for a library I have ever heard. McDonald’s ONLY goal is to make as much money as possible, and they have accomplished this partly by making every restaurant exactly the same, so that customers don’t have to waste time on things like reading a menu. Libraries clearly should not be the same; and while high circulation is great - it is ONE measure of how well a library is serving its community - many people come to libraries and get exactly what they needed without checking anything out, so it can’t be the ONLY measure.

]]> By: Stacy Alesi http://plablog.org/2008/04/pursue-the-authentic.html#comment-2116 Stacy Alesi Fri, 04 Apr 2008 10:25:26 +0000 http://plablog.org/2008/04/pursue-the-authentic.html#comment-2116 McDonald's may or may not offer quality products or service, but what they do offer is obviously what people want. I have long been puzzled by the idea of what I call the "spinach philosophy" of libraries - don't give 'em what they want, give 'em what we think is good for them. No ice cream, just spinach. Customers, or patrons, or whatever you want to call library users, do determine how good our service is. Since we don't have sales goals or a bottom line, the only statistic we can go on is circulation - and what's wrong with everyone leaving with something in their hand? One billion served? I'd rather work for the McDonald's of libraries any day. McDonald’s may or may not offer quality products or service, but what they do offer is obviously what people want. I have long been puzzled by the idea of what I call the “spinach philosophy” of libraries - don’t give ‘em what they want, give ‘em what we think is good for them. No ice cream, just spinach.

Customers, or patrons, or whatever you want to call library users, do determine how good our service is. Since we don’t have sales goals or a bottom line, the only statistic we can go on is circulation - and what’s wrong with everyone leaving with something in their hand?

One billion served? I’d rather work for the McDonald’s of libraries any day.

]]> By: Michael May http://plablog.org/2008/04/pursue-the-authentic.html#comment-2111 Michael May Wed, 02 Apr 2008 02:04:43 +0000 http://plablog.org/2008/04/pursue-the-authentic.html#comment-2111 Hi Tony, I'm using the phrase "library services" in a very general way, i.e. everything the library has to offer, including collections. I think the implied point or link was that customers are the ones who ultimately determine the value or quality of library services and collections, and one way to measure how much customers value library collections is through circulation statistics. About this, John Berry's editorial cited in the post above says the following: "The resulting 'destination' libraries resemble the cookie-cutter design of the grocery store, aimed at making sure everyone who comes in goes out with 'product' (books, CDs, DVDs, or downloads). What the patron takes is of as little concern to the storekeeper librarian as it is to the supermarket manager. The success of the enterprise is measured in the number of products collected by patrons, now called 'customers.' It is no longer measured in the usefulness or impact of the service on the quality of life in the community served." To put it another way, just because McDonald's has served one billion people and counting does not necessarily mean McDonald's offers quality products or services. Mike Hi Tony,

I’m using the phrase “library services” in a very general way, i.e. everything the library has to offer, including collections.

I think the implied point or link was that customers are the ones who ultimately determine the value or quality of library services and collections, and one way to measure how much customers value library collections is through circulation statistics.

About this, John Berry’s editorial cited in the post above says the following:

“The resulting ‘destination’ libraries resemble the cookie-cutter design of the grocery store, aimed at making sure everyone who comes in goes out with ‘product’ (books, CDs, DVDs, or downloads). What the patron takes is of as little concern to the storekeeper librarian as it is to the supermarket manager. The success of the enterprise is measured in the number of products collected by patrons, now called ‘customers.’ It is no longer measured in the usefulness or impact of the service on the quality of life in the community served.”

To put it another way, just because McDonald’s has served one billion people and counting does not necessarily mean McDonald’s offers quality products or services.

Mike

]]> By: Tony Ross http://plablog.org/2008/04/pursue-the-authentic.html#comment-2109 Tony Ross Wed, 02 Apr 2008 01:17:53 +0000 http://plablog.org/2008/04/pursue-the-authentic.html#comment-2109 I'm interested in your comment: "I personally remain very skeptical that “merchandising products to customers” necessarily results in quality library service" Was that really the link being made? Everything I've read about merchandising in public libraries seems to confirm the notion that it will increase circulation, but I haven't really seen an attempt to link it to non-circulation related service. How was that point being made in the presentation? I’m interested in your comment: “I personally remain very skeptical that “merchandising products to customers” necessarily results in quality library service”

Was that really the link being made? Everything I’ve read about merchandising in public libraries seems to confirm the notion that it will increase circulation, but I haven’t really seen an attempt to link it to non-circulation related service. How was that point being made in the presentation?

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