Reflections from Readings (on-campus & 6/21/06)
June 21, 2006 paravion2
On campus readings- reflectionAyanna LewisLIS 578LE, Summer 2006
So when I signed up for this course, I was so nervous. I was even more so when I looked over the syllabus and the reading list. But after having spent the two days on campus and having read the first set of readings, I have found myself to be on surer ground. I kept commenting to myself as I read each article things such as, “ I do that all of the time”, or “preservation is part of technical services?”. I guess I too, had preconceptions about technical services being more about the operations and physical side and less about being part of user services. This split in the field between “tech services” and “public services” as Boissonnas calls it is the divide that needs refinement and redefinition. From this basic understanding, which previous to these readings, I had not been keenly aware of, I viewed the various schools of how technical services should evolve or change. Ross Atkinson seems to be of the school of thought that “disintermediation” (I had to read that one over again and revisit some earlier notes from another class) is what libraries what to achieve. Focus and attention should be given to the systems that can support archival function, quality records and information about them(metadata) and so forth will support the user being able to access information without the library’s traditional mediation seems to be what Atkinson is advocating. Gorman’s assertion that library schools have lost it by allowing students to graduate with MLS degrees without cataloging is preposterous because these types of functions are integral to the nature of the librarian-no such thing as a “user services” librarian without technical sensibilities, truly began to challenge me to think even more critically about the direction of technical services. The phrase that has stayed with me throughout my reading is that of Allen and Williams. These authors stated that “the underlying stimulus for change in library operations is technology.” This seems true along with the ability to change in ways that support the library’s mission being dependent upon library leadership’s ability to do more( meet changing needs) with less( actual money to operate with).
Readings for 6/21/06- reflectionAyanna LewisLIS 578LE, Summer 2006
So collection development tools and acquisition set ups that involve approval plans and provide reports that help manage aspects of the collection – this is the direction of libraries? I felt as I read the articles for this week that the emphasis was to encourage libraries to embrace these methods of interaction with vendors with the assurance that the benefits that far outweigh any problems. Having services such as Blackwell’s Collection Manager and doing business with vendors that provide analysis tools is a must in terms of cost saving?I guess my separation from the academic library world is beginning to show in that I have this perception that the traditional mandate or practice of collections in academic being as large and extensive as possible is quite acceptable. Maybe it was once upon a time. I kept waiting for the aspects of collection development to emerge in the conversation such as –weeding, dealing with migration( book-cassette-cd-other forms and the machines that are used to view these various formats). I kept waiting for more emphasis on the needs of the community served in collection development and acquisition, but again perhaps I am thinking in terms of my school library experience.
Entry Filed under: Reflections
