[Deborah Fuller]

I enjoyed your post  Kirsty. It is an interesting but valid take on pop culture to discuss music in public libraries. As you say libraries are becoming more community hubs than the traditional silent reading places of my childhood. Libraries should be inclusive places where people can go and feel welcome. Music is a large part of many people’s lives and by holding specific musical events, it will attract new people into the library. Similarly other culture events could be held in libraries such as street performers and fashion shows which will expand on their inclusivity.

[Deborah Fuller]

I really enjoyed reading your post Luke. I felt it provided a concise and informative study for someone who was unable to attend the  chat. I agree that as librarians it is not up to us to judge but to provide to the public what they want. The discussion about how things that are considered trashy can later be seen as classics. I think Dickens started by writing a serial for a newspaper and his writing is now considered classic and a view of Victorian England. Similarly some of the first zines or now seen as being important as offering an insight into the culture and society at the time.

[Deborah Fuller]

Thanks for your comments Steven, it is very true that it is often cheaper to buy clothes than make them, particularly with all the cheap online outlets springing up. Why spend time and effort plus the cost of material making a dress when they are available online for $20? The real cost of these mass produced cheap clothes on our environment and the workers that make them is often overlooked. I think it would be great to see a return to locally produced and homemade things but I can’t see it happening with the current demand for cheap and disposable.

[Deborah Fuller]

Hi Tracey, You can download Endnote for free from the library site, here’s the link and if you can’t get to the sessions there are some useful videos on You-Tube, although I’ve not tried them (something for me to do in the semester break). Hope that helps you.

Debbie

[Deborah Fuller]

Very interesting post Samantha. I grew up in Thatcher’s England in the late 1970s and 1980s and read the punk zines, which has you said offer a snapshot of the political and cultural movements at that time. My regret is I didn’t keep them as it would be interesting to look back at them. For this reason, I like you feel libraries should be adding them to their collections, so in the future researchers can examine history from the point of view of the people living at the time.

[Deborah Fuller]

Great post Kate. I want to go on a field trip to Sno-Isle. I’ve just looked at the website and like you say it is really appealing, although I’m probably not the target demographic. I agree teens do seem to be the neglected generation, not just in libraries, they’re neither child or adult and do need to have programs and spaces geared to their needs and places that they can meet and be safe and accepted.

[Deborah Fuller]

I read your post with interest Jennifer, as I had to work whilst the chat was on, although I caught some in my break. It is a good summary of the chat and the main themes. it really summarises how libraries are community hubs and not just reading rooms anymore. Your final sentence sums it up beautifully.

[Deborah Fuller]

Thanks for your feedback Katherine, I do agree that children should be able to self-censor what they read to a certain extent. I feel that if any censoring does take place it should be performed by the parents, as it is to be hoped that they would know better than the librarian what they can cope with it. I don’t feel that they should blame the librarian if the child borrows a book that they disapprove of. It is a very tricky  and  potentially contentious area, particularly as I have no children.

[Deborah Fuller]

Thanks for your feedback Sarah, I’ve never heard of Menderley, but will look at it in the break as it may work better for  me than Endnote. I supposed QUT have Endnote so they promote that, which isn’t a bad thing as they purchase it for us. It is always good to hear other viewpoints.

[Deborah Fuller]

Hi Peldon, that was interesting post and I like the idea of the questions at the end. After  all this is a learning exercise for us. Like yourself and Ruth, I think they are difficult questions to answer:

1. I think researchers are like students: some will use every service the library offers them, other will dip in and out as needed and others will do it all on their own (or employ a research assistant.
2. I do think liaison librarians are competent enough to provide assistance> they are the experts in information and will have at least a good working knowledge of databases and resources specific to their area. I don’t think they necessarily need to be an expert in the subject, just to know where to find information on it.
3. I would like to  believe the programs and services were successful, but its hard to say without seeing the figures.

Thanks for making me think.

[Deborah Fuller]

Thanks for your kind comments Peldon, I agree with you Endnotes is an invaluable tool and I wish that I had made the effort to do the class earlier. I have a separate group for each subject with subgroups in that for large assignments. I hope to be able to use it to its full potential next semester when I have time to sort it out properly. I, like yourself think the program should be better promoted, as it was only after reading earlier blog posts that I realised its full potential

[Deborah Fuller]

Very interesting post Saurav. I agree it’s good that they’re aiming these programs at children, as it is important children experience new things in order to develop to their full potential. Hopefully they are aiming them at girls as well as boys, as I recall from a previous post about the EDGE, that it was felt to be very male dominated.

[Deborah Fuller]

An interesting and thought provoking post. My husband teaches science in a small religious school where humanities (and arts) are neglected in favour of science and business. I have had many discussion with him, (having a background in a humanities/science degree myself) that I feel more balance is needed. He agrees but says the culture of the school and parents meant that offering these subjects was not viable, which I felt was a bit sad.  We need a balance population with interests and knowledge in a range of subjects and I think research and independent thoughts should be encouraged throughout this range. You’re not a failed PhD student, the fact you started it is an achievement in itself, and it sounds like the system failed you.

[Deborah Fuller]

Another interesting and informative post Katherine.  The summaries you provided for the question responses provided reinforcement for me about the chat, which often can be difficult to keep up with, particularly as my platform crashed a couple of times. Your closing sentence was an excellent  summary of the chat.

[Deborah Fuller]

I found your post interesting and informative Leena. It was a well-written summary of the chat. I enjoy reading the Twitter chat posts, as I often find it difficult to keep up with the chats online and your post definitely helped consolidate the chat in my mind. Thank you

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