MCLS Blog

Comic book on copyright

Duke’s Center for the Public Domain has issued an online comic book about copyright fair use issues in documentary filmmaking.   It’s a really fun and painless way to learn about copyright law.

My thanks to Russ Besancon of Iosco-Arenac library for sending me the link!

Add comment April 20th, 2006

MLC survey 2006

In January, the MLC Board of Directors authorized a survey of the membership about the future and their use of various kinds of library services. The survey was designed to assess their thoughts, beliefs, and predictions about their levels of use of things such as blogs, wikis, integrated library systems, OCLC, virtual reference, and consultants.

Out of the approximately 1300 librarians who received an invitation to participate, 360 responded to the survey for a 28 percent response rate. Almost all respondents were from MLC member libraries. Forty-four percent of the respondents were from academic libraries. Twenty-nine percent were from public libraries and 11 percent were from schools. The remainder were from special libraries, consortia, and other types.

Some of the key findings from the survey are highlighted below:

When asked about their services to end users, the majority of respondents said each of the following would increase in the next 3 – 5 years:

• Quality assessment of customer service: 71 percent said it would increase
• E-document delivery: 67 percent said it would increase
• Patron-initiated ILL: 65 percent said it would increase
• Embedding of services beyond library confines: 56 percent said it would increase
• Information literacy learning outcome assessment: 52 percent said it would increase
• Personalization & self-help services: 51 percent said it would increase

Somewhat surprisingly, virtual reference ranked below the 50 percent level:

• Local virtual reference: Only 44 percent said it would increase
• Shared virtual reference: Only 37 percent said it would increase

In the area of technical systems, there was less unanimity about what is likely to increase:

• Electronic resource management: 53 percent said it will increase
• Simplification of library system interface: 52 percent said it will increase
• Cross-linking of e-resources, e.g. OpenURL & federated searching: 51 percent said it will increase

Two other technologies that have received significant coverage in the press and at conferences ranked quite a bit lower:

• Instant Messaging: 41 percent said it will increase
• RFID: 21 percent said it will increase

The section on library management showed clear opinions on a few items that will increase

• Marketing: 73 percent said it will increase
• Public relations: 66 percent said it will increase
• Strategic planning: 63 percent said it will increase
• Fund raising & grant writing: 58 percent said it will increase
• Staff development: 56 percent said it will increase

The section on top challenges asked respondents to up to three choices from the list. The result was a diverse mixture, with three items topping the 40 percent mark.

• Keep abreast of technologies, e.g. single point of access on the web: 49 percent said it will increase
• Funding & management of electronic & print library resources: 45 percent said it will increase
• Marketing: 40 percent said it will increase
• Update library facilities: 32 percent said it will increase
• Information literacy: 29 percent said it will increase
• Library visibility: 26 percent said it will increase

There are many other findings and interesting responses in the survey. To review a summary of all the questions and responses, go to the MLC web site.

1 comment April 10th, 2006

Journal Comparison Site

A few months ago, Sue Alt, one of my co-workers here at MLC sent me this useful link to a journal comparison site: http://lib-cufts.lib.sfu.ca/CUFTS/compare.cgi. Thank goodness, someone at the Council for Prairie and Pacific University Libraries realized there was a need to compare journals for those without ERMS(electronic resource management systems). Hope this is useful.

1 comment April 6th, 2006

More on my favorite library…

The Howell Carnegie District Library will be featured in a book titled “Heart of the Community: The Libraries We Love” published by Berkshire Publishing Group and due to be published in October. The book  will celebrate the diversity, potential, style, history and contributions of 84 libraries in the United States and Canada.

Howell – along with three other Michigan libraries — the Clinton-Macomb Public Library in Clinton Township, Southfield Public Library in Southfield and West Bloomfield Township Public Library in West Bloomfield met the criteria of historical significance, association with an important event, association with an important person, distinctive architecture and significance to the community.

For more, go to the Livingston County Press & Argus.

Add comment April 6th, 2006

Public Library Association Conference

I was fortunate enough to attend the PLA National Conference in Boston this year.  There were over 11,000 attendees!  This was my first trip to PLA, and I was impressed with the range of programming available.  You can access handouts and audiotapes from the sessions at: http://www.placonference.org/handouts_audiotapes.cfm

You can also get conference information from the PLA Blog

Here is a brief account of some of the programs I attended:

Wake Up Call: What Our Customers Are Trying To Tell Us If We’d Only Listen

Denver Public Library has constructed a program to improve service for their library.  They used demographic and usage information to create targeted library branches by market segmentation (Family Libraries, Children’s Libraries, etc).  This along with Service experiments has led to a remarkable increase in their circ numbers.  One point:  identify your users and target their needs

Do they hear us now?

Cathy DeRosa of OCLC reported on the messages from their latest research report “Perceptions of Libraries and Information Resources”.  The report surveyed all demographics in 6 countries with some interesting results.

What criteria do library patrons use to make decisions?

1) Functionality (product)

2) Trust                        (reliability)

3) Convenience            (ease of use)

4) Price

Zero Percent Loss, No Shelving Required: Downloadable Media in Libraries

Speakers from Phoenix Public Library and Denver Public Library described various options for digital books.

There are 4 primary vendors for public libraries: NetLibrary, OverDrive, Recorded Books, and BWI.  (As a side note, all of these vendors except BWI currently offer their products through MLC)

One message: “You are not going to be able to get everything you want from one vendor.”  If a library would like a collection similar to the in-house collection must select from all of the vendors.

Things DPL has learned about digital books:

Available 24/7

Huge with the 18-25 age group

Collection sharing is easier

Easy weeding

No processing!

NO LOSS, THEFT, or DAMAGE!!

Pluses:

Never overdue

No space limitations

Quick user statistics

Special features (highlighting, font size, etc)

Special needs users

Anonymity for users

DPL began offering downloadable videos on 3/21.  In the first 72 hours 82 titles circulated 330 times and they added 172 NEW patrons

“If you are waiting because you want to see how this whole thing shakes out, you are hurting the process.  The more of us who participate, the faster it will happen.”

The Scoop on RFID Systems

Three speakers compared 3M, Bibliotheca, and Checkpoint.  techlogic was not included in the comparison.

A big concern – privacy.  RFID tags can be put in the materials, but do not have to be used for patron cards.  All of the systems will accept both.

In 2004 there were 200 RFID systems in the US.  10% of those were in Michigan.

Predicting Technological Drivers of Change…for the Rest of Us

David Liroff of WGBH Educational Foundation suggested that the most accurate place to find marketplace intelligence(the next big thing) is in the Sunday ads for BestBuy, Staples, etc.  His theory is that they will not have things available until there is a proven market for them – an established user base. This was a fascinating look at what is driving new technology.

Add comment April 5th, 2006

Sony and Borders partner to sell eBook readers

An interesting development in the Digital Books world was announced today:
 http://www.econtentmag.com/Articles/ArticleReader.aspx?ArticleID=15308

1 comment April 4th, 2006