Building a Library Community for Students

I found Catherine Masrour’s article a solid reminder that innovation does not have to be groundbreaking or expensive to change the culture or climate of a library.  In a time where education feels like “we must innovate or become obsolete”  (Dickey, 2023) it was nice to have a reminder that having the right people in the right place makes an impact on our students. Creating a space where students feel welcomed, and they can see themselves in that space makes it a welcoming place. 

After hiring the assistant basketball coach to be a library TA, the environment and clientele of the library changed for the better.  It wasn’t that the athletes of the school didn’t feel welcome before their coach started working in the library; it was that they didn’t yet understand that the library is for everyone.  But once someone like them opened the door they realized that the space had so much to offer them.  Especially in high school, where who your friends are and what activities you participate in define you as a person, it is so easy for students to see themselves as only one type of person.  And if the only reason a student goes to the library is because their English teacher takes them, they don’t see they have ownership in the library space too.  The article resonated because it can be so difficult to make students “suddenly curious about what goes on” in the library, but if more teachers and staff use the library as a space where all students can learn, they will see themselves as learners too. 

Masrour, C. (2024). A coach in the library makes an impact. School Library Journal, 70(8), 19. https://www.slj.com/story/basketball-coach-scores-at-library-reasons-to-love-libraries

"Library as Infrastructure"--Mattern, S.

  Christine Ryu

INFO266

Mattern, S. (2014). Library as Infrastructure. Places-a Forum of Environmental Design.   https://doi.org/10.22269/140609

 

This article focuses on the different capacities the library has served and continues to serve the community. It begins by describing the contribution of Melvil Dewey and how he created the first library school at Columbia College. Mattern compares the library to a platform-a term used by developers to mean a base where new applications, technologies, and processes are created. While this is a great metaphor for the library as a place of innovation and collaboration, Mattern points out the problems with the platform model. One such problem is the two-dimensional stage where, "resources are laid out for users to do stuff with" (2014). The library is also looked at as infrastructure, especially for its function in times of disasters and more recently, the COVID pandemic. Libraries, as reported by Mattern, are "ever evolving" infrastructures beyond architectural (but that is included) and our thinking of libraries in that way can assist us in better identifying "what roles we want our libraries to serve, and what we can reasonably expect of them" (2014).  The different social and symbolic function of libraries is explored and how libraries have historically been the place where social  and informational structures intersect. 

This article is great because it breaks down the different transformations the library has fluidly passed through in order to meet the ever-changing needs of the community. Libraries are no longer just a building that houses books, even the physical structure of libraries are changing to reflect the needs of the community, namely spaces for information communities to meet and exchange ideas. Mattern uses an apt, if not flawed metaphor of the library as a platform, especially as it ties in with today’s technology dependence.

Public and School Library Collaboration

Public and School Libraries Collaborate

Gonzalez, Rogelio


Keasler, C. (2016). Working Together: Simple ways public and
school librarians can collaborate. School Library Journal. Retrieved from
https://www.slj.com/?detailStory=better-together-simple-ways-public-and-school-
librarians-can-collaborate

Public libraries and school libraries have the opportunity to develop
partnership and become much more effective if they were to work
independently. The article  Working Together: Simple Ways Public
and School Librarians Can Collaborate provides insight in ways school
and public libraries can work together (Keasler, 2016). Through collaboration
students and parents could be able to transition from school and public
libraries without having to decide which organization to invest their time.
Public Librarians can bring the library to school and encourage students
to visit the library during times that do not conflict with school activities (Keasler, 2016). 

By cultivating a positive relationship both institutions stand to gain and
provide better resources for their community members (Keasler, 2016).
They also can organize events that do not conflict one another which prevents
community members from choosing one over another. School libraries and public
libraries have the ability to purchase relative resources that effectively target
an audience. In this case, children and teenagers can reap the benefits. In a curricular
focus or during a fleeting fad public libraries have an opportunity to build a positive
relationship with community members and faculty at schools in their zone (Keasler, 2016).
This is known as capitalizing or “striking when the iron’s hot,” a metaphor for
promoting the library during events or a craze to capture an audience's attention
(Keasler, 2016). 

