tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12461652.post1420551771513823827..comments2024-01-10T17:38:08.333-05:00Comments on Elizabeth Burns: Libraries: Not About BooksLiz Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16671844475303001610noreply@blogger.comBlogger16125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12461652.post-835872943342045812010-01-09T16:15:34.962-05:002010-01-09T16:15:34.962-05:00Thank you, thank you, thank you. One of the reason...Thank you, thank you, thank you. One of the reasons I read blogs is to help me find out about what's happening with books - I'm a new(ish) Children's Librarian and there's so much I need to know about what people are reading and what's out there. Reader's Advisory is such a huge part of my job, and it's something that is overlooked by so many people. Thank you!Carolinehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10511914877644410598noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12461652.post-61407601072132084592010-01-06T09:18:21.889-05:002010-01-06T09:18:21.889-05:00Hi,
i just discovered your blog and it is very use...Hi,<br />i just discovered your blog and it is very useful! i will recommend it here at the American Library in Paris (americanlibraryinparis.org)<br />where i do remote research.<br /><br />are you on twitter?<br /><br />i would also recommend you to have the "share this" button on your site, it would help to get the word out!<br /><br />greetings from Paris, Andrea Delumeau aka 3samovar on twittersamovarhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08680349253630614787noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12461652.post-53169354617421997322010-01-05T20:53:38.288-05:002010-01-05T20:53:38.288-05:00Anna, I'm sad to hear that but I know what you...Anna, I'm sad to hear that but I know what you mean. At times I do feel like Tea Cozy isn't part of the library blogosphere; but then I read some book bloggers consider us librarians as too "professional" by being librarians to be a book blogger. No win.<br /><br />Laura, I'm not sure what is worse. A librarian who doesn't read; or one who thinks that what they like is the only type of book to read and recommend. Or being proud of it. If I said "I don't like reference questions," I'd be told it's part of the job. A non-reader can at least fake it, so that they can do readers advisory for patrons.<br /><br />kimberly, I love technology & am so excited at the ways tech work with books. But for some reason, bookish things get undervalued. Don't get me started on patron reviews versus librarian booktalks.<br /><br />thanks, melissa & sheryl.<br /><br />of course since this is my book blog i get more people agreeing; if you want to read more of another pov (in addition to david), check out the comments at POP GOES THE LIBRARY www.popgoesthelibrary.com where I cross posted this.Liz Bhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16671844475303001610noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12461652.post-12856355133795743902010-01-05T19:31:07.324-05:002010-01-05T19:31:07.324-05:00I wrote a long comment, and then I thought, "...I wrote a long comment, and then I thought, "You know, I think she pretty much covered everything." So I just wanted to say "thank you, amen, and I agree." "Books" and RA are difficult and important and we shouldn't neglect them when talking about the work of libraries and librarians.Sherylhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11424071762938109413noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12461652.post-52145621569502675502010-01-05T13:54:39.583-05:002010-01-05T13:54:39.583-05:00Fabulous! Thanks for writing about these issues. ...Fabulous! Thanks for writing about these issues. I don't really do a lot of RA in my library (small, academic, focused), but I agree we are being led away by all our shiny new toys to forget about our old ones. Both have their place.melissa @ 1lbrhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03292714636311546457noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12461652.post-85605631415798871092010-01-05T08:34:18.245-05:002010-01-05T08:34:18.245-05:00Thanks for this excellent post, Liz. As a library...Thanks for this excellent post, Liz. As a library student who tends to be excited by the technology but already feels comfortable with books, it's easy for me to forget that all of those book-related skills require education and practice.Kimberlyhttp://lectitans.livejournal.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12461652.post-57473364491431579772010-01-05T07:52:22.800-05:002010-01-05T07:52:22.800-05:00You are right on, Liz. This is NOT too much of a ...You are right on, Liz. This is NOT too much of a rant. I'm annoyed by the listserv questions and plain old outraged when I hear a librarian say he/she is "not interested" in the same books his/her patrons are reading--as if it's not a part of the basic job description. (Yes, I have a colleague who believes he does not have to read!!!!) I started tweeting to you the book blogs by librarians that I read and came up with four at first--then remembered an additional 4 or 5 that I look at regularly as well as reading Booklist and SLJ. Ummmm . . . and also lots of BOOKS. Keep ranting--you're not alone!!Laura Whttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10708234834544481298noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12461652.post-5245561660440877482010-01-05T00:31:05.403-05:002010-01-05T00:31:05.403-05:00This is honestly why I feel like I've