Curbside Pickup Library Service

Maw, Laura 

LM 

Newfoundland & Labrador Public Libraries. (2020, June 17). Newfoundland and Labrador Public Libraries to begin curbside services, Tuesday June 23rd, 2020, at select locations [Press release]. Retrieved from https://www.nlpl.ca/cus_scripts/pdf/NLPL-to-begin-curbside-services.pdf 

Curbside pickup services are the beginning of the Newfoundland & Labrador Public Libraries building reopening services. Library branches are coming into the curbside service using a phased approach, with four branches starting. With this service, patrons can access their library’s physical collection again through a contactless service, where patrons order their materials online and pick them up by drive-thru service at their local branch. Drive-thru pick up appointment times are assigned. All returned materials are being quarantined for 72 hours to prevent the spread of COVID-19. 

I think this is an innovative way to allow patrons to access their library’s physical collection while still maintaining staff and community safety during the pandemic. I wonder if people may get used to the convenience of a drive-thru service and request to keep the service after the pandemic is over. This also seems like an excellent way to make libraries more accessible to people with mobility disabilities, where the physical building may be difficult to access.

Young Adult Use of Ebooks

Gray, R. & Howard, V. (2017, May 11). Young adults use of ebooks: An analysis of public library services and resources. Public Library Quarterly 36(3). Retreived from https://doi-org.libaccess.sjlibrary.org/10.1080/01616846.2017.1316149

In their survey of teen / young adult librarians across North America, Robyn Gray and Vivian Howard found that most librarians believe there is little to no interest in ebooks among the teen patrons they service at their libraries. However, these authors believe that the programming and promotion of ebooks is being done all wrong. Instead of focusing on advertising the titles and procedures for using the ebooks, libraries should be informing teenagers of the benefits of reading an ebook. Many teenagers are self-conscious about the types of books they read, or their reading level. By reading ebooks they can have more privacy, since their peers are not able to see the books they are reading. There are many advantages, and many disadvantages, to reading ebooks discussed in the books. However, one advantage that I can think of is the ability for students to immediately search for the definition of a word they do not understand, assisting in their vocabulary development and reading comprehension. There are many reasons that teenagers should have the option of ebooks in their accessible library collections.

Perception Matters

Richers, Katherine

 

Powers, B. (2016). Perception matters: What message are we sending to faculty with departmental book allocations? Collection Management, 41(4), 221-227. doi: 10.1080/01462679.2016.1242443

 

Summary:
In this article, the author focuses on how the faculty of a university can help build a collection as well as how changing budget allotments can bring libraries more in line with their modern-day purposes. Do budgets accurately reflect types of materials in the library? Some have tried to shift the focus of the budget from acquisitions to access.  She looks at the possibility of eliminating departmental budget allocations, and notes how the college where she worked did not adequately reach out to faculty on the subject. The library sent out emails about the book collection and did not explore anything different for other collections. Librarians and faculty at her college rarely went over budget so rethinking the allocations would not have been too problematic. In 2016, the college finally restructured their budget to encourage faculty to work with librarians to develop subject-based collections in different formats.

 

Evaluation:
All the budget politics were confusing, but I understood it. Thinking back to the Sammonds and Housewright article I posted, I think physical books are too closely associated with libraries. While I am a great fan of books and I believe that we should have analog materials, the prevalence of the internet and electronic formats demands differ materials. The college’s library should have emailed the faculty about more options besides the book budget.

 

 

 

 

"Teen Services Competencies for Library Staff" -- Keep this handy!

Snow, Elizabeth (Betsy)

"Teen Services Competencies for Library Staff", American Library Association, March 1, 2010.

http://www.ala.org/yalsa/guidelines/yacompetencies (Accessed November 27, 2018)

Document ID: 622a3066-43b3-d3e4-a9a8-fdd45987d59e

Summary:
The competencies for teen services are very helpful for librarians to understand what teens need in a public library setting, but are also a cogent justification for high school teacher librarians as they plan. From finding ways to engage youth and their families along with the community to reflecting teens and their interests, this article includes handy printouts to post in your space or to give to administrators.

