PVLD Director's Blog

Libraries and Reading

As I noted in yesterday's post, the topic of libraries and reading has been on my mind due in no small measure to the request I received from the Surfwriters (local writing group) to give them a talk on the topic of "Reading and Libraries in the 21st" century.  The text of that talk is contained here -

Download surfwriters.pdf

Readers of this blog know,a nd my talk to the Surfwriters reiterates, that I believe reading is at the core of the public library's mission, recent reports of its alleged demise notwithstanding.  It seems I am not alone in this belief...check out this New York Times Blog post from Timothy Egan, which I came across this weekend...unfortunately AFTER I had given my talk to the Surfwriters!

 

Books

I saw this sign on the cart of a homeless person in a shopping center near my home recently –

Reading

I'm a reader - one of those kids whose mother read to her early and often, who was able to read by myself before I went to kindergarten, and who has many memories of trying to sneak more reading time by reading with a flashlight under the covers or by taking a book into the bathroom and pretending I really "had to go".  For me working in a library is like the proverbial "kid in the candy store" - one of the biggest perks of my job is that I can cruise through the library almost every day and bring home the books that catch my eye.  Despite the fact that I read and write a lot about how we can use technology to deliver library services, I firmly believe that books and reading are at the heart of the public library's mission.

I live and work surrounded by readers, so I experienced real dissonance when I saw last week's news about American reading habits -

http://www.cnn.com/2007/LIVING/wayoflife/08/21/reading.ap/index.html

This morning as I was reviewing some of the snippets I had tucked away for use in future blog postings, I came across a couple of items that made me feel better. 

Back in July when the last Harry Potter book was being released marketing consultant, writer and blogger Seth Godin had this to say about why books still have value in a digital age -

"Books are souvenirs. No one is going to read Potter online, even if it's free. Holding and owning the book, remembering when and how you got it... that's what you're paying for. Books are great at holding memories. They're lousy at keeping secrets."

And then there was this from Charlie Munger, Warren's Buffet's partner and Co-Chairman of Berkshire Hathaway, arguably one of the most successful investment companies ever -

"In my whole life, I have known no wise people who didn't read all the time -- none, zero. You'd be amazed at how much Warren [Buffett] reads -- at how much I read. My children laugh at me. They think I'm a book with a couple of legs sticking out."  (from the Motley Fool website)

Amen!

Why can't we do this?

We just completed a successful trial of a mail delivery service to the homebound and are working on the launch of the service "for real".  I told the team that I really see the homebound service as the first step to a fee-based mail delivery service for all customers whether "homebound" or not.  Our new ILS has a module that will support this...but someone beat us to it!

http://lifehacker.com/software/books/rent-books-netflix+style-with-bookswim-292305.php

I still think it is something we will want to do - and maybe we can do it cheaper!

If the public library didn't exist could you invent it today?

Thanks to Richard Guy, Calix's own "Infosherpa", for this link to a very interesting blog posting on the seemingly  opposing interests of public libraries and publishers -

http://www.freakonomics.com/blog/2007/07/10/if-public-libraries-didnt-exist-could-you-start-one-today/

While the article raises some interesting questions, I found it a bit disturbing that its basic premise is  that the sole function of the library is to lend books.  While this certainly remains at the core of what we do, the article doesn't address, or even acknowledge, that libraries deliver services (and economic value) beyond circulating books.  The article also doesn't address the  economic impact on publishers of the proliferation of electronic forms of literature and information both via the Internet and via subscription databases.  I don't blame the author - s/he is merely reflecting a common view of what libraries offer...but I do wonder what it will take to displace this view. 

On the other hand I was pleased to see a robust discussion in the comments on the article about the many other ways libraries deliver economic value. 

Here at PVLD the lending of books and other materials is still very important, but our circulation of library materials is actually on a slight but noticeable downward trend.  On the other hand use of our website grew by 25% during the just ended fiscal year, and usage of our subscription online resources is on track to double in 2007 due in large part to the popularity of interactive online services like Rosetta Stone.  Our role as a community center is growing as the number of programs and events that we offered grew by 21%.  We also support the development of the literacy skills that are a necessary part of the economic equation for publishers, make books available to people who otherwise couldn't afford them, and help people improve their economic circumstances so that they can purchase books if they wish.

Could public libraries be invented today? If the question is addressed in the context of a simplistic assessment of publisher reaction to the free distribution of published information it is easy to conclude that they could not.  Considered in the context of the full range of services offered by the 21st century public library and the societal and economic value of those services, however, I think the answer would be YES.      

