Comments on: how big is the club: we’re not crossing the chasm with this stuff http://www.librarian.net/stax/2022/how-big-is-the-club-we%e2%80%99re-not-crossing-the-chasm-with-this-stuff/ putting the rarin back in librarian since 1999 Sat, 11 Feb 2012 18:14:14 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0 By: Chuck Munson http://www.librarian.net/stax/2022/how-big-is-the-club-we%e2%80%99re-not-crossing-the-chasm-with-this-stuff/comment-page-1/#comment-88586 Chuck Munson Sat, 21 Apr 2007 04:52:47 +0000 http://www.librarian.net/stax/2022/how-big-is-the-club-we%e2%80%99re-not-crossing-the-chasm-with-this-stuff/#comment-88586 As I see it, the entire library world is one big club, or, at least a universe full of narrow-minded, conservative librarians. I'm a web developer who got his library degree back in 1990. I've been trying to get a librarian job for the past few years, but no libraries will have me. I shower every morning, I have excellent social skills, and I'm current on new technology. I'm just baffled as to why libraries won't hire me. Is it that contemporary librarians are so conservative that they can't grok somebody who hasn't worked in an actual library in over a decade? I've done plenty of professional library things and stay professionally active. What I also don't grok is why any librarians would still be ga-ga over new technology. I walk into a public library and I still do the same things I did 10, 20 and 30 years ago. I browse the magazines and look at the new book shelf. I guess I use the OPAC to find books (1980s tech) and I make use of the free wireless (except when libraries like SF Public close at 6pm!). What exactly does Web 2.0 do for libraries? I know what it does for the business world, but why is should any librarian get excited over using AJAX for the OPAC? You still look up books by title, author or whatever. As I see it, the entire library world is one big club, or, at least a universe full of narrow-minded, conservative librarians. I’m a web developer who got his library degree back in 1990. I’ve been trying to get a librarian job for the past few years, but no libraries will have me. I shower every morning, I have excellent social skills, and I’m current on new technology. I’m just baffled as to why libraries won’t hire me. Is it that contemporary librarians are so conservative that they can’t grok somebody who hasn’t worked in an actual library in over a decade? I’ve done plenty of professional library things and stay professionally active.

What I also don’t grok is why any librarians would still be ga-ga over new technology. I walk into a public library and I still do the same things I did 10, 20 and 30 years ago. I browse the magazines and look at the new book shelf. I guess I use the OPAC to find books (1980s tech) and I make use of the free wireless (except when libraries like SF Public close at 6pm!). What exactly does Web 2.0 do for libraries? I know what it does for the business world, but why is should any librarian get excited over using AJAX for the OPAC? You still look up books by title, author or whatever.

]]> By: Emily http://www.librarian.net/stax/2022/how-big-is-the-club-we%e2%80%99re-not-crossing-the-chasm-with-this-stuff/comment-page-1/#comment-88530 Emily Thu, 19 Apr 2007 23:37:02 +0000 http://www.librarian.net/stax/2022/how-big-is-the-club-we%e2%80%99re-not-crossing-the-chasm-with-this-stuff/#comment-88530 One of the cool things about 2.0 technologies (I think) is the whole idea that you can make your experiences of technology, information, conversation, etc. your own. So you can use whatever cool new stuff works for you, and forget the rest. It's about personalized experience, which is so cool. That said, I wonder if a little bit of "clubbiness" isn't unavoidable, then... isn't it natural for us to identify with others that choose to incorporate the same technologies into their personal experiences? It would naturally make our experiences similar to one another's, making it easy to identify with one another. That's not to say that the clubbiness factor is a good thing... it would easily lead us into an echo chamber situation where we get more and more convinced that our way is "right." Which, again, is against the whole point! Plus, it can come off as rude and offputting, which doesn't help anyone in this new conversation age. One of the cool things about 2.0 technologies (I think) is the whole idea that you can make your experiences of technology, information, conversation, etc. your own. So you can use whatever cool new stuff works for you, and forget the rest. It’s about personalized experience, which is so cool.

That said, I wonder if a little bit of “clubbiness” isn’t unavoidable, then… isn’t it natural for us to identify with others that choose to incorporate the same technologies into their personal experiences? It would naturally make our experiences similar to one another’s, making it easy to identify with one another.

