So, I realized that I need two posts for this assignment, and didn't have too much to add, since I put so much into the first post. For some reason, however, it seems people thought I worked at Temple. I actually work at BYU and was comparing the two a little. BYU has one library in the heart of campus, although we do have a small annex in the nursing building. Temple now has one library also and is making many changes that focus on the user.
I'm glad that libraries are becoming more user-centered. I think that in a service economy, that is very important. After all, we are here to help the patrons and if we don't address their needs, why be there? Science is becoming so inter-disciplinary that it only makes sense to house the subjects together. Especially since many schools are in different colleges, but have very fuzzy lines between them. I've tried to do the new book lists and to decide if a book is Nursing or PDBio or Sports Medicine is a fairly impossible task (some just go onto multiple yearlists).
So, that is where we're headed at BYU. I just need to figure out the best way to do the subject pages/blogs. Then I can think of how to better help students use our resources. We have a lot of information that can help them. I think that's the problem though. We have too much information for their needs and they don't know how to sift through it. At least I didn't when I started my undergrad 7 years ago.
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7 comments:
I think you make a good point when you refer to librarianship as a service industry. I think sometimes that is lost because people tend to think that is a degrading term, or one not worthy of individuals who have master's degrees. But we are there to serve the patrons and we should be responsive to their needs. Computers and internet access, pleasant surroundings, and friendly, knowledgeable people are all needed for a successful, modern library.
Academic libraries are leading the move into a different library with more e-resources and more hightech user friendly spaces. But staffing the facilities with well trained e-resource librarians and managing all of the new e-resources is going to be a problem.
Interesting that you mention "having too much information for student needs...they don't know how to sift through it." I think this may be a problem that has become an all too frequent one.
I think users need to be taught the interpretative skills related to information literacy (i.e. use, access, and evaluation) first before being taught technological skills (computer literacy). It seems as if library users of all ages and kinds have been affected by having so much information made so easily available; although we often see Net Gen library users as a tech-savvy bunch, this may be deceptive...many library users may be drowning in the pool of information and unable to make good use of the endless stream of information that computers put at their fingertips.
what was your homework assignment?
you need a new post... I check every week, sometimes more... and nothing... I know you're not really that boring so come on!
Ok. I'll do one tonight.
FINALLY!
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