Comments on: A Few Current Ideas and Trends in Libraries http://www.swissarmylibrarian.net/2013/03/14/a-few-current-ideas-and-trends-in-libraries/ or, The Hitchhiker’s Guide to Fear and Loathing at a Public Library Reference Desk Tue, 24 Nov 2015 00:20:09 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=4.3.1 By: The Librarian With No Name http://www.swissarmylibrarian.net/2013/03/14/a-few-current-ideas-and-trends-in-libraries/#comment-21337 Fri, 15 Mar 2013 16:53:10 +0000 http://www.swissarmylibrarian.net/?p=3967#comment-21337 My thoughts on the bookless library picture:

1. If my city’s library system installed a bookless library, it would be in a low-income neighborhood with few other options for computer use. The image looks like it’s trying to look like an Apple Store, which is basically a shrine for those already deeply enmeshed in technology. My main design goal would be to make the place look non-threatening and welcoming to those who are already intimidated by the need to use technology they might not be familiar with.

2. If I didn’t have all these bookshelves everywhere, I’d use the space to give people a decent amount of elbow room and desk space.

3. Focusing too hard on the “bookless” aspect might be throwing the baby out with the bathwater. For example, I see no reason not to include a reserve area for patrons to request books from other libraries and a small reference section for the sort of information that is still hard to find in electronic format. You’d still be doing away with most of the collection development and shelving without completely cutting our little library off from the main strengths of a library.

4. That ghost looks so uncomfortable on that stool. He’s going to give himself phantom lower back pain.

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By: Mara http://www.swissarmylibrarian.net/2013/03/14/a-few-current-ideas-and-trends-in-libraries/#comment-21336 Fri, 15 Mar 2013 16:29:11 +0000 http://www.swissarmylibrarian.net/?p=3967#comment-21336 I’m the one who goes around inserting the word ‘paper’ in front of ‘book’ on bulletin board articles about libraries with “no books.” This despite the fact that I do not own an e-reader. There are virtues in both, and this is not an either-or situation.

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By: Jennifer http://www.swissarmylibrarian.net/2013/03/14/a-few-current-ideas-and-trends-in-libraries/#comment-21296 Fri, 15 Mar 2013 00:48:52 +0000 http://www.swissarmylibrarian.net/?p=3967#comment-21296 Ok…if I am stuck behind that desk (from which there appears to be no exit) how am I going to help people print, log into their email, and troubleshoot the endless crashing, bugs, and other million things that go wrong with the computers? How will I be able to show people that the computer is not broken, they can’t type numbers because the number lock is off?

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By: Mandi http://www.swissarmylibrarian.net/2013/03/14/a-few-current-ideas-and-trends-in-libraries/#comment-21292 Thu, 14 Mar 2013 23:00:19 +0000 http://www.swissarmylibrarian.net/?p=3967#comment-21292 Personally, I would not support a bookless model. Professionally, I manage the electronic resources at an academic library, and I’ve found that each user’s personal computer has different settings and programs. This can cause very strange errors that are difficult to diagnose and can be very frustrating for our users. Personally, I live out in the sticks without “real internet” so I would definitely shy away from downloading ebooks, simply due to a slow and expensive internet connection. Older users may find the ebook software daunting, and the multiple formats confusing (“Which one do I download?”). On top of that, users will likely need some sort of device on which to load the books for reading, unless they enjoy reading them off their computer screen (and can get them in a compatible format).

Overall, I feel that ebook-only libraries are encouraging the digital divide; to me, this goes against what libraries are about: access for all.

As for other non-traditional collections (tools, seeds, cake pans, etc), I think that’s a marvelous idea! And the awesome box is simply, well, awesome!!

Keep up the good work :)
Mandi

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