That’s not to say that the clubbiness factor is a good thing… it would easily lead us into an echo chamber situation where we get more and more convinced that our way is “right.” Which, again, is against the whole point! Plus, it can come off as rude and offputting, which doesn’t help anyone in this new conversation age.

]]> By: making museum standards, making communication make sense « booktruck.org http://www.librarian.net/stax/2022/how-big-is-the-club-we%e2%80%99re-not-crossing-the-chasm-with-this-stuff/comment-page-1/#comment-88522 making museum standards, making communication make sense « booktruck.org Thu, 19 Apr 2007 21:46:24 +0000 http://www.librarian.net/stax/2022/how-big-is-the-club-we%e2%80%99re-not-crossing-the-chasm-with-this-stuff/#comment-88522 [...] Librarian.net has a post today about outreach and context in new social technology, which pretty much puts together a lot of what I’ve been trying to figure out how to say. (It goes without saying that we have heaps of respect and admiration for Jessamyn.) [...] [...] Librarian.net has a post today about outreach and context in new social technology, which pretty much puts together a lot of what I’ve been trying to figure out how to say. (It goes without saying that we have heaps of respect and admiration for Jessamyn.) [...]

]]> By: Jonathan http://www.librarian.net/stax/2022/how-big-is-the-club-we%e2%80%99re-not-crossing-the-chasm-with-this-stuff/comment-page-1/#comment-88510 Jonathan Thu, 19 Apr 2007 16:31:04 +0000 http://www.librarian.net/stax/2022/how-big-is-the-club-we%e2%80%99re-not-crossing-the-chasm-with-this-stuff/#comment-88510 I'm not even sure what it would mean for twitter to 'work' for your library? Me, I think there's a bit too much emphasis on libraries 'using' every new-fangled thing that 'the kids' are interested in, without thinking about what the point might be, or how this would be useful, or if it's a wise use of resources (although in this case, there aren't many resources at stake, so, cool). I think too much of this "2.0" discussion is unconsidered. And I say this still considering myself someone trying to drag libraries, sometimes kicking and screaming, into the digital era. I’m not even sure what it would mean for twitter to ‘work’ for your library?

Me, I think there’s a bit too much emphasis on libraries ‘using’ every new-fangled thing that ‘the kids’ are interested in, without thinking about what the point might be, or how this would be useful, or if it’s a wise use of resources (although in this case, there aren’t many resources at stake, so, cool). I think too much of this “2.0″ discussion is unconsidered.

And I say this still considering myself someone trying to drag libraries, sometimes kicking and screaming, into the digital era.

]]> By: David Bigwood http://www.librarian.net/stax/2022/how-big-is-the-club-we%e2%80%99re-not-crossing-the-chasm-with-this-stuff/comment-page-1/#comment-88507 David Bigwood Thu, 19 Apr 2007 16:25:39 +0000 http://www.librarian.net/stax/2022/how-big-is-the-club-we%e2%80%99re-not-crossing-the-chasm-with-this-stuff/#comment-88507 Well, I dont get Twitter either. But is is simple and easy. So I set up one for the LPI Library (LPI_Library), see what happens. It was free and only takes a minute every day to update. It doesn't work, not much lost. Well, I dont get Twitter either. But is is simple and easy. So I set up one for the LPI Library (LPI_Library), see what happens. It was free and only takes a minute every day to update. It doesn’t work, not much lost.

]]> By: Lis Riba http://www.librarian.net/stax/2022/how-big-is-the-club-we%e2%80%99re-not-crossing-the-chasm-with-this-stuff/comment-page-1/#comment-88503 Lis Riba Thu, 19 Apr 2007 15:14:06 +0000 http://www.librarian.net/stax/2022/how-big-is-the-club-we%e2%80%99re-not-crossing-the-chasm-with-this-stuff/#comment-88503 Well, I attended CIL and my reaction to Twitter was wtf? I still don't entirely grok the implications, but several people called it the greatest things since sliced bread, so I intend to look at it more closely when I have time... Well, I attended CIL and my reaction to Twitter was wtf?

