Comments on: Are libraries “Mainstream”? http://www.blyberg.net/2007/03/06/are-libraries-mainstream/ A library-geek blog Tue, 02 Dec 2008 00:37:24 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.5 By: john http://www.blyberg.net/2007/03/06/are-libraries-mainstream/#comment-87685 john Fri, 09 Mar 2007 18:34:12 +0000 http://www.blyberg.net/2007/03/06/are-libraries-mainstream/#comment-87685 Mim, I completely agree with you, and in recent years, libraries have stepped up their outreach efforts significantly and the results show when you see parents coming in with toddlers for playtime and teens congregating in refurbished YA areas. So, I think we need to extend that effort into areas that interact and intersect those areas of society that are meaningful to our users. If that means providing a place to watch viral videos, so be it. That easy enough, but I think that taking that to the next level, where we begin to offer and promote self-publication, print-on-demand, and personal video production, is essential. Beyond that, as I said, there are a myriad of different "experiments" going on in libraryland right now, and it's important that we support, follow, and keep and open mind to them. Mim,
I completely agree with you, and in recent years, libraries have stepped up their outreach efforts significantly and the results show when you see parents coming in with toddlers for playtime and teens congregating in refurbished YA areas.

So, I think we need to extend that effort into areas that interact and intersect those areas of society that are meaningful to our users. If that means providing a place to watch viral videos, so be it. That easy enough, but I think that taking that to the next level, where we begin to offer and promote self-publication, print-on-demand, and personal video production, is essential.

Beyond that, as I said, there are a myriad of different “experiments” going on in libraryland right now, and it’s important that we support, follow, and keep and open mind to them.

]]> By: Mim http://www.blyberg.net/2007/03/06/are-libraries-mainstream/#comment-87658 Mim Fri, 09 Mar 2007 17:25:09 +0000 http://www.blyberg.net/2007/03/06/are-libraries-mainstream/#comment-87658 While your summary of the media's portrayal of libraries is spot on, I do believe libraries are an important part of a healthy community's life. Sadly- movies don't get made about healthy communities...no money to be made ;) I dare to hope that there is more to libraries than a place to watch ridiculously idiotic viral videos. People may be at the library to use the free computers but while they're inside the hallowed halls maybe they'll see a book that catches their eye or might use some research material to complete an assignment. My local library just opened a new building that nearly tripled the space. As it was- the little library had the second highest circulation in the county. Now it is always busy no matter what time I visit. What brings people to the library in my community? Of course there are the books and computers but they also offer many different free or low cost activities for all ages. In the past month, I have been to the library for a knitting group, story time for my kindergartener, a tween activity night for my 12 yo daughter, and a class on the traditional craft of pysanky. Next on my library agenda is book club. I'm sure these ideas are not new! I have always loved the community library from the time I was very young and now I love spending time at the library with my children. We're thinking of moving and you can be sure one of the first things we'll check in any prospective neighborhood is the location of the public library. Long live libraries! While your summary of the media’s portrayal of libraries is spot on, I do believe libraries are an important part of a healthy community’s life. Sadly- movies don’t get made about healthy communities…no money to be made ;)

I dare to hope that there is more to libraries than a place to watch ridiculously idiotic viral videos. People may be at the library to use the free computers but while they’re inside the hallowed halls maybe they’ll see a book that catches their eye or might use some research material to complete an assignment.

My local library just opened a new building that nearly tripled the space. As it was- the little library had the second highest circulation in the county. Now it is always busy no matter what time I visit.

What brings people to the library in my community? Of course there are the books and computers but they also offer many different free or low cost activities for all ages. In the past month, I have been to the library for a knitting group, story time for my kindergartener, a tween activity night for my 12 yo daughter, and a class on the traditional craft of pysanky. Next on my library agenda is book club.

I’m sure these ideas are not new! I have always loved the community library from the time I was very young and now I love spending time at the library with my children.

We’re thinking of moving and you can be sure one of the first things we’ll check in any prospective neighborhood is the location of the public library.

Long live libraries!

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