Evaluation:
The standout competencies are "Equity of Acess" and "Continuous Learning" as our role in teen lives cannot be underestimated. Librarians are often the frontline to providing services and outreach, academic or otherwise. Teachers can get bogged down by classroom logistics and this serves as a holistic approach to teen education.

Downloads are here: https://www.dropbox.com/s/zo306yughdta5xr/Screenshot%202018-11-27%2011.31.32.png?dl=0

Friends for School Library Improvement

Poser-Brown, Lora

Kaun, T. (2014). Friends of the Oakland Public School Libraries: Building bridges to the local community. CSLA Journal, 38(1), 20-23.

Reflection: Reading about the Oakland, CA, public schools and their diminishing library existence engaged my mind. The district has formed a strong partnership with vested community members, who in turn formed a new Friends of School Libraries group. The article details how the district and Friends have invested in community relationships and bettering their school libraries, some of which have now been completely overhauled. The article contains great step-by-step information on the process of reviving a dying sector of the district’s budget: the school libraries.

Tuscon's seed library fosters food sovereignty in a desert

Rivera, Destiny 

Kapoor, M. L. (2017, September 22). Tuscon’s seed library fosters food sovereignty in a desert. High Country News. Retrieved from https://www.hcn.org/articles/communities -tucsons-seed-library-fosters-food-sovereignty-in-a-desert

This article examines the role that seed libraries can play in refugee communities and many other marginalized communities.  A substantial percentage of refugees come from lands and cultures in which growing food is a part of their daily life and ritual. This practice of self-sufficiency is not only a means to lower living expenses, but is often a value deeply embedded within the culture and hearts of the people. Perhaps refugees were land-tenders or farmers. Then they come to a new country, subjected to new cultural codes, and an American society that can be so disconnected from the land. They have a deep relationship and reliance on the land and being able to grow food on their own. They are accustomed to food sovereignty. When they are deprived of access to land, this can often contribute to feelings of alienation and isolation. Seed libraries, thus, allow individuals to “retain a sense of cultural heritage and identity”.  Another community and population that could be deeply impacted by the presence of seed libraries within the public library are indigenous populations. Ethnobiologist and co-founder of Native Seeds/SEARCH, Gary Nabhan, says that

“[he was] told by members of local tribes that traditional food crops were in danger of disappearing — and that tribal members’ health could benefit from their return. Today, Native Seeds/SEARCH safeguards some 1,900 accessions of domesticated crops and wild relatives, related to the agricultural practices of more than 50 indigenous groups, as well as Hispanic communities and Anglo settlers. Tribal communities in the region have free access to seeds. Native Seeds/SEARCH also teaches workshops where students learn to use, save and share local food plants”.

Native Seeds/SEARCH collaborated with the Pima County Public Library to establish a seed bank that has been able to touch the lives of many and transform the cultural values of a community. Native Seeds/SEARCH is a “globally known regional seed saving organization that specializes in conserving and sharing desert-adapted landraces”. Nabhan also goes on to say,

“Sometimes the heirloom vegetable movement gets rarified, that it’s only for the gourmet. But it’s really an indigenous and immigrant movement. It’s in the households of the poor who can’t afford high water bills, whose kids need diverse nutrition” (Kapoor 2017).

In addition, this article presents the role of technology in seed library procedures. Kapoor states that “aspiring gardeners can look up varieties electronically, put seeds on reserve and check out 10 packs at a time”. The accessibility of seeds by digital means is a truly powerful testament of our times, merging old traditions with new.

Collection Development and Needs of people with Disabilities

Carol B. Wilson
INFO 266
Additional Reading
10/11/2016

Collection Development, E-Resources, and Meeting the Needs of People with Disabilities

Premise:

•         When a librarian is in the process of purchasing electronic resources, there are a number of concerns and points that need to be addressed.  However it is rare that librarians are aware of or thinking about accessibility for the disabled community.  The requirements are outlined in Section 508 of the Americans with Disabilities Act and WCAG 2.0, both present standards for accessibility in the digital space.  This paper discusses the basics of how to check vendor’s electronic resources for accessibility.