The coordination with schools and public libraries illustrates the importance
of teamwork in which other entities can do the same. Collection development
can be inclusive with partnership and collaboration with different organizations
that have similar objectives. In addition, the collaboration also guarantees that
resources within the library will be utilized as they are intended. Moreover, 
partnering up can also be cost effective in that school libraries and public libraries
split the cost in necessary supplies (Kealser, 2016). Whether it’s programs or
supplies  participation can boost up circulation and program success. Creating a
collaborative community can change the effectiveness of school and public libraries. 

Alvarez, Liza

Stroup Tristao, M. (2017). Sources unknown: Confirmation bias. Retrieved from https://www.sjpl.org/blog/sources-unknown-confirmation-bias

Sources Unknown: Confirmation Bias 

This is a video clip and article explaining “confirmation bias” on the San Jose Public Library Blog by librarian Megan Tirstao. The video features an example of an interviewer testing people to see if they can catch their own confirmation bias with brain exercise to find a pattern. Time after time the participants continue to incorrectly answer the puzzle because of their “conformation bias”. The article goes on to describe the concept in further detail providing examples as well as tips on how to avoid “confirmation bias”  by expanding routine media sources, relying more on primary sources, and verifying the information against more than one other source.

The article provides links to other blogs about data literacy, fact INFOchecking and “fake news”. I find this type of article and material extremely pertinent to the public in general, but very apropos of the social and political climate in the United States at the moment. Not only does this topic inform the populace on how to be more discriminatory in order to find accurate information, but it is one of much interest across the nation and can contribute to a more educated and democratic population.

Teens, Technology, and Libraries: An Uncertain Relationship

Thoai Truong

Agosto, D.E. Magee, R. M.  Dickard, M.  Forte, A. (2016, July). Teens, technology, and libraries: An

          uncertain relationship. Library Quarterly, 86(3), 248-269. Retrieved from   

          http://www.journals.uchicago.edu.libaccess.sjlibrary.org/doi/pdfplus/10.1086/686673

Descriptive Summary:

The goal of this study is to find the relationship betwee teens, libraries, and technology.  25 high school students were surveyed and interviewed at an urban magnet public school.  They all volunteered and were paid $20 for their time.  Students were asked about their most recent library visit.  What exactly did the do in the library and why?  The data collected revealed that most students use the library for social interaction and leisure opportunities.  Most claimed that their limited library use was due to a library being equated with books.  They also viewed the library as having limited resources.  The physical space of the library became a place to do things for non library purposes.  Overall, the library was not a place where students were seeking to use technology.  Most had access to the Internet and computer at home. There were a small number of students that enjoyed checking out books over e-books.

Evaluation:

Although the research only surveyed 25 students, it provided insight into the thinking of teenagers. Today most families have Internet access at home and a smart phone, which makes information retrieval at the library not very important.  Their reasoning and purpose for library use makes sense. I would like more students to be interviewed. I would also like to see if this is the same sentiment across the United States. Follow up questions allowed for more understanding to their reasons for using/not using the library. I like the fact that the researchers allowed the students to define the library.

Perhaps we are seeing more maker spaces and learning commons taking shape in libraries due to this attitude by teenagers.  Libraries are trying to draw in patrons, and need to find alternative ways, besides technology, which is no longer the main draw to libraries.

Is anyone paying attention to Library posting on Social Media?

 Wilson, Shibrie

Dowd, N. (2013, May 7). Social Media: Libraries Are Posting, but Is Anyone Listening? Retrieved from http://lj.libraryjournal.com/2013/05/marketing/social-media-libraries-are-posting-but-is-anyone-listening/

Considering amount of people using social media outlets such as Twitter and Facebook, certainly this can be an outlet for libraries to use as a platform for marketing. This is article noticed that this can be both yes and no. According to a recent survey by Library Journal's Survey "86 percent of libraries said they were using social media. The top two social media platforms used by libraries were Facebook (99 percent) and Twitter (56 percent)." Issue with using social media outlets is that some libraries do not have a strategic plan to implement goals. There must be a sense of direction when creating social media in order to connect patrons to utilize services provided. Allowing the social media site to be fun and interactive is another concept in which some libraries are struggling with. Just as Dowd stated in article that you want to be able to engage users and use visual techniques and also make it fun. Challenge people to like your post or follow you and it will increase over time the amount of individuals that are actually paying attention to the Library on social media.

