I tried to post yesterday. I finally managed to find a spot where the wireless signal was strong enough to connect. But the wireless service provider evidently doesn’t support blogging, because each time I tried to "publish" (or even save), the message disappeared.

I thought I was the only person who reads Utne! I also read Mother Jones, but perhaps that’s more information about my political persuasion than I should give.

I also went back and read Mike’s post about why we exist, and should we continue to exist? It hasn’t been all that long that libraries have existed for the public (as a public good, as Rich so eloquently points out.) I read a book (I forget the title, but can find it again) that is a primary source about jobs that existed a century ago: jobs such as wheelwright, ironmonger, etc. that largely don’t exist anymore. Many of the chapters dealt with how people coped as their jobs disappeared beneath their feet. Is there anything that guarantees the further existence of libraries? Not everything lasts forever.

I keep going back to the UTNE article that says that libraries are in danger of becoming alike - looking like the Big Box bookstores, having the same set of popular materials on the shelf. One size fits all… One of the points is that libraries need to customize to their clientele - local and unique items.

As Pullman struggles with the possibility of a Super-Sized WalMart, there have been lots of comments in the paper both pro and con. The stores in Moscow that survived the first onslaught of WalMart did so by offering unique items that couldn’t be obtained elsewhere. And yet, it’s very frustrating, as a committed non-WalMart shopper, that there are some items that can only be found at WalMart (in the limited shopping area of Moscow-Pullman.)

While I was standing in the checkout lane of the grocery store, I saw that Reader’s Digest has an article titled something like ” 14 new trends that will change your life.” I might have to buy it just to see what the CW (Common Wisdom) says. I haven’t checked on LiLI-D to see if it’s there. After all, what’s RD without the jokes?

Jan

Instant messaging - an interesting presentation during the “CyberTours” (mini-sessions). Here is a highlight: “For some, not being available via IM is like not having a telephone number.” Some teens think of email as “communicating with ‘old folks’.” Approximately 25% of I.M. is from older people at the Thomas Ford Public Library.

If libraries are interested in communicating with younger people that are plugged in, I.M. is an option, as is text messaging.

I’m seeing that the patterns of usage vary so much between generations. And if not generations, then those that are “hot” on internet usage. The opening speaker mentioned that studies show that those people who have broadband have far different patterns (and intensity of use) than those who have dial-up.

It can be challenging trying to blog at a conference such as this. I had a post just about ready to publish when the network went down and I lost it. (Just the post, fortunately!)

So here goes a quick recap of some of the recurring themes and buzzwords:
Social computing and active participation: blogs, flickr, del.icio.us, tagging. Folksonomy.

Libraries need to make things easy for our patrons and not throw barriers in the way, e.g. locking down computers so that they aren’t useful, no ability to burn CDs or download utilities, no floppy or flash drives.

Create technology free spaces and an environment for contemplation.

The keynote speaker today spoke more about “social computing:” blogs, flickr, del.icio.us. Another term that seems to be prevalent in many sessions is “continuous partial attention.” The fact that many people now pay partial attention to things, e.g., blogging while listening to a speaker, monitoring email, text or instant messaging, makes some uncomfortable. However, it is a way of thinking/acting that will increasingly become more ubiquitous.

So what does that mean for libraries? It means that we can’t expect undivided attention. We aren’t the only stream of information that our patrons use. (We already know that, don’t we?!) But by using deli.ci.ous, we can bookmark our favorite sources of info, and become one of our patrons’ trusted sources. (LaGrange Library is already doing this.)

Libraries that received funding commitments for e-rate in Waves 7 and 8 are:

• Kootenai-Shoshone Area Libraries (Wave 7)
• Twin Falls (Wave 7)
• Clarkia (Wave 8)
• Clearwater District (Wave 8)
• Jerome (Wave 8)

The total funding commitment for Idaho libraries in Waves 1-8 is $98,566.80.

Now is the time to submit Form 472 (BEAR, Billed Entity Applicant Reimbursement) to get your money for the year that ended June 30, 2008. You have 120 days after the end of service (October 28), or 120 days after receiving a funding commitment, whichever is later, to submit for reimbursement.