Points to consider:

• This subject is of the utmost importance for K-12^th school libraries and Academic Libraries to comply with accessibility under American With Disability Act (ADA) for their students.
•   Public Libraries are rarely aware nor do they know what to check for when looking at different vendors.  Often vendors do not provide adequate information about how their databases are compatible with adaptive technology.
•   This journal article had the perspective for both the vendor and the selector about the process of meeting accessibility standards.
•   From the perspective of the Selector, the degree of accessibility is not clear even after the vendor filled out product accessibility testing.  Does the library have other options for their patrons to gain the same level of access? 
•   From the perspective of the vendor, the driving force of how to make their services accessible is getting feedback from the customer.  Rarely do they get any feedback on adaptive software interactions or if efforts are successful.  This makes it difficult to know which areas their databases need to be work on.

Most important take away:

• Selector librarians should read Section 508 of ADA as well as WCAG 2.0 Level AA guidelines.  This will provide a framework of questions that one may ask potential vendors while vetting different services.
•   Having a voluntary product accessibility template (VPAT), that can be provided to potential vendors can help increase disability accessibility but also encourages vendors to change their products to be more accessible in the future.
•   Librarians should add accessibility commitment to their collection development policy.  Accessibility for disabilities help further ease of access for elderly patrons as well as English as second language patrons.

 Citation

Schmetzke, A., Pruitt, C., & Bruno, M. (2014). Collection Development, E‐Resources, and Meeting   the Needs of People With Disabilities. Retrieved from http://docs.lib.purdue.edu/charleston/2014/Collection/6/.

Library services for youth with Autism Spectrum Disorders

Farmer, L. S. (2013). The Perspectives of a Public Library. Library services for youth with Autism Spectrum Disorders (pp. 191-205). Chicago: ALA.

In this chapter, the author describes how public libraries can alter their collection to support individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). The author advises having materials on social skills within the collection and easily available to individuals with ASD. This chapter describes the experience of Lancaster Public library as it opens an Autism Resource Center in its library. The author explains that the librarians found themselves without the resources or knowledge to provide accurate information for the high volume of ASD-related questions. They Lancaster Public library created the center to assist families and individuals with ASD find information. They expanded their collection to include many journals and books on ASD. They also added materials to collections to assist individuals with ASD cope such as noise canceling headphones, weighted toys, and manipulatives. A professor at California State University Long Beach wrote this book. She is an experienced librarian, professor, teacher, and have worked in schools, public libraries, and academic libraries. This book is a well-researched detailed overview of the methods and approaches libraries can implement to assist individuals with ASD in their libraries. As the rate of ASD increases across the countries, across racial, and socioeconomic divides the importance of meeting the needs of this community has never more apparent.

Google and Digital Archiving Practices

      Journalist Alina Selyukh reports news of court rulings in favor of digital archiving practices in her article, “Google;s Book-Scanning Project Is Legal, U.S. Appeals Court Says”. Google has been steadily building an impressive archive collection. Much of this collection is posted and accessible to internet users. Writers are concerned that such practices as book-scanning is in direct violation of copyright laws. The excerpts posted online from books are thought to discourage book sales which creates theoretical lost revenue for authors. Recently, one court came to the conclusion that rights aren’t being violated and the book-scanning practice is legal. For now, Google will continue to build their digital archive. The article suggests that Google may have over twenty billion books listed in the digital collection. I conclude; this makes Google and Super Librarian! While this article is short and simple, I find it’s important to keep an eye on which way courts sway when addressing copyright and digital archive issues.

References:

Google's Book-Scanning Project Is Legal, U.S. Appeals Court Says

October 16, 201511:28 AM ET

Alina Selyukh

http://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2015/10/16/449172748/googles-book-scanning-project-is-legal-u-s-appeals-court-says?utm_source=facebook.com&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=npr&utm_term=nprnews&utm_content=2041

50:50 by 2020

Zatko, Ruzena

Lodge, D. (2015). ‘50:50 by 2020’. Australian Library Journal, 64(3), 165-167.

doi:10.1080/00049670.2015.1041217

Summary:

In this article, Damien Lodge discusses patterns in the future of eBooks and eReaders. Lodge is currently a lecturer at Charles Strut University and previously served as President for Australian and Library Information Association (ALIA). Although the article is title 50/50 by 2020, the conclusion ends that the ratio of eBooks vs prints will most likely be 20:80.