Library Haiku

I didn't think I would post again before leaving on vacation - but when this was featured on Yahoo this morning I couldn't resist!

http://www.ninakatchadourian.com/languagetranslation/sortedbooks.php

Lanny - I sense another bulletin board in the making!

Wish we'd thought of that!

With the advent of Web 2.0, sometimes referred to as the "Read/Write" web the opportunities for technology-based collaboration and sharing of information and ideas have exploded.  It has been interesting to see how concepts that have been at the core of traditional library services have been adapted by the private sector for delivery via the Web.  Some well-known examples are "Google Books" (Google's effort to digitize the holdings of a many large libraries and make the contents availble in full-text via the web), LibraryThink (which enables users to catalog their personal libraries and then share the cataloging over the Web), and now - featured as a "Daily Pick" on MyYahoo today -

http://www.booktribes.com/ A whole new approach to Reader's Advisory!

I know many libraries, including PVLD, are trying to integrate these new types of services into our websites, but all too often we are following in the footsteps of some civilian who has seen the business opportunity in what we do...and sadly, we often aren't even "fast followers.

Someday I would love to see a service developed and offered by a LIBRARY featured as one of the Daily Picks!

Libraries and Communities

Yesterday I had the opportunity to attend the Grand Opening of the new Harbory City-Harbor Gateway Branch of the Los Angeles Public Library.  It was exciting to see several hundred community members of all ages gathered for the event - the sense of anticipation and pride was palpable.

This community has been asking for a library for over 50 years!  For nearly 50 years the community was served by a bookmobile, before a small storefront library not much bigger than our Annex was opened in 1997. 

The funding source for the library is very interesting.  Over the past 10 or so years the City of Los Angeles Public Library has constructed 32 new libraries using funds from a local bond measure.  ALL of these libraries were constructed on time and under budget!  The Harbor City library was not one of those projects, but the budget surpluses were carefull saved and were used to provide the City's match for State Bond funds from the 2000 Library Construction and Renovation Bond Act.  The Harbor City library qualified for funding as a "joint use" project because of an innovative partnership with Narbonne High School whereby  the school will provide faculty to oversee an after school homework center at the library.

The new library is still relatively small - 14,650 square feet, or about twice the size of the Miraleste Library.  Its efficient design packs in a large multipurpose room, a story time room and children's area, two group study rooms, a teen section, and a computer lab.  The library will house 60,000 volumes and approximately 50 Internet accessible computers.

These figures are impressive - but for me the most rewarding thing was see how hungry people were for library services, and to hear speakers such as LA Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa and City Councilwoman Janice Hahn speak about the importance of libraries in communities.  Mayor Villaraigosa particularly emphasized the need for the Latino members of the audience to make sure they and their children are literate in English and the role the library can play in this important endeavor. 

In a community like Palos Verdes it can be easy to take libraries for granted.  Yesterday in Harbor City I was reminded that in communities struggling with poverty, illiteracy, and violence the public library is a beacon of hope.

Reading!

It's no secret that I am pushing PVLD to be at the leading edge when it comes to using new digital technologies to improve our library services - but like most librarians in my heart I am a READER.  Books and reading have been a constant presence in my life and I believe absolutely that no matter what technology offers it will never be a substitute for cracking open the pages of a new book and losing yourself in the world created by the author.  It is impossible for me to imagine a technological landscape that does not require reading as an essential skill and I believe absolutely that one of the most important roles libraries and librarians play is to foster reading skills and a love of reading.

Much of what we do at PVLD - from selecting and recommending books to story times to author talks to the summer reading program to book groups - is founded on this fundamental belief in the value and importance of books and reading.  The results show in the 22% increase in participation in our summer reading program this year, in the success of our book groups and story times, and in our circulation statistics.  Most rewarding of all is feedback like the email received by Librarians Louise Beebe and Ali Orr following their visit to a local intermediate school to give book talks:

My son is an 8th grader at PVIS and loved the talk you gave to his class last month. He promptly called me at the MIS library and asked me to bring him home a copy of the book "Elsewhere." I did and he read it in two days!!!  Whatever you presented to the PVIS students was so effective it made my son read a book he would never have picked up otherwise. He is a reluctant reader and you really made an impact. Thank you so much for speaking to his school. We very much hope you can come to ours.

The challenge is to leverage new, technology-based service models to support our traditional role as promoters of books and reading - not to leave that traditional role behind.  The good news is that our librarians here at PVLD get it!