“Information literacy” is a term most often associated with academic libraries. Sometime in the 1980s, it began to replace the older “bibliographic instruction.” By whatever name, showing people how to use the library has long been one of the librarians’ core duties in any kind of library. Social media and search engines have made it more important and more complicated than ever.
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Contributed by Sophia Sanchez Carl Linnaeus classified humans as Homo sapiens or the ‘man who is wise’ in Latin. He did so because we are prolific users of tools, have developed languages and writing systems, and can imagine things and actually bring them into reality. We search for knowledge to better ourselves. In our society, we have long relied on libraries and textbooks to help us gain knowledge. Have they outlived their usefulness?
Continue reading →Technological innovation always leads to innovative library services. Libraries quickly embraced personal computers, for example. Probably any library in the country will help patrons learn to use a computer for the first time. Or help them learn sophisticated software. Libraries still find new ways to use computers and peripherals to add new services. More recently, the public has become addicted to mobile phones. So, of course, libraries use them, and help patrons use them, too. Here is the latest in an occasional series of posts about innovative library services.
Continue reading →I read about a library without books sometime in the late 1990s, I don’t remember what college or university in New York had no room in its library for a computer lab. So it opened one in another nearby building it owned and called it a branch library. Why? Because it was staffed with librarians. In principle, it’s not the presence of a book collection that defines a library. A library simply requires librarians. In recent years, however, libraries have experimented with bookless libraries based on digital technology. That is, they have books, just not printed books. How is that likely to work out? I’m not much impressed by what I’ve read.
Continue reading →There’s nearly always something new at the library. Librarians are imaginative people. They know offering innovative library services will entice more people in the door. Or let more people use the library without coming in the door. So I offer an occasional series on creative ways librarians find to serve their public. Here are four new ideas. Maybe some library close to you offers similar services.
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