Comments on: What is the Library Expanding into? http://www.swissarmylibrarian.net/2006/11/09/what-is-the-library-expanding-into or, The Hitchhiker's Guide to Fear and Loathing at a Public Library Reference Desk Tue, 06 Jan 2009 21:28:07 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5.1 By: herzogbr http://www.swissarmylibrarian.net/2006/11/09/what-is-the-library-expanding-into#comment-77 herzogbr Mon, 13 Nov 2006 03:19:55 +0000 http://www.swissarmylibrarian.net/?p=17#comment-77 Yes - great analogy. And as shocking as the revulsion these people showed for reading was, after I thought about it a bit, I don't think they were <i>offended</i> by books. It seemed that their reaction was more along the lines of "reading is punishment, like Mr. Roth's 11th grade literature class - ugh, that was unbearable;" and that's where they've been ever since high school. It'd be great to show people that reading can be fun (and we might only have a small window to get people into actual print books - we've got to get on them before <a href="http://www.apple.com" rel="nofollow">Apple</a> comes out with the brainPod, to which people can just uplink books from <a href="http://www.itunes.com" rel="nofollow">iTunes</a> or <a href="http://www.overdrive.com" rel="nofollow">Overdrive</a> and search for the information they need [but then again, libraries are about information, not books, so maybe this wouldn’t be so bad]). Anyway, perhaps we're approaching the whole idea of outreach incorrectly. My <a href="http://sba.udayton.edu" rel="nofollow">marketing degree</a> tells me that perhaps libraries need to do a better job at identifying and approaching a target audience. I mean, maybe general elections and Wal-Marts are too wide a net to cast. I still like <a href="http://www.remainingrelevant.net" rel="nofollow">Lichen</a>’s <a href="http://www.remainingrelevant.net/remaining/138" rel="nofollow">idea</a> of being where our demographic is likely to be. Yes - great analogy. And as shocking as the revulsion these people showed for reading was