In Web Age, Library Job Gets Update

This is an abridged version of an article originally from the New York Times
By MOTOKO RICH
Published: February 15, 2009


Ms. Rosalia, 54, is part of a growing cadre of 21st-century multimedia specialists who help guide students through the digital ocean of information that confronts them on a daily basis. These new librarians believe that literacy includes, but also exceeds, books.

“The days of just reshelving a book are over,” said Ms. Rosalia, who came to P.S. 225 nearly six years ago after graduating at the top of her class at the Queens College Graduate School of Library and Information Studies. “Now it is the information age, and that technology has brought out a whole new generation of practices.”

Some of these new librarians teach children how to develop PowerPoint presentations or create online videos. Others get students to use social networking sites to debate topics from history or comment on classmates’ creative writing. Yet as school librarians increasingly teach students crucial skills needed not only in school, but also on the job and in daily life, they are often the first casualties of school budget crunches.

Ms. Rosalia introduced herself to her new colleagues as the “information literacy teacher” and invited teachers to collaborate on lessons. The early sessions focused on finding books and databases and on fundamental research skills.

Soon Ms. Rosalia progressed to teaching students how to ask more sophisticated questions during research projects, how to decode Internet addresses and how to assess the authors and biases of a Web site’s content.

Even teachers find that they learn from Ms. Rosalia. “I was aware that not everything on the Internet is believable,” said Joanna Messina, who began taking her fifth-grade classes to the library this year. “But I wouldn’t go as far as to evaluate the whole site or look at the authors.”

Combining new literacy with the old, Ms. Rosalia invites students to write book reviews that she posts in the library’s online catalog. She helped a math teacher design a class blog. She urges students to use electronic databases linked from the library’s home page.

Still, Ms. Rosalia understands the allure of the Internet. Speaking last fall to a class of a dozen seventh graders who recently immigrated from Russia, Georgia, China and Yemen, Ms. Rosalia struggled to communicate. “We have newspapers in all of your languages,” she said. She turned to the digital white board.

When she clicked on the home page of Izvestia, the Moscow-based newspaper, the Russians in the group cheered.

She sounds like a hero to me. -Julie

my local branch libraries

I'm lucky in that I live right by three different San Diego City Public Library Branches: North Clairemont, Clairemont and Balboa. They are smaller branches of the larger system but each offers different things.

The more newer Balboa branch, nestled in a small and quaint neighborhood off a busy street and schools, has great lighting, outlets for laptops and free wi-fi. They have a bigger children's selection due to its location and often there are lots of kids, both for weekend storytime and after school hours.

They also have displays built right into the building and a newstand right out front. The book displays are always timely and attractive. Parking is usually way easier here than NC or Clairemont. The book selection in biography and children's seems to be better than NC or Clairemont.

The Clairemont and North Clairemont branches are on opposite ends of Clairemont but basically serve the same community. They both have welcoming children's areas, a must for public libraries. They offer free wi-fi but there are few outlets to use if you bring your laptop to work. There aren't as many comfy spots to settle into either.

The NC branch is colorfully painted on the outside and inside. The Clairemont branch has a lovely brick exterior that makes it stand out from nearby structures. The designs of each are a bit more awkward than the Balboa branch and the aisles more cramped but their non-fiction, mystery and new book selections are often better.

They each have a lot of activities going on - including regular storytime and homework help for kids, book clubs and even arts and crafts for adults. The librarians are always welcoming and helpful - especially the children's librarians.

Tutorials: often overlooked hidden heros

Libraries are at the forefront of technology like a surfer on a wave. You can keep up with the “wave” and be in the middle of technology and use and enjoy the benefits- but sometimes the wave goes too fast for some with different lifestyles, opportunities or interests and it’s helpful to “get up to speed”. One way a library can use technology to enhance or replace a face to face service is to have on-line tutorials in their OPAC and Library web sites. Often overlooked, taken for granted or ignored, these tools are the silent heros of the library. I don’t know about you, but sometimes I get a little impatient when a reference librarian gets off track, but I still have enough social skills to know that rude gets you nowhere. I love taking control of how fast or slow information is given and using a tutorial is a way I can concentrate and focus on the information I need. Online tutorials can help many people at once on any number of topics. For instance; identifying services the library provides, how to use the ILL, locating books on shelves, finding course reserves, using the library catalog and how to renew materials online; all these are things which have specific methods and goals. While a tutorial is great for getting procedures or training for a specific task - you want a real, live person to help with the intellectual angle of using the information from a library and a librarian is still best at “brain storming”. Things like focusing your search, finding good key words and evaluating and judging the reliability of on-line information- these are all the forte of these information experts. Think of your librarian on a solid gold surfboard on the information wave.
Now if the copy machine would only clear out its own jammed paper!

Computer Technologies in the Library

Computers can be a means to information. Since libraries are concerned with providing access to information, computers and computer applications can be a great asset to any library's work. The online catalog plays a major role in the library, but databases and computer applications are other ways in which the library can spread information efficiently. Three technologies in particular are the library catalog, websites, and the application Publisher. Each technology is used for a different purpose, but all have the ability to contribute to the library's work of providing users with access to information.

