New Programs & Services for a New Era of Needs

Last week, we discussed the different roles that librarians play though Kane’s article “Careers and Environments.” Contrary to what the article Job seekers without Internet access stretch libraries' computers, from "Portland News", describes, I never saw “job counselor” or “resume builder” listed. This article really speaks to the different hats that librarians have to wear to benefit and help their community. As we discussed, the roles of librarians are not always laid out in black and white, but rather range to include tasks of every color imaginable. Excuse the bad metaphor, but I think experienced librarians, especially in the public library sector, would agree that there is no task too big, small, or off the wall and the new programs and events that librarians are putting on for job seekers and technology learners seems to suggest that.

This week we’re discussing “21st Century Literacy @ your library” from the American Library Association (ALA) which describes “helping children and adults develop skills they need to fully participate in an information society—whether it’s learning to read or explore the Internet...” What better way to illustrate how libraries are helping adults with digital literacy than though computer usage, and in our current economy, computer usage to find a job. Libraries all across the county, specifically Portland (Ore.) in this article, are greeting with open arms those who need assistance with basic job searching and everything that comes along with it (creating an e-mail account, searching for jobs, filling out applications, etc.). The only problem is that those open arms seem to only be so big—the need for assistance is overtaking many library resources. One of the librarians quoted in the article expresses her frustration of only having minutes to help each patron. With limited funding and shrinking budgets, libraries are feeling the pain of the economy just as patrons are. It’s a nasty cycle. Not only to mention the drain on library staff resources, but this article is saying that libraries have a limited number of computers to begin with which I’m sure is only becoming more of a challenge as budgets continue to diminish and computer usage steadily increases causing computers to be over-used and eventually damaged.

This article also mentions some of the more specific things libraries are doing for patrons, such as “three-hour job-hunting labs” and basic computer classes in multiple languages such as English, Spanish, Vietnamese, Chinese and Russian. Out of curiosity, I visited the Chicago Public Library’s (CPL) events and programs section of their Web site to see what they had to offer in the month of June. The programs that came up include: Create and E-mail Account; Ask a Career Expert; Sell Yourself in Any Interview; Internet Basics (twice); and Using E-mail Skills to Aid Your Job Search. All of these programs are about job searching or can be used when job searching. I wonder what programs are other libraries offering and if there is any liability or risk to holding such workshops? I can’t imagine that someone would try to hold the library responsible for receiving “resume help” that wasn’t actually helpful, or something of the sort, but stressful times often lead to irrational people…

Another important point that this article touches on is equality of access. Wealthier people are more likely to have the internet in their homes than the less wealthy, and because of the overwhelming need for internet, those without internet in their homes are not able to come to the library and go online to get the information that they need. As we’re shown in “21st Century Literacy @ your library”, the stated mission of the ALA is, “To provide leadership for the development, promotion and improvement of library and information services and the profession of librarianship in order to enhance learning and ensure access to information for all.” The key here is “for all.” If libraries are being overpopulated and those who need information are not being able to access it due to overcrowding, libraries are not able to fulfill their mission. But like I’ve mentioned, it’s a vicious cycle—is there a solution? What are other libraries doing to assist patrons with job hunting needs? Have there been other times in history where libraries played similar roles for different circumstances? These are all just questions I’ve begun to ponder…



*IF the link above does not work, please visit: http://www.oregonlive.com/portland/index.ssf/2009/05/job_seekers_without_internet_a.html to view the article. Thanks!

E-Book Piracy and Information Seeking Behavior

Relating to the upcoming week’s reading in The Portable MLIS, specifically the chapter by Donald Case on Information Seeking Behavior, this article http://www.nytimes.com/2009/05/12/technology/internet/12digital.html regarding the scanning, dissemination and downloading of pirated books on the web seems especially timely.

The issue is presented in the article in its complexity. Some authors clearly feel that their work is being stolen. Others, like Doctorow, are glad of the publicity and believe that obscurity is a fate worse than copyright infringements. Stephen King clearly has a canny awareness of his target audience; in this case, he implies that those who use pirated material probably wouldn’t be able to prioritize buying one of his steeply-priced new releases into his or her weekly budget.

Of course, some theft is inevitable. To some degree, thieves have always kept one step ahead of those trying to prevent them from stealing. But as Rich argues in the article, the number of cases of book piracy is lately increasing. The reason is not a mystery, according to Rich; new technology and a greater volume of eBook releases have made it easier.

Leading into this phenomenon are several other issues which complicate the matter. From the comments on the article, it is clear that some users consider the costs of using the Kindle to be prohibitive. Others feel that the legitimate purchasers of eBooks are thwarted by overbearing digital rights management controls, which still fail to achieve their goal, which is, presumably, preventing piracy.