I still don’t entirely grok the implications, but several people called it the greatest things since sliced bread, so I intend to look at it more closely when I have time…

]]> By: Joseph Wilk http://www.librarian.net/stax/2022/how-big-is-the-club-we%e2%80%99re-not-crossing-the-chasm-with-this-stuff/comment-page-1/#comment-88475 Joseph Wilk Thu, 19 Apr 2007 01:19:10 +0000 http://www.librarian.net/stax/2022/how-big-is-the-club-we%e2%80%99re-not-crossing-the-chasm-with-this-stuff/#comment-88475 Oh, and I almost forgot: Here's the <a href="http://www.twitter.com" rel="nofollow">Twitter site</a>. Here's the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Twitter" rel="nofollow">Twitter Wikipedia entry</a> which (I feel) does a nicer job of explaining Twitter than the site itself. At a basic level, I am thinking now about teens specifically in terms of using Twitter to deliver programming reminders to their cell phones. A lot of people on the YALSA list-servs are scrambling to figure out ways to deliver information more directly to teens who don't really pay attention to their postal mail, e-mail, or Myspace messages. This seems like a great way to do just that! Oh, and I almost forgot:

Here’s the Twitter site.

Here’s the Twitter Wikipedia entry which (I feel) does a nicer job of explaining Twitter than the site itself.

At a basic level, I am thinking now about teens specifically in terms of using Twitter to deliver programming reminders to their cell phones. A lot of people on the YALSA list-servs are scrambling to figure out ways to deliver information more directly to teens who don’t really pay attention to their postal mail, e-mail, or Myspace messages. This seems like a great way to do just that!

]]> By: Joseph Wilk http://www.librarian.net/stax/2022/how-big-is-the-club-we%e2%80%99re-not-crossing-the-chasm-with-this-stuff/comment-page-1/#comment-88474 Joseph Wilk Thu, 19 Apr 2007 00:14:21 +0000 http://www.librarian.net/stax/2022/how-big-is-the-club-we%e2%80%99re-not-crossing-the-chasm-with-this-stuff/#comment-88474 I may be the only one who finds this funny, but after reading this post and all the posts to which it links...I still had no idea what Twitter was. I easily looked it up online, but reading these posts reminded me of what could have been an Alanis Morissette lyric: "It's like 10,000 posts about whether mentioning Twitter is too insular, when all you need is link." I hope you take this comment in all fun. I make sure that, whenever I talk about any technology with a colleague, I am querying them to ensure that they know what I am referring to, making explicit the practicality of the tool to their daily lives, give a realistic estimate as to the learning curve and time involved, and stimulate their imagination as to the potential applications and benefits. I imagine that these are the same considerations we would give to our users in a reference interview or library instruction session--so why not each other? I may be the only one who finds this funny, but after reading this post and all the posts to which it links…I still had no idea what Twitter was. I easily looked it up online, but reading these posts reminded me of what could have been an Alanis Morissette lyric: “It’s like 10,000 posts about whether mentioning Twitter is too insular, when all you need is link.” I hope you take this comment in all fun. I make sure that, whenever I talk about any technology with a colleague, I am querying them to ensure that they know what I am referring to, making explicit the practicality of the tool to their daily lives, give a realistic estimate as to the learning curve and time involved, and stimulate their imagination as to the potential applications and benefits. I imagine that these are the same considerations we would give to our users in a reference interview or library instruction session–so why not each other?

]]> By: Steve http://www.librarian.net/stax/2022/how-big-is-the-club-we%e2%80%99re-not-crossing-the-chasm-with-this-stuff/comment-page-1/#comment-88466 Steve Wed, 18 Apr 2007 21:56:31 +0000 http://www.librarian.net/stax/2022/how-big-is-the-club-we%e2%80%99re-not-crossing-the-chasm-with-this-stuff/#comment-88466 I heartily concur and am glad that you raise this issue. Clubbiness is usually unintended, in my view, and may happen without realizing it. There is a lot of it though in the tenor of many library-related blogs, where those who are prominent speakers or travel to all the same conferences tend to sound like a clique to those (like me) who don't travel in the same crowd yet are interested in or working with many of the same issues and technologies. Thanks. I heartily concur and am glad that you raise this issue. Clubbiness is usually unintended, in my view, and may happen without realizing it. There is a lot of it though in the tenor of many library-related blogs, where those who are prominent speakers or travel to all the same conferences tend to sound like a clique to those (like me) who don’t travel in the same crowd yet are interested in or working with many of the same issues and technologies. Thanks.

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