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Great post! I really like the idea of next generation catalogue! I don’t believe it will be too long until it is standard. Just the other day I was on the Oxford Dictionary’s we dictionary and I noticed that any member of the public could add a reply about this definition and start and discussion about it. Coincidentally, I was searching ‘Web 2.0’!
Thank you for posting this. When I read this week’s readings, I read them uncritically. As a a young woman with no children, I have little experience in this area. After completing the readings, this topic became almost mathematical to me. I thought I learnt the formula for creating successful reading and literacy skills in all children! Well, your post was very eye opening and I’m grateful to have a mother’s perspective on these readings. I still learnt many other valuable things from these readings, though.
I agree that public librarians are in a great position to educate and empower the people. When I was reading your post, I kept thinking, ‘If not the librarians, then who?’ Well, I think there are a number of others who can and do also help. But as you stated, librarians are also positioned well for this task. What I find upsetting, then, is the lack of funding that they receive to deliver these services as this week’s readings suggested.
Hi Chris, I really enjoyed reading your post. I found it intersting that you had difficulties locating the information about these classes. I too have had difficulty navigating the ‘What’s on’ section of this website. I wonder, how do those who are not digitally literate, or are struggling with digital literacy, find out about these programs if a) they are difficult to find and b) they are accessed through a digital media (although I assume some adverting can be found in print and word of mouth at the library branch). Many of this week’s readings discuss the importance of reaching out to those who require help with digital literacy, and indeed these programs do that just that. However, how can they be promoted more proficiently in a way that doesn’t require a digital platform? It seems to be a catch 22 for libraries around the world.
Hi Chris,
Thanks for your comment! Yes, I agree that these programs are a great way to get children involved in reading and literacy. When I asked my neighbour if he would like to come to the library with me, he asked if he was allowed to play the Xbox there. I am in no way opposed to going to the library to use the Xbox; I think that providing gaming consoles is one of many fantastic ways that public libraries have responded to their users’ needs. However, as soon as we got to the library, my neigbour was engaged in the storytime, actually forgot about the Xbox and was even excited to borrow some books and DVDs afterwards (especially since the monkey suggested we do so!). I think this is a subtle but big step in encouraging his literacy skills.
Hi Caitlin, I like the point that you made about subject guides not teaching students how to assess bias in the resources they’ve provided. At first I wondered if this should be the role of a reference librarian. However, if reference is becoming irrelevant, as some sources suggest, I wonder if this could become a component of their work in academic libraries. It is an important skill in any discipline, but particularly a field like Peace Studies and Politics.
Hi Katherine, I really enjoyed reading this! I remember I was once trying to find C.S Lewis’ book Surprised by Joy. I didn’t have any luck searching on the public library’s catalogue. It occurred to me, however that my university might have the book in their library due to its strong philosophy, religion and English literature departments. I still remember the feeling of guilt when I loaned that book from the university library! I felt like I wasn’t using the library in the correct way. I also remember, very distinctly, the feeling of realizing how many books were in this (enormous) library that I might like to read for pleasure. However, the habit never stuck. I think the habit never stuck simply because the culture didn’t exist. The way that you wove the argument of aliteracy into your post was really great and thought provoking – mostly because I’ve never thought about that issue before! Thanks.
Hi Katherine! I also didn’t understand the true importance of storytime. The readings this week about children’s literacy really opened my eyes. I always knew, from my parents and teachers, that it was important to read to children from infancy but I never understood why. Wow! I’m really glad I was exposed to these readings. Thank you very much for the book suggestion. It looks like a great read! Do you have a particular interest in children’s literacy that lead you to this book?
Hi Steve! This is a really interesting question. When you say research do you refer to the finding of materials or the production of scholarship?
Thanks for your comment Caitlin!
I agree with your comment that states that the problem might not be just between faculty and librarian but also attracting students to attend. Even though the sessions at my previous university were compulsory, many students chose not to attend. They chose not to attend because they couldn’t see the benefit of it, especially since we did it four times a semester. I also think you have provided an excellent puzzle piece of the solution. Being able to show students how library skills aid their work would be a ideal. Like you say, it would be another task of itself. Perhaps, at some point, the importance of tracking/revealing such statistics will become so clear that it will be undertaken with support.
I really like that you brought to attention the fact that not all students are on campus but some are online. This thought occurred to me when replying to someone else’s post. I realise that I should have taken more time to consider how these students could also be involved. (I think the way our MIS lectures are given in real time to external students is quite unique. I wonder if pre-recorded lectures would work well for these library sessions where students’ lectures aren’t delivered in real time?)
Hi Debbie, The “Back to study” seminar sounds fantastic! During O-week I tired to attend as many seminars at the library as I could and which I thought would be useful to me. It is a real shame that I did not see the potential of this seminar in its title title and description. Therefore, I didn’t go. I really would have liked to. I wonder how many other students missed out too. I wonder, also, how many students choose not to go, not understanding the benefit of such seminars. ‘m glad you attended and found it so useful!
Hi Peldon! You seem to use reference services quite frequently, despite the fact that the literature often speaks about how it is becoming irrelevant. I found it really interesting how your use and perceptions of libraries changed when you arrived at QUT. This post was helpful for me as it served as a reminder that librarians must consider a user’s whole story when trying to understand their needs.
Hi Katherine! Thanks for your great post. I enjoyed your post because it made me reflect on my own. I spoke in depth about the importance of in-class library lessons/services. This post reminded me, as you stated, that in fact many tertiary students are external. While I believe, out classes at QUT have created an exceptional solution for external students (real time, mediated lectures and new recordings each week) there are certainly many universities that do not yet provide this solution. I realise now, that in-class library lessons still may exclude many people!
I particularly like your comment ‘libraries have proved their resilience and evolutionary qualities by adopting technologies that allow them to provide reference services in an online environment’. A lot of the literature speaks in a negative tone about how libraries are not evolving quickly enough, especially in the area of reference. It seems that many libraries are doing much better than they are given credit for. This seems particularly potent in your example of the McGoogan library. It seems that many libraries are at least trying to evolve, even though it may take many attempts to get to the perfect form (by which time, they most likely need to start evolving again).
