A comment from our Children's Librarian yesterday really got me thinking about how changing technology will be/is affecting how patrons use libraries. She said that a number of patrons have told her that they prefer to use their video-on-demand service through their cable system to watch movies vs. renting DVDs from the library.
We have not seen a decrease in our DVD circulation but if this trend continues, we can expect to see one, and then what? Libraries have had movies in their collections since the dawn of videotapes in the late '70s/early '80s. The circulation of VHS tapes and then DVDs has traditionally been high, contributing a significant count to libraries' overall circulation statistics, not to mention the income generated by video rentals. If DVD rentals disappear (or should I say 'when'), library circulation statistics will decrease. Consequently, funding of libraries will decrease, as many funding formulas take circulation statistics into consideration.
The question arises: in the Web 2.0 age, what is the real value of circulation statistics for libraries' circulation of 'things'? Should libraries really be counting something else, or adding something else to their count, to provide an indicator of library usage? I believe that statistics like library visits and public computer usage will become of more value than circulation figures to local governments and library funders in the not-too-distant future. Furthermore, libraries dependent on income from DVD rentals will have to seek this income elsewhere.
Will there be another format to replace DVDs that libraries can circulate and count? Perhaps, but I don't believe it's very likely. Should libraries be getting into the video-on-demand service? Perhaps, but they will face stiff competition from cable/satellite providers who have been providing this service for some time already.
In this virtual, downloadable age, the role of libraries is definitely changing. Measures of libraries' success will have to change as well.
Wednesday, November 5, 2008
Tuesday, November 4, 2008
Flickr Mashups
Today, I explored some of the cool mashups that can be created with Flickr. It's amazing how many things you can do with a photograph. I particularly enjoyed fd's Flickr Toys. I'm intrigued by patterns, and fd (AKA John Watson) has some great mashups that convert your photo or graphic into some fascinating patterns (e.g., jigsaw puzzle, color palette, Warhol painting, beads). I probably like the jigsaw the best and wish you could create an actual puzzle with it (I'm sure there's another tool out there that does just that!). Where do these people find the time to come up with these things? I'm so non-creative I just can't comprehend!
Monday, November 3, 2008
fireplace
A bit of the old and the new. This shot was taken in the magazine area of the Carnegie Room of the Adult Library. Would Andrew Carnegie recognize his library 106 years later? One wonders. The fireplace is no longer in use. It occupies the space that, at one time, WAS the entire Phoenixville Library. On the left side of the picture you can see a little bit into the 1988 addition, where, on this floor, the Circulation Desk now resides, in addition to several computers, the biography and nonfiction collections, DVDs, audiobooks, three offices, and more.
Monday, October 20, 2008
Welcome to My Blog
This is my blog for the 23 Things project of the Chester County Library System. I never really thought I'd ever have much to say on a blog, but it's amazing what an incentive an MP3 player can be!
Today I learned about the 7 1/2 Habits of Successful Lifelong Learners. The easiest of these habits for me is "accept responsibility for your own learning", as I have always been a very responsible person, never shifting blame and responsibility away from myself. The hardest of these habits would probably be "teach/mentor others". Perhaps I'm too focused on the things I need to do for myself that I have difficulty teaching others, especially when it involves a skill that I don't believe I have mastered myself. I'm also not a very perceptive person, so it's often difficult for me to recognize where others are making mistakes and what problems need to be corrected. I am always willing to try to help when asked, however, and will do so readily during this 23 Things process.
Today I learned about the 7 1/2 Habits of Successful Lifelong Learners. The easiest of these habits for me is "accept responsibility for your own learning", as I have always been a very responsible person, never shifting blame and responsibility away from myself. The hardest of these habits would probably be "teach/mentor others". Perhaps I'm too focused on the things I need to do for myself that I have difficulty teaching others, especially when it involves a skill that I don't believe I have mastered myself. I'm also not a very perceptive person, so it's often difficult for me to recognize where others are making mistakes and what problems need to be corrected. I am always willing to try to help when asked, however, and will do so readily during this 23 Things process.
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