Opinion:
Using social media can be great for some libraries and a fail for many. This article addresses different techniques in which I agree with as to why some libraries are unsuccessful with their social media accounts while others are prospering. Everything is about marketing and how you are engaging users, and keep it social and interactive. After all that is why it is social media and platform for interacting users and advertising. 

Card Catalogs a Thing of the Past

Layne, Julia

Online Computer Library Center. (2015, October 1). OCLC prints last library catalog cards: Today’s library users have access to the world’s knowledge through digital library networks. Retrieved from http://bit.ly/1YULx6R

This is old news, but worth sharing. Card catalogs are officially a thing of the past with the last printing of library catalog cards. With the dawn of computer catalogs the process of searching for library holdings was streamlined. Not only can users search for what is available at their local library, they are able to access library collections globally. Card catalogs were mostly phased out many years ago, but did serve as a nostalgic backup for libraries since the online catalog was created in 1971 with the introduction of WorldCat. It is interesting that there are a few patrons who still ask about the card catalog and are horrified that it no longer is used. This is in stark contrast to our younger patrons who would have no idea what this resource is, let alone how to use it. This part of library history may be retired, but it will not be forgotten. There is even a line of women’s purses created by Kate Spade that will satisfy any card catalog fan.

Millennials are Library Patrons

Wilson, Shibrie

Peet, L. (2014, September 16). Pew Report Finds Millennials are Readers, Library Users. Retrieved from http://lj.libraryjournal.com/2014/09/youth-services/pew-report-finds-millennials-are-readers-library-users/#_

Research has found that Millennials are reading just as much as adults. Millennials are defined as any person born between 1985-1998. Millennials and their involvement in library vary in numerous ways in comparison to older adults. According to the study, "Millennials read about as much as older adults, with 43 percent saying that they read a book in some format (print, audiobook, or ebook) every day. The difference is that Millennials are more likely to utilize the public library website in comparison to older patrons. This due to fact that majority of Millennials find the internet easier to use in regards to physically searching for materials. The difference with Millennials is that they do not receive full experience of library services because they are more likely to use internet. 

Opinion:

Being that I am considered a Millennial I find it disturbing that individuals feel that if the library were to close it would not impact community. This generation wants everything with a click of the button in which has its pros and cons. It is great that they are using resources in which library has provided for research, but it is important to know more that one perspective of library. 

Marketing Libraries Is Like....

Wilson, Shibrie

Potter, N. (2013, April 18). Marketing Libraries Is Like Marketing Mayonnaise. Retrieved from http://lj.libraryjournal.com/2013/04/opinion/advocates-corner/marketing-libraries-is-like-marketing-mayonnaise/

Ned Potter describes the difficulty of marketing libraries and it is due to time, funding, and resources. Another issue is perception of what library serves to its users is misunderstood. "Public perception of what libraries actually do is about 15 years behind the reality in a lot of cases." In order to have a successful outcome in marketing a library you must do so regularly. Advertising everywhere and create awareness of services provides to diverse group of patrons. Potter explains Libraries marketing being like that of Mayonnaise and how it is not always appealing but it process of reminder. Make marketing meaningful "then people will think of you when they need you, and then they'll walk in through the door."

Opinion:
Library marketing can be a task but it is all about the approach and time taken to do so. I enjoyed comparison of libraries to mayonnaise simply because they are both things in which people are not rushing towards. Some of the most successful programs are due to great marketing overtime. Marketing programs a month prior to and having it posted everywhere will become a constant reminder and patrons are more eager to attend. You want to avoid rushed marketing and brand your library in a way in which people will notice they need you for various services.,