[658] in Public-Access_Computer_Systems_Forum
Librarians and the Internet
daemon@ATHENA.MIT.EDU (Public-Access Computer Systems For)
Thu Jul 2 10:44:36 1992
Date: Thu, 2 Jul 1992 09:39:18 CDT
Reply-To: Public-Access Computer Systems Forum <PACS-L%UHUPVM1.BITNET@ricevm1.rice.edu>
From: Public-Access Computer Systems Forum <LIBPACS%UHUPVM1.BITNET@ricevm1.rice.edu>
To: Multiple recipients of list PACS-L <PACS-L%UHUPVM1.BITNET@ricevm1.rice.edu>
6 Messages, 184 Lines
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From: STRAUSS@UNCA.BITNET
Subject: Re: trees for the forest
All this talk about 'what value the internet.' I forsee an electronic
library wherein EVERYONE will have access to a Library of Congress size
collection. In 50 years, people will wonder "how did they ever do meaningful
research in the 1980s and 1990s in those tiny libraries?" Researchers
will download pieces of information (quanta?) and ignore the bulk, which
wont interest them--rather than go through tons of items, looking for
a few gems of wisdom.
The library will be a gigantic geodesic dome, with the inside edge lined
with hundreds of terminals. The center will be a rainforest with a
large waterfall.
Bob Strauss
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From: "Peter Graham, Rutgers U., (908) 932-2741" <GRAHAM@ZODIAC.BITNET>
Subject: Re: Trees for the forest, continued
I came in late to the discuswsion that Lee Jaffe initiated, and don't have
his note as I signed off during ALA. Apparently he was commenting on the
reluctance of librarians to get involved electronically, and from Sue Martin's
comments I infer that this was observed at the Strategic Visions meeting
on Friday before ALA.
1) I wonder if the timing of the Strategic Visions group is partially at
fault here. i have had trouble coming in on Friday for a variety of reasons
and thus have never made their meeting--length of time away is a factor for
me, but cost of additional day travel and time away from work could be a
factor for younger librarians. I wonder if the audience is getting skewed--
my own sense is that a lot of librarians are not so reluctant.
2) "Drinking from a firehose" I seem to remember from at least 2-3 years ago,
from before CNI was founded for example. I seem to remember it as
not quite contemporaneous with John Schroeder's famous phrase of 10 years
ago, "The sleeping beast of demand is about to roll over."
In any case I agree with Lee Jaffe that it isn't quite an accurate metaphor.
It isn't that it's all pouring out of my screen; it's that I can't get my
screen on where is what I want. Water-dowsing comes to mind, or perhaps those
peculiar people who get life satisfaction out of walking on beaches with
metal-detectors looking for quarters. There's a fortune out there! Where is
it?
--Peter Graham
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From: Ray Sanders <CITEE@Jetson.UH.EDU>
Subject: Re: Librarians and the INTERNET
As an outsider (data processing professional) lookin in (libraries) I have
a small observation from a sample of one friend. He is 65 and has made the
transfer from manual to technology fairly well. As a reference librarian he
must use a number of CD-ROM, on-line, and other technology tools. His
constant complaint to me is the "they" dump technology on the department with
no training, no manuals, no contact with vendor reps. In other words, they
have no way of learning to use the technology except by trial and error. It
becomes embarassing when the students ask and they cannot assist. I suspect
this is true in many locations, as it is even in my own computer world.
Ray Sanders
Student, Instructional Technology
University of Houston
citee@jetson.uh.edu
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From: Kate Ellis <KATE@HARVARDA>
Subject: Re: Trees for the forest, continued
On the topic of getting librarians interested
in the world of the internet, I have a very
concrete suggestion - get librarians you know
an internet e-mail account, and get them subscribed
to a discussion group in their area of interest.
Several posts mentioned that this was the way they
got interested, and I think that's rather telling.
It also seems to me a rather accomplishable task.
Carry subscription instructions around with you,
talk to your administrator about getting e-mail
accounts for everyone, look up your fellow staff's
areas of interest in the list of discussion groups,
and then tell them about it.
Etcera. In other words, Lee's trail of bread crumbs.
-Kate Ellis
kate@harvarda.harvard.edu
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From: Terry Brainerd Chadwick <CWTC@PSUORVM>
Subject: RE: trees for the forest
Lee Jaffe's experiences echo my own. When I talk to librarians--
primarily public and special, but also quite a few academic
librarians who could access the internet if they wished--I hear
that it's just too much for them to take on. They aren't given
time to read e-mail, listservs, etc. during their work day, and
they aren't willing to do it as part of their personal professional
development on their own time.
At the same time, I also hear a lot of fear and defensiveness about
the future of the profession; complaints about "non-professionals"
taking over the field. Fear that I think is justified when I talk
to my clients who are fed up with going to the library and not getting
the help they want.
The Oregon Chapter of SLA held a conference this spring on
"Information Professionals in the Nineties." I arranged for a non-
librarian information professional (a market researcher) to speak.
He got booed and hissed as he talked about libraries being passe,
primarily because they (and the librarians) don't have the technology
and technological knowledge he needs to do his work. While I don't
agree with his assessment, I hear that sort of thing more and more
from technologically aware clients, who know that a CD-ROM, or online
service, or source of information exists at the library, but can't
find a librarian who either knows about the resource, or who can help
them use it.
Solutions? Pretty much as Lee outlined. Support by management for
training on new technologies and sources of information. Time to
learn and use those resources. (But budget cutbacks in my state
make this unlikely.)
Relevant training, i.e., find the hook that gets the librarian
wanting to use internet. Do this and more will be willing and
wanting to use internet off-hours.
Appropriate expectations for library service related to the internet?
IMHO, libraries that want client support need to offer up-to-date
services. Those that don't may lose the client support they need
to be adequately funded. This doesn't mean that the internet should
necessarily be available to patrons now, but within five years patrons
will probably be demanding it. Librarians who can't at least talk
knowledgeably about internet, usenet, etc. shouldn't be on the
reference desk. I know that's a strong statement, but patrons'
perceptions of libraries and librarians affects support for libraries.
Fear about the future of the profession is real for those who aren't
keeping up with the information age.
BTW, I'm offering a Library and Information Management-sponsored class
on "networks"--internet, Compuserve, Well, etc.--next month at
Marylhurst College. I'm very interested in seeing how many librarians
sign-up. I've heard more interest in the course from the general
community than from librarians.
Terry Brainerd Chadwick
International Trade Institute, Portland State University cwtc@psuorvm
InfoQuest Information Services tbchad@well.sf.ca.us
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From: "D.E. \"Dave\" Bloomberg" <BLOOMBER@FAUVAX>
Subject: Re: trees for the forest
In reply to Lee Jaffe's excellent query:
You can't drag people screaming and kicking to enlightenment.
Don't worry to much about those people who want to 'Get By'.
That is all they've probably ever done until now. Go out and
find the people who want more! Find the professionals out there
and work with them....a friend once told me: "don't spend
productive time with non-productive people"
The others will catch on down the road, when some recent MLS grad
wants access to PACS-L as they did in college.....
Is something this important is "too much to take on", they should
do it anyway, before it is crammed down their throat when their
job description is changed by the management team. I guess that
may be a difference between people who see themselves as having a
'job' vs having a career.
My opinions only....standard disclaimers apply
Dave Bloomberg
Systems Coordinator
Wimberly Library
Florida Atlantic University
BLOOMBER@FAUVAX
