2020-02-03 SPLAT Curiosity Report: Volume 5, Issue 1

Featured Story

The Evolving Library

Well, here it is, folks. 2020. A new decade has arrived!

Remember the days when 2020 was the future? When we would all be driving Jetson’s cars? When robots would rule? When we would colonize Mars? We might not be there quite yet… I mean, we do have self-driving cars and hovercraft now…and robots aren’t ruling quite yet…and man hasn’t technically been to Mars. While we haven’t quite made the jump to a super fun technology world yet, we’re making progress in huge strides.

Libraries are also changing with the times, especially as technology advances. Not only do we use technology in almost every department of the library now, but there are also “special departments” that specifically seek out, embrace, and share cutting edge technology.

Reflecting on my time working in the library, and remembering the library as a child, I started thinking about how vastly libraries have changed. Just in the time I have worked in the library, we have expanded the building and added Virtual Reality, among many other things. I decided to pick the brains of some of our longest staffers – they were around before the current library building was built, before computers were used, when VHS tapes were still big. It was interesting how much the library, and how we use it, has changed over time.

Computers for patrons are now a main staple in library usage, giving patrons the ability to do research easier, find jobs, communicate with friends and family, among so many other things. Once we used a card catalog but now many library systems use computers to look up materials easier, and check those materials out to patrons. This was probably one of the first big changes that came to libraries, technologically speaking, so we tend to think computers have been around forever.

Long ago the only books that patrons could check out were physical books. With (relatively) new devices such as smartphones, tablets, and e-readers, patrons now download digital copies of books and music. Anywhere. Anytime. In addition to e-materials, libraries offer other digital resources now for researching, reader’s advisory, and even car repair manuals. The library – which was once only full of books – contains resources that might have at one time been out of reach.

3D printing has saturated libraries across the world. This technology has opened up so many opportunities to learn and create. 3D printing has expanded quickly over the past few years, becoming a favorite program at most libraries. Libraries are offering classes, workshops, and lab time on their machines in hopes to inspire patrons to create.

Virtual Reality has been emerging quickly in the last couple of years with VR equipment becoming more readily available and less expensive. Many libraries now have regular Virtual Reality programs, walk-in times available, and even take VR to the community. Even creating VR content is becoming easier with tools like Google’s Tour Creator.

The library has always been a hub for communities everywhere – a place where you can always go to find an answer, a book, a friendly face. Robots aren’t running the library yet and we don’t have flying bookmobiles and book teleportation services yet, but the library is forever evolving. The last 50 years brought cool new technology to libraries everywhere – imagine what the next 50 years might bring!

Happy 2020!

– Vanessa Thiele, East Bonner County Library District

Fail Forward

We’ve all been there. You pour your heart into a program, and no one shows up. You try something new, and you fall on your face. Sound familiar? Fail Forward is the place to share your failures, and give you the opportunity to share what you learned from them. Did you promote your program in a different way after no one showed up? Maybe you took a new approach to the new thing you were excited about? Awesome! Share your story via our online form so others can learn, and realize that failure is often part of the process.

Frugal Failures

I consider the process of creating a new 3D model the quintessential representation of failing forward. Recently, I created bookmark holders that fit onto our shelves at our library. There was a lot I tried to account for in the design before I printed into for the first time, like the width of the shelves, the standard size for a bookmark, and the orientation in which the model would be printed. The first print didn’t fit, I had to change the places I generated supports multiple times, and some of our filament was not up to snuff and messed up a few prints. In the end, however, this is one of the great things about 3D printing- it’s cheap to fail, and you can do it really quickly. Following are two pictures of what the bookmark holder looks like in its most recent form; it still needs some adjustment, as it’s a little bit too narrow for the bookmarks, but that only reiterates my point. Can you guess what our mascot is?

(It’s a trick question; it’s technically the golden eagle).

– Donovan Kay, Capital High School

Crush Corner

Is there a library you follow on social media who is always doing new and exciting things? How about a blog you follow that inspires you? What about a new idea, book, or resource that you want to share? Library Crush Corner is a place for those working in Idaho libraries to share what inspires them, and who or what they’re crushing on… in a professional sense. Share your story via our online form so we can publish it in a future issue!

Won’t You Be My Neighbor?

Mr. Rogers Neighborhood is again in headlines due to Tom Hanks’ new movie and new books being published and landing on our library shelves. I know parents who are sitting down with their kids and rewatching the television show. They are asking how can we be more mindful and kind? My Crush Corner is about Ada Community Library is starting a new story time called “All About Me Storytime” that will focus on social emotional learning. I think this will be a good program for children.

– Eric Hovey, Ada Community Library

Hardcover the Library Turtle

One of my favorite library social media accounts I found in 2019 is Hardcover the Library Turtle (@HardcoverTurtle on Twitter). Hardcover the Turtle was adopted by the Tweksbury Library in Massachusetts in 2018 and serves as the Director of Charisma and Hospitality. When not chowing down on fruits and vegetables, he reads and reviews children’s books, promotes the library online, participates in library events, and engages with the community. I love Hardcover!

– Annie Gaines, Idaho Commission for Libraries

SPLAT explores the ever-evolving library world and supports library folks as they adapt to meet the needs of their communities. Library folk throughout the state of Idaho volunteer to serve on the Special Projects Library Action Team (SPLAT). Learn more about SPLAT at splat.lili.org

SPLAT is brought to you by the Idaho Commission for Libraries and was made possible, in part, by the Institute of Museum and Library Services (LS-00-19-0013-19). The views, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this publication do not necessarily represent those of the Institute of Museum and Library Services.