Also brought into play is the problem of publishers, who, most people feel, are just happy to overcharge for both hardcover and electronic versions. As Rich states, both authors and publishers are aware of the parallels between the eBook industry and the mp3 industry. It seems to be a clear message to the publishers – if they continue to gouge, people will revolt.

Another issue, which directly relates to the ‘knowledge is power’ axiom, and expressed in the comments by Waltworks and others, is that there is something empowering about taking out the middle man (or woman) and allowing a free-flow of information between the reader and the author. In another parallel to the music industry, and to the manufacture and consumption of popular culture in general, the public may be a little jaded, given that we are force-fed books which are niche-marketed at us by publishers who decide what we, as consumers, will like. To me, it feels a little like an air of populist revolt and perhaps justification that the publishers are getting their comeuppance.

One question which comes to mind is 'Why don’t readers just use their library?'- a point that many of the commentators make. I think Case’s argument partially answers this question. It is less trouble to search online for an illegal copy than it is to physically go to the local library, check something out and have to return it. It appears to support Case’s argument that users would rather have inferior pirated e-versions with errors, than to check out a legitimate copy, because it is the easiest and fastest way to get it. Then again, other reasons may co-exist. They get to keep the book. Forever. Then there is the ever-present problem of demand. When the last Harry Potter book came out, librarians were bracing themselves. Some libraries just cannot cater to the mass hype of hundreds of people wanting to read the same book, all at once.

Many, if not most, libraries now have available some sort of online eBook service as part of basic membership, so why don’t readers access these instead of downloading illegal copies? Could it be lack of technical savvy and online help? Are the books in high demand always checked out? Is DRM limiting access in terms of transferring books to portable devices? Perhaps the eBook collection is limited to non-fiction (as with my local library). Or maybe the readers want a non-fiction textbook, but the collection does not have the specific textbooks that readers need. What seems obvious is that the old system of consuming, publishing, and purchasing books needs an overhaul.

Congressional Research Service

Do the American taxpayers get what they give? This is a key question in my head as I am reading an article from the New York Times titled “Group Seeks Public Access to Congressional Research” American taxpayers are spending approximately $100 million dollars to fund a small division of the Library of Congress named the Congressional Research Service. But the research service, its results, and all documentation there of is solely the property of the members of Congress and their constituents. By law, only members of Congress can change that.
There is a group who is trying to force Congress to give up their precious commodity. The Center for Democracy and Technology run by Ari Schwartz, its COO are trying (and have been for many years now) their dardest to make all of these reports public records. The group has even opened a website Open CRS which places some leaked reports on the web. This group is not the only group trying to get these reports out to the mainstream. Penny Hill Press is the only source for these files. It is run by Walter Seager, his wife, and their son. There is no public source for the abstracts. After the Press spends countless hours getting the reports (about 20 a day) it then sells the results to people in the academic world, politicians, and of course lobbyists. According to the elder Seager, Penny Hill Press will continue to do so until “Congress does the right thing and makes the reports freely available to the public.”
The only known index of the reports is now on Wikileaks, which is a website that posts rare documents online for the public. So far they have posted almost 7000 of the CRS files. They would not disclose how they received the archive. A spokeswoman for the CRS states that their work is solely for the use by Congress and that the law is renewed every year by Congressional committees. A representative from the House Administration Committee compares the CRS documents to memos that are passed around the office and explains that those too are not released to the public. The head of the Senate Rules Committee is currently reviewing the rules in regards to these files.
The truth about this article is that it does not seem like anyone knows what is actually in them. Thus, I think that one of the main reasons that groups like the Center for Democracy and Technology want them released is to see just what these surveys are saying about the American people. There was also a survey that was given out on a political website asking what the people wanted released to them. The CRS surveys were the coup de grace! But I ask myself. What/who would it help? It seems that the only people with enough power to do anything within the legal system already have the access, power, and money to obtain these materials. Having such documents made public might not help it in any way. But I do not think that it matters.
I was very surprised by this article as I (and I am assuming many, many others) had no idea what was happening. What does this mean to the US taxpayer? I believe that because the money comes from the public, they should get a say what happens to these files. But on the other hand, US taxpayer money also goes to things like the military and the public definitely does not get a say. In Ranganathan’s text that the class is reading there was a quote in it that said that “no personal preference shall have undue influence”. Is not the opinion and values of individual Congress people affecting what kinds of documents the public can read? If this happened in a library, a librarian not wanting a small child to read something mature, the librarian should still give that child the CHOICE to read it. The FREEDOM to see results of surveys. Congress is there to fight for our small freedoms, and they should start with the documents on their desks.