Library 2.0

I was very interested in the debate about Library 2.0. I agree with those who feel that libraries have to conform to the needs of the patrons. I live in a town where the public library is closed at 2:00 on Saturday and closed on Sunday. This schedule is more about the staff than the patrons. Libraries need to change from repositories of print to centers of information. It seems to me, that it would require more staff to help access information and fewer to zap and shelve the books.
Libraries will have to change because service industries always (except airlines) end up responding to the client's demands. I think the next generation will expect IM answers to reference questions. They will want to go to the library and pick up the materials that they have ordered online from a drive-up window.

Thing 1

Today one of my co-workers ask just what was a blog and what was the purpose. She could not really see any usefulness. I think it might be a generation gap. I enjoyed setting up the blog, it was pretty easy. The avatar took more time because there were so many choices. I felt like my students with KidPix, I just wanted to play around.

Children's Books

I read children's books. No surprise, I am a librarian in a elementary school. I need to read the books, especially fiction before I purchase them. The deep secret is that I almost prefer children's books. It might be that I am out of the loop of adult fiction, but I find more good books in the children's section. I once read that a author (no citation available) said that she found it harder to write for children because they needed to be pulled into the story immediately. The author also stated that she had to edit more and rewrite more, in order to keep the integrity of the story consistent with the pages allowed by the publisher. I guess Rowlings changed that.

Not Easy

It is one thing to be interested in learning new skills and another to apply the skills. I am not sure I have anything to say that is of any interest to anyone.