The article is informative on statistics of eReaders from 2010 to present. The results show that from 2010 (when eReaders started to take off) the trend has since slowed down and the purchase of readers is becoming more stagnant. Lodge also mentions that major publishing companies are working with libraries in terms of receiving discounts with eBooks.

Evaluation:


            Lodge demonstrated some great points in the future of electronic readers and books, and whether libraries and us print enthusiasts should be concerned. The article covered the pros of eBooks that were mentioned, such as requiring less space, fewer staff, and the savings in budget. Also, an interesting observation is Lodge realizes that eBooks are turning into another format offered at libraries (such as hardcover, audio, etc.) instead of a replacement of print books. On that note, it would be interested to hear other librarians’ feelings about this and if they really care for the perk of less space and staff since this is jeopardizing job security.
           Overall, it does demonstrate that libraries in general are taking the next step to equip their library with eBook for their tech savvy patrons. What the article could have covered is approximately what percentage of libraries are frequently working with publishers and taking advantage of the offers. Also, if and what percentage of libraries still don’t offer eBooks for whatever reason.

Collections for the Digital Age

Hoback, Nicole

Reference: Disher, W. (2014). Crash course in collection development. Santa Barbara, CA.: Libraries Unlimited.

Summary: 

In chapter 15, Collections for the Digital Age, Disher (2014) delivers a thoughtful argument as to why e-Services are on the rise. With technology improving and becoming more accessible this has many libraries questioning their collection and its future impact. Libraries are now not as eager to update their physical collection and pay more attention to their electronic collection. The advantages to collections online (i.e. eBooks) is the accessibility that patrons are able to utilize from any device that can access the internet. With eCollections on the rise libraries have a unique opportunity to reinvent themselves and the space that once housed large print collections. Unlike traditional collections, digital collections take away the headache for users, such as late fees and do not require the traditional processing times. Of course to any change there are downsides to consider, one being that patrons who do not have internet access at home will be unable to take advantage of these changes, the library must now rely on technology, which can pose issues from time to time. Despite these obstacles, libraries are still choosing to pursue an eCollection, others deciding to purchase both the online and physical copy, but this can be difficult when a library can only afford to purchase one, due to budget constraints. With the continued improvements to technology it will be important for libraries to keep up with technology to remain relevant to its patrons. 

Evaluation: 

Reading through Disher's thoughtful analysis of the development of eCollections, I felt that many important points were made. One being that libraries will have to step out of their comfort zone and provide more options other than a print collection. While he does make many important points of the importance of an eCollection he also mentions the downsides, which are important when considering the impact that this will have on the libraries identity as a whole. For those who live in rural areas an eCollection may not be as important as keeping the physical collection up-to-date, due to the lack or unreliability of internet access. With technology expansion and eCollections on the rise I feel that this is an important time for libraries and expanding their network of patrons. 

Sherman Alexie Novel tops List of Books Americans want Censored

Sullivan, Maureen

Flood, A. (2015). Sherman Alexie novel tops list of books Americans want censored. The Guardian. Retrieved from: http://www.theguardian.com/books/2015/apr/13/sherman-alexie-novel-tops-list-of-books-americans-want-censored-2014.

Summary: The American Library Association released its top ten banned books from 2014, and Sherman Alexie's Absolutely True Diary of a Part-time Indian made the number one spot. The article discusses the reasons why some of the books are banned, but also points out that over half of the books that are banned contain diverse content, and/or were written by authors of color, referring to Malinda Lo's study of diverse authors and banned books.

Evaluation: In considering books to purchase in our collection, I am especially interested in culling the blogs and reviews of diverse books, about young people from all backgrounds, and written by authors from all backgrounds and experiences. While I am not surprised by some of the books on the banned list, I am concerned about the idea raised by Malinda Lo that the underlying reason that those books may be banned is due to their differences. "Diversity is actually under attack." Deeming a book inappropriate for readers is challenging to navigate as it is, but if it is also potentially denying a student or young person to read about an experience they have experienced, or inspire them to write their own story, that is oppression.