Blogging about Professional Blogs

Two of the blogs that I followed were The Travelin’ Librarian and Tame the Web. The creator of The Travelin’ Librarian, Michael Sauers, is the Technology Innovation librarian at the Nebraska Library Commission. The creator of Tame the Web, Dr. Michael Stephens, is an assistant professor for SLIS courses at San Jose State University. Some of the issues discussed in The Travelin’ Librarian are Barnes and Noble preventing PC users from downloading their nook eBooks due to problems with users being able to use the e-books for other applications and potentially giving users the ability to strip away the Nook data and resell the e-books (or torrent them online for other users). This did not affect users that have bought and downloaded Nooks, however, this may strain further relations with people that do not own a Nook and may go to other e-book vendors instead, such as Amazon’s Kindle e-books. Another article is about Fair Use in libraries and why it should be an option. Most items that are copyrighted lasts about 170 years before they can be used by anyone. Without the Fair Use in libraries, many of the materials would not be available for other future patrons to use. A positive issue that was presented was that the University of Iowa was digitizing 10,000 science fiction fanzines. This is great progress towards archiving history, and in addition to this, thirty fans will be able to catalog and digitize the collections as well.

In Tame the Web, there are issues of keeping the status quo, instead of keeping updated in the library system as well as making informed decisions. Librarians and libraries should keep their systems up to date. An example of this can be a library that still uses card cataloging systems. That may be evidence that the library using such an outdated system is still keeping old standards instead of upgrading towards a digital format instead. Another issue is how the library is a service to the community (primarily for those below the age of 18). Even though the library does not have enough services for them (or other patrons as a whole), they are still trying to find different ways to accommodate every single patron. There is also the Hyperlinked Library, which holds library services in person as well as on the Internet. Librarians and the patrons are able to communicate with each other. It is used for management as well as discussing techniques on how to run libraries and creating communities.

Some of my personal observations about issues presented in both blogs is that due to the advances of technology, it can affect users in a positive and negative way as well. Whereas Barnes and Noble are preventing PC users from downloading their e-books onto their computers, libraries are focusing more on the technical aspects of technology and the Internet by providing more of their services online for patrons to interact with them. Fair Use is essentially what the library needs in order to keep books on their shelves. However, with library hours, the time that patrons have to use services in their local library depends on funding as well. If there is not enough, ultimately they suffer in the end. However, a way to combat these issues is best demonstrated with the conversion of science fiction fanzines being catalogued and indexed by thirty fans of science fiction, everyone wins. Fans volunteered to contribute to the library by creating a digital database for the materials while granting fair use access of this data to the library patrons.

Overall, libraries, whether digital or physical, may encounter problems. However, there is always a solution to these problems so that in the end, the patron does not suffer the consequences.

References:

Hoenke, J. (2014 Nov 13). Public Service is a Library Program. Tametheweb.com Retrieved from: http://tametheweb.com/2014/11/13/public-service-is-a-library-program-by-ttw-contributor-justin-hoenke/

Sauers, M. (n.d.). About The Travelin’ Librarian. The Travelin’ Librarian. Retrieved from: http://travelinlibrarian.info/about/

Sauers, M. (2014 Sep 18). Barnes and Noble Suspends the Ability to Download Nook eBooks. The Travelin’ Librarian. Retrieved from: http://travelinlibrarian.info/2014/09/barnes-noble-suspends-ability-download-nook-ebooks/

Sauers, M. (2014 Oct 20). The Good News About Library Fair Use. The Travelin’ Librarian. Retrieved from: http://travelinlibrarian.info/2014/10/good-news-library-fair-use/

Sauers, M. (2014 Oct 29). University of Iowa Libraries to digitize 10,000 Science Fiction fanzines. The Travelin’ Librarian. Retrieved from: http://travelinlibrarian.info/2014/10/univeristy-iowa-libraries-digitize-10000-science-fiction-fanzines/

Stephens, M. (n.d.). About Michael Stephens | Tame The Web. Tametheweb.com Retrieved from: http://tametheweb.com/about-michael-stephens/

Stephens, M. (n.d.). The Hyperlinked Library. Tametheweb.com Retrieved from: http://tametheweb.com/the-hyperlinked-library/

Stephens, M. (2014 Oct 21). Office Hours: Always Doesn’t Live Here Anymore. Tametheweb.com Retrieved from: http://tametheweb.com/2014/10/21/office-hours-always-doesnt-live-here-anymore/

Stephens, M. (2014 Oct 21). Always Doesn’t Live Here Anymore | Office Hours. Libraryjournal.com Retrieved from: http://lj.libraryjournal.com/2014/10/opinion/michael-stephens/always-doesnt-live-here-anymore-office-hours/