Public libraries, values trust and e government
Paul T. Jaeger
This article explains traditional library values and trustworthiness in the context of emerging technology and additional government access responsibilities. It does an excellent job highlighting the benefits of library reputations and developing e services, but not so much the downsides.
Community Leadership Through Public Library E-Government Services
Amelia Gibson
Gibson takes a critical look at the shift of government services to the public library and how it is affecting a library and surrounding community. I thought this article did an amazing job of pointing out many of my same feelings on the subject. Libraries are expected to take over the workload of these agencies as well as the cost of assisting these users with neither financial support or training. It strikes me as entirely irresponsible for the government to “refer” people to their public library without making any effort to ensure the libraries can handle these issues in a knowledgeable and legal way. Instead of just complaining about these things, Gibson offers libraries solutions such as “requesting training, become involved with these agencies, Collaborate, let the community know, and develop policies”. I think the policy development is especially important to avoid a legal fiasco with all of the personal and financial information flying around. Most of all, Gibson suggests deciding and making clear what level of e government service the library is willing and able to provide. This seems wise, since other agencies will otherwise continue to dump their responsibilities on the public library to save themselves costs otherwise.
Responsibility Rolls Down...
Paul T. Jaeger
In this article, Jaeger looks at the shift of responsibilities to public libraries throughout history. A quote I found particularly interesting was “Public librarians aren’t familiar with legal materials, but this doesn’t mean they can’t learn how to handle them” (Schanck et al. 1979, 622). That may be true, and it is actually excellent in many ways for public librarians to be cross trained in this way. However, just because we can does not mean it is what’s best for the public. When public libraries are forced to take over many different specialized roles of making knowledge accessible to the public, it may mean that they become less able to have extensive knowledge of any one thing, and instead have a shallow understanding of many things. This is especially true when staffing is cut. At the public library I worked at, we had extensive legal resources, but only one librarian who could competently use them. My training in that area was only ten minutes long. Am I (in this context) going to provide competent legal services to users? It’s unlikely. Jaeger them makes most of the same suggestions as Gibson for how libraries should deal with this.
Paul T. Jaeger
This article explains traditional library values and trustworthiness in the context of emerging technology and additional government access responsibilities. It does an excellent job highlighting the benefits of library reputations and developing e services, but not so much the downsides.
While in many ways the reliance of patrons on libraries’ free Internet access and computers is of benefit to libraries and their communities, it also has some very strong downsides. For instance, librarians are now expected to be professionals not just at computer usage, but at computer instruction, and government documents and laws. Librarians are also put in positions of legal grey area when they help patrons deal with personal and financial information. They are expected to protect it, as though they are a business and the users are their clients. At times, when I have been asked to assist users with tax related e documents, I’ve had to explain that I can help them find the forms, but I can’t comment on how to fill it out or advise them in any other way. Users, quite naturally, do not like to hear this. In one instance, the user spoke only Spanish, which added a new layer of complexity.
As patrons use computers more for this sort of government access, it seems likely that the access to it will become expected instead of appreciated, and time limits on computers may become issues of contention. Equal access to information is important... but it’s also expensive. While I do think that libraries should be a source of trustworthiness and strong values, it is dangerous to allow ourselves to put on a pedestal of infallibility. With technology adapting so quickly, we are sure to be knocked down a few times.
Community Leadership Through Public Library E-Government Services
Amelia Gibson
Gibson takes a critical look at the shift of government services to the public library and how it is affecting a library and surrounding community. I thought this article did an amazing job of pointing out many of my same feelings on the subject. Libraries are expected to take over the workload of these agencies as well as the cost of assisting these users with neither financial support or training. It strikes me as entirely irresponsible for the government to “refer” people to their public library without making any effort to ensure the libraries can handle these issues in a knowledgeable and legal way. Instead of just complaining about these things, Gibson offers libraries solutions such as “requesting training, become involved with these agencies, Collaborate, let the community know, and develop policies”. I think the policy development is especially important to avoid a legal fiasco with all of the personal and financial information flying around. Most of all, Gibson suggests deciding and making clear what level of e government service the library is willing and able to provide. This seems wise, since other agencies will otherwise continue to dump their responsibilities on the public library to save themselves costs otherwise.
Responsibility Rolls Down...
Paul T. Jaeger
In this article, Jaeger looks at the shift of responsibilities to public libraries throughout history. A quote I found particularly interesting was “Public librarians aren’t familiar with legal materials, but this doesn’t mean they can’t learn how to handle them” (Schanck et al. 1979, 622). That may be true, and it is actually excellent in many ways for public librarians to be cross trained in this way. However, just because we can does not mean it is what’s best for the public. When public libraries are forced to take over many different specialized roles of making knowledge accessible to the public, it may mean that they become less able to have extensive knowledge of any one thing, and instead have a shallow understanding of many things. This is especially true when staffing is cut. At the public library I worked at, we had extensive legal resources, but only one librarian who could competently use them. My training in that area was only ten minutes long. Am I (in this context) going to provide competent legal services to users? It’s unlikely. Jaeger them makes most of the same suggestions as Gibson for how libraries should deal with this.
In the Public We Trust
D. Cain
This outline made being on the library board seem just as important (and stressful) as being the library director. Maybe more so. They are essential responsible for everything except the day to day management of the library, a point which they make with some regret. They do hire the director, however, so they have a huge impact on that as well. I think that since the board and manager are so often described as going head to head on issues, it is interesting to look at things from their perspective.
I like your response to Responsibility Rolls Down... Do you think that it would be a good idea to try and push for law libraries to help the public again like they used to? It would help alleviate a lot of pressure from public libraries, but it may be unfeasible.
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