just dro...This is honestly why I feel like I've just dropped out of the library blogophere sometime in the past three years. I'm much more interested in blogging about what I'm reading and I feel more connected to comic book/manga blogs than any of the library ones.Annahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16349909109011261327noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12461652.post-56423591478623952792010-01-04T21:36:44.864-05:002010-01-04T21:36:44.864-05:00Kelly, Stacy, Papasan, Angie: thanks! I think if l...Kelly, Stacy, Papasan, Angie: thanks! I think if libraries give up on this area (books) others will fill the gap. <br /><br />Wendy, one part (if done well) of modern RA is designing the website, the library, the collection so that a user like you goes in and benefits from the RA without realizing it. <br /><br />David, I'll have to disagree with you that librarians do books well, or respect those who do books well. At Cindy's blog, she has highlighted the types of RA questions/answers going on out there. If we were licensed like JDs/MDs, it would be grounds for censure /loss of license. Example: "I need a book like Twilight for a 4th grader." "Here's this adult vampire series with lots of sex I loved!" <br /><br />I also see an attitude that all the things that make up good RA don't count, don't take time, isn't about expertise & skills. Example: Wendy comes into the library, picks up her books, leaves. I've heard some librarians say that interaction doesn't require librarians. This belief ignores collection development, cataloging, placement, marketing, perhaps webpage design. Basically, these are valuable skills that many of us are seeing aren't being valued. <br /><br />And for those who are being inventive, doing great things, being leaders? They aren't getting getting the attention, so that others aren't inspired.<br /><br />Cindy, thanks! At the NJLA conferences, one of the biggest draws is the BBYA program. Which is basically highlighting a list that is on a website anyone can access -- except that list, that booktalking, that inperson expertise is still valued & looked for.Liz Bhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16671844475303001610noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12461652.post-43047387126056964062010-01-04T21:11:26.560-05:002010-01-04T21:11:26.560-05:00David, I don't agree that all librarians still...David, I don't agree that all librarians still "do books well." The RA questions from degreed librarians on listservs are appalling in what they show they don't know about doing books or how to do RA for their patrons. My Bookends Blog partner and I annually draw the largest crowd in our state school library conference breakout sessions for our Best of the Year booktalks. We are told our list is used for selection by many because they don't have time to keep up with the reviews let alone the reading of the books. I blog, I tweet, I have a school book club Facebook account, and I got a Kindle for Christmas after buying one for my husband last June. I love technology, but when my students came back from Christmas vacation today, they talked to me about what they READ over the holidays. They couldn't wait. I had three classes an hour in my middle school library today. One was starting scientist and inventor research, the other two were returning and seeking new books. And they wanted my help. I'm saddened to learn that a list of the 101 most important sites for librarians ignores RA and book information unless it comes with a battery charger. Liz--thanks for the rant and the Facebook alert to it.Cindy Dobrezhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09145117974568731275noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12461652.post-13975105909125075982010-01-04T20:54:36.471-05:002010-01-04T20:54:36.471-05:00This. Why worry about reader's advisory or if...This. Why worry about reader's advisory or if you have access to Novelist to figure out what order series go in? Just post to a list serve and 20 people can give you the reader's advisory you need. That's how it works, right? Besides it's NOT YOUR GRANDMA'S LIBRARY, BOO-YAH, which means? I don't even know what that means? Only Grandmas read books? Sssssh, don't tell all the young adults only grandmas read books. (http://www.newsweek.com/id/136961) <br /><br />Also, note how shushing gets thrown in there, a nice dig at how if you sit behind a desk and use in-house offline resources and have books be your primary brand, you must be one of those old crusty women with your hair in a bun that shushes people. Clearly!<br /><br />And, as people pointed out in the comments, what if your library doesn't have the monetary resources to do all this? What if your library's policies restrict your social networking access? Oh well, too bad, you'd better get with anyway!<br /><br />Do I think it's important to understand your ILS tools and to scan the horizon technology? Of course! Do I think that knowing about Hulu and iPhones (iPhones, as if they rain from the sky for free for your patrons!) is more important to "Library 101" than being able to provide comprehensive reader's advisory and answer reference questions without online databases you may not have instant access to or your patrons may not feel comfortable using? NO. And if that makes me an old-fashioned? Uhm, I guess my response to that would be: SHUSH.Angie Manfredihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02301039817054638181noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12461652.post-43354396024845855702010-01-04T20:52:41.538-05:002010-01-04T20:52:41.538-05:00Hi - great discussion, great thoughts! And you'...Hi - great discussion, great thoughts! And you're right - books aren't bad, at all. That's what we do! But I think what Michael and I were trying to get at is this - us librarians already do books well - we get that, we have that pretty much figured out. <br /><br />What we don't have figured out well is all the newer tech out there - tech that affects us and our jobs. Tech that helps our patrons reach us better and faster. Pretty important stuff.