The library catalog is probably the technology that users are most familiar with. It is the library catalog that allows users to discover what information the library has to offer and where they can find it. Websites and blogs are other internet technologies that the library has available to them. Through a website, the library can provide efficient access to information about the library's hours and programs. 

Technology isn't limited to the internet. Libraries can also use computer applications in order to create information. One such application is Publisher, which allows libraries to create flyers and brochures, both about the library's programs and the library itself. While the internet is useful for accessing information at a distance, there remains a certain attraction in seeing a tangible sheet of paper as a source of information. Whether the library uses online catalogs, website, self-check-out machines, or computer programs, they all work as a means towards the organization and distribution of information. 

Creating Information

Information can be created through many different ways. Some are multimedia, computer technologies, and applications. Multimedia can use intergrated ways to create graphics, animation, audio, text, video and many more to present information. Due to the advancement in computers today there are so many new ways to information and other things. Information is created by retrieving data then delivering it through the multimedia to create information. By using multimedia information is created by using data to create different means to present information. Computer technology uses the programing of computers to create information by using the programing of computer applications to use data to create new resources for the information. You can use these things to create a webpage for a library to present your information about the library. You can use these things to create a flyer for the library to present your information about a library program or event. You can use these things to create new medias for the library. By using these things you can create new information for different sources. Information is created by using these things to create new use by gathering data and using multimedia, computer technologies, and applications to create new resources.

Ask a Librarian

Technology is sweeping into the library world and enhancing the services that librarians are able to provide to their patrons. One of these technologies is the Ask-a-Librarian feature available at most college and some public library websites. Ask-a-Librarian works as an instant messenger between the reference librarian and students or patrons who are off site. The primary goal of the Ask-A-Librarian service is to provide brief, concise answers to factual questions and/or to suggest information resources and search strategies for research needs.

Complex questions or extensive research needs would still need face to face interaction but for the most part reference librarians that are available to chat can answer any questions you have about library resources or services, finding materials via the library catalog, and selecting and searching useful databases, journals, and websites. The feature is great for students working at home that may need help accessing databases or direction to sources for citations. It can also be handy for patrons of public libraries who aren't comfortable asking for help from the desk, it could help ease some anxiety about finding what they need. Next time you need some help, check out your local public or school library website and see if they offer the chat.

Visit our Ask-a-Librarian chat here at the Palomar College Library - http://www.palomar.edu/library/

digital content is becoming increasingly more popular

...which has crossed over to other services in the library aside from collections, including reference.


Libraries have historically needed to adapt as times changed especially with the advent of computers and all the cool things you can do with them. Many people in communities use the library for a variety of purposes outside of school or research. Yet there are still some that are afraid to use the library or lack the time or ability to physically come to the library.

Emails have become popular in connecting and getting questions answered from reference librarians but one can go even further in enhancing service from library sites.

Using technology like webcams, chat rooms, IM software (AOL, MSN or yahoo for example), or other virtual simulated applications that would appeal to gamers and the like, would create abilities to do 'virtual reference', replacing face to face communication. It can be more timely, can be done from anywhere, even 'after hours' (or from different time zones), and fairly easy to use for those technologically savy. Virtual reference can be more engaging to users and thereby more fulfilling.

The cost, increase in bandwidth and time to set up may be an issue initially but the cost of items like web cams have traditionally gone down in recent years and the software available is pretty easy to use. More inexpensive alternatives may be live chat rooms or IM programs. There are still many patrons and students that are overwhelmed when entering the library or approaching the reference librarian at a giant desk. Virtual communication is a possible alternative that is less nervewracking and easier to use.

You can send off an IM or email between classes and wait to get your answer back when the librarian has a moment. Most have internet capabilities on their phones now too.

While virtual reference should not ultimately replace face to face contact, which is still important, it can be helpful for those users taking distance or online courses, or needing information from a bigger or specialized library removed from their own location.

For further information, Second Life libraries: a 3D virtual library http://infoisland.org/about/

Book for recommended reading:

BuffHirko and Mary Bucher Ross, "Virtual Reference Training: The Complete Guide to Providing Anytime. Anywhere Answers." (2004). Chicago: ALA Editions. [ISBN 0-8389-0876-4]

Articles for further reading: (all can be found in Palomar databases)

McGranahan, Jamen. "Virtual Reference." Library Mosaics 16.2 (2005): 16. Academic Search Premier. EBSCO.

Farmer, Lesley S. "Virtual Reference Service for K--12 Students." Knowledge Quest 33.3 (2005): 22-24. Academic Search Premier. EBSCO.

"Guidelines for Implementing and Maintaining Virtual Reference Services." Reference & User Services Quarterly 44.1 (2004): 9-13. Academic Search Premier. EBSCO.

University of San Diego: Copley Library

• About 380,000 books
• Over 10,000 videos (DVD & VHS) most are educational
• 6,800 children's books
• 85+ computers loaded with MS Office and free Internet access
  
• 30 wireless laptops for checkout (15 PC; 15 Probooks)
• 2 print stations 5¢ black, 50¢ color

The University of San Diego is in Linda Vista, California and overlooks the Pacific Ocean and Mission Bay. It is a private Roman Catholic University, founded in 1949. All of the architecture on campus is in the Spanish Renaissance style.