What is the future of libraries?

We discussed the hope of job security and the fear of being obsolete, making libraries relevant.

Are the missions of public libraries and academic libraries really that different?  Both teach patrons but in different ways.  Patrons use the different libraries for different reasons.

Reference stats are up in general.  Are stats being kept differently?

[I didn't hear that...I heard that reference questions are down significantly in academic libraries. Library use is up in public libraries, and that the questions asked are different, and in many ways, more difficult [Katharine Phenix]

Where are people asking their questions?  Dewey online, google?

Circulation:

Some libraries have high circulation in general, some have high circulation of a few items, some count an item being checked out once a year as high circulation.  Are libraries purchasing what the patrons want?

The future is about all kinds of information.  But we need to define the library before we can decide the future.  Communities and even staff think libraries are just a place to keep books.

OCLC study "From Awareness to Finding" (Does someone have a link??) From Awareness to Funding:A Study of Library Support in America 

reasons for using the library vary.  Some patrons like the peace and quiet, some are looking for books and storytime.  Some of the future is the past so we can't ignore the traditional services.

Bridging the digital divide: some people lack the skill set to even apply for a job.  What are people doing to increase digital literacy?

ALA article about digital divide including young kids (link anyone??)

This report was discussed, but I'm not sure if this was the context...It's the Pew report done by the University of Illinois Information Searches That Solve Problems 

CSU Pueblo is getting a new library.  Career services and student services will be in the libary.

Students like seperate information desk and reference desk with a librarian.  (didn't discuss public much here)

Penrose at DU changed their reference desk to a research center and put walls around it.  It's constantly in use and might have to up staff numbers.

Analogy for service is a bank.  If you want quick info or some cash, you see a teller (clerk).  If you want information about your account, you see a banker (librarian).

Some people don't like going to the reference desk in a public libraries, librarians should get out from behind the desk and rove the stacks.  In academics, this roving makes some students nervous.

In all of this, we are still talking about those who use the library in person.  What about virtual users and those won't use the library at all?

Use the website to get new users in.  put a link to the library on pages the community already uses--take the library to them.  AKA Chamber of Commerce site, course management sites.

UW sets the ip to get google to pull in library results in the hits.  Students use google and still get library information.

How do people who use these recources know where they are coming from?  let people know the library belongs to them!

CLC study shows those who support the library are not necessarily the ones who use it.

using the example of TV stations putting "coming up next!" graphics at the bottom of the screen, maybe use this to tell people they own the library.

Library as a place.  Public libraries can work with local school libraries.  Online users can chat and text with librarians.  SMS program making the patron's text show up as email for the librarian.

Is the future of libraries going to have fewer trained librarians?  The model is changing--people see assistants before they get to see professionals.

[While I didn't mention this during the meeting (Katharine Phenix here) I would suggest that we always make the disctinction between "training" and "education". There are many "skills" and "competencies" that lend themselves to training, but education, and a graduate one at that, is much more, I dunno, involving?  For example, I've known really well trained workers do their jobs as competently as they can, however, they cannot spell.  This does have an impact on reference work.]

Are two degrees still necessary in academics?  Depends on the situation.

Why are expectations about service so low?

If the library can get by with a para doing a professional's job and patrons can't tell the difference what's the problem?

Demand the respect we deserve!