<br /><br />And this, too - paper books have been with us for a LONG time ... but for the first time in probably 700 years, we're starting to have format wars again - because books don't have to come in just traditional paper format. There are now many forms of e-readers, there are multiple digital audiobook formats ... I can even read a book on my iphone.<br /><br />IF you look through our 101 list, you WILL find stories and content there, in MANY different formats. Because librarians (in our estimation) need to know about the stories and the content ... AND the formats. Probably moreso now than in the past 50 years.<br /><br />Hope this helps explain our madness!david lee kinghttp://www.davidleeking.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12461652.post-57717866206562733772010-01-04T20:30:13.561-05:002010-01-04T20:30:13.561-05:00But... but... it IS my grandma's library. The ...But... but... it IS my grandma's library. The library is full of grandmas! Even if all the younger people WERE only wanting new techy stuff from libraries, the grandmas would still be there, wanting books.<br /><br />(I know I'm not disagreeing with your point.)<br /><br />It's all fine and good to have the librarians Out Among the People, which is apparently one of the goals, but boy does it annoy me when I need something and there's no one staffing the desk in the section. And one nice thing about being a grownup is that I can browse in the books without the "are you being helped?" kind of attention I got when I was a kid. That irritated the HELL out of me because the librarian always seemed to think I ought to be reading "age-appropriate" books. (Now I just get suspicious "what are you doing in the children's section" glances.)Wendyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11690852339559706714noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12461652.post-86215184069537754762010-01-04T20:01:35.414-05:002010-01-04T20:01:35.414-05:00Great post. I find this obsession with getting awa...Great post. I find this obsession with getting away from librarian stereotypes and books in general to be a really defensive, protective maneuver from people -- particularly LIS educators -- who are terrified of obsolescence, afraid that libraries will be subsumed into a server somewhere and will disappear.<br /><br />Meanwhile, actual library users love books and still consider them integral to their libraries. *Of course* libraries should still be promoting their book-based services, and professional organizations should be advancing book related aspects of the profession alongside tech.Papasanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01420805982310944054noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12461652.post-42698029654578105192010-01-04T19:26:21.451-05:002010-01-04T19:26:21.451-05:00I was at my local branch this weekend, and the lin...I was at my local branch this weekend, and the line stretched almost out the door. Yes, there were a couple patrons with DVDs, but the 25 or so people in line mostly had armfuls of books.<br /><br />Just sayin.Stasia Dhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16299074609347599698noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12461652.post-35855880473852740772010-01-04T19:19:46.965-05:002010-01-04T19:19:46.965-05:00I agree 100% with this post. I get so tired of rea...I agree 100% with this post. I get so tired of reading about the fact libraries are more than books. <br /><br />Know what?<br /><br />99.5% of the time the only thing people want from me at work are BOOKS. They can get to the technology themselves. They come to me for a book. They want a book on how to fix their car. They want whatever the new book by Patterson is. They've exhausted David Baldacci so can I give them some new avenues? <br /><br />The parents ask if a book is teen appropriate, and the teens ask if I will buy the latest and greatest manga for them. <br /><br />I don't get asked about ILS, about CMS, about blogging/wikis/etc. At their core, LIBRARIES ARE ABOUT BOOKS. Sure, they are MORE than that, but they are also where people go. to. get. books.<br /><br />The more we move away, the more irrelevant we get, I think (personal opinion). When the community sees libraries as a hodge podge of things and less and less a place where knowledge exists in a physical format, then the less the community cares. They can Google just as well as we can.<br /><br />I get most of my collection development through book blogs. My patrons are reading book blogs. They aren't reading the professional journals. Yes, I read them and select materials from them (often the ones with smaller publicity budgets or more literary or multucultural works). But if I am not aware of the book world, I'm irrelevant to my patrons. My knowledge of how to do 101 things or watch the video for it won't save my job.Kelly Jensenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14288216494070095497noreply@blogger.com