Reading Journal 1/17

Submit or Resist: Librarianship in the age of Google

In this article, Steven J. Bell discusses librarians’ responses to the popularity of Google. “Googleizers” believe that the only way to keep people coming to the library is by simplifying library resources to make them more like Google.  The opposition claims that “Googleizing” would help people do the bare minimum and the goal of librarians is to help people go above and beyond. 

It is easy to see both sides of this issue, on one hand, if someone can find good sources through Google, why should we stop them?  On the other hand, defining a quality Google source is often difficult.  It is part of a librarian’s job to help people find quality sources, often by advocating the library’s search capabilities.  However, using library search engines is also often difficult and confusing.  In my opinion, librarians could simplify their search engines and still retain sophistication.  A simple but sophisticated system would reach more users and satisfy both the Googleizers and the resisters.

Give them what they want

Shirley Kennedy authored a response to the previous article.  She claims that there is no clear solution to the Google debate.  How the issue is handled depends on what type of library you work in and who your users are.  According to Kennedy, the most important thing is to provide what your users want and need. 

Each librarian needs to come up with a solution that works for their library and users, similar to collection development in libraries.  It would seem crazy to have every library collect the same materials because every library has different users and user needs.  The same logic applies to the Google issue.  It should be up to the discretion of each library or librarian to determine the needs of their community.

Let them Steal Books

In this article, David Isaacson discusses different types of book thieves and how he believes they should be punished. 

I disagree with the opinions Isaacson presents.  He states that bookworms should not be punished for stealing books because they are not responsible for what happens to them when they are reading.   Is the author saying that if you love to read it’s ok to steal? I believe that everyone is accountable for their actions and being caught up in a book is no excuse for stealing.  The one part of the article I did agree with was the section stating that libraries should have a table of old books for people to take for free.  I’m surprised more libraries don’t do this.

What Literature?

In this article, Michael Cart discusses the different and changing views of children’s literature.

This article surprised me because the complaints about book length and art in children’s literature seemed to mostly come from teachers, parents, and librarians, not from the children.  It may just have been the way the article was written, but it made it seem like the people who should be building children up and helping them read were actually making up excuses to dumb things down for children.  If children’s mentors are not encouraging them to read quality literature, then it is no surprise that they are not reading it.

Standards of Eligibility to Receive State Funds

           

This code outlines the minimum requirements for an Indiana library to meet in order to receive state funds. 

I was surprised with how many things libraries need to do in order to receive funds.  I didn’t know that libraries in Indiana have to have websites, have a certain number of computers connected to the Internet, or have to provide a certain number of programs.  This code ensures that every library patron is receiving a good level of service no matter where they are in the state.