January 24th Readings

“The Quiet Plug Crisis”-Michael Kelley

Library Journal discusses the outlet plug shortage hitting libraries everywhere.

This article definitely addresses a problem that libraries need to be aware of (if they aren’t already.) However I believe it just skimmed the top of the problem. When patrons come to the library and charge things it is more than just the physical outlets being used. The Mardigian Library shows this by finding out in 2009 that their “building was maxing out its power source.” While I am not very familiar with electricity and wiring, I don’t think just adding more outlets is going to solve the problem that is presented here. Also, electricity costs money to use and with more people consuming power the bill is going to go up. Libraries are struggling with shrinking budgets as it is without having to worry about how they are going to pay for increasing electric bills. This article, to me, unintentionally brings to mind the debate about what a library is for. Should patrons be able to use the library to charge certain items, especially when not in use, or should that be discouraged?

“Shifting Spaces”-Raya Kuzyk & Francine Fialkoff

A short discussion of the Library Journal Design Institute held in South Carolina in 2010.

The Design Institute event sounds like a brilliant way to get people in and out of the library field together to discuss potential solutions to prevalent library problems. I wish the article would have done a better job at describing it. I did think there were a few nuggets of good advice. The paragraph on how to get community support is a great quick-reference guide. The example cases felt lacking. It was as if key information was missing to really be able to understand how much of a good idea their solutions were. I couldn’t help noticing one scenario used glass for outer walls. Perhaps it’s because I’m from Minnesota, but my first thought on large glass windows always deals with heating costs in the winter. Perhaps that isn’t as big of a deal in Virginia where they were suggesting it. Either way though, I felt that the brainstormers were going a little more fancy than a small library would be able to handle financially down the road. But perhaps I am being more of a worrywart than necessary?

“A Whole Systems Approach”-Rebekkah Smith Aldrich

This article discusses IBD or, Integrated Building Design, in reference to libraries.

Right off the bat, this article reminded me of a few readings assigned last semester. These readings were on learning organizations and team management structures. Basically for those not familiar with the terms, it is when there is a focus on collaboration among all library staff to solve problems instead of letting those high up in management make the decisions. Libraries that implement this actually improve the work moral among other positives. It seems to me that this article has taken these methods and applied them to the renovation/building process. I like how it sounds. If one could get that many people from that many occupations together to collaborate effectively, I think that the building that resulted would have very few flaws and even less repairs needed down the road. However, once again I worry about how much extra that could cost and if small rural libraries would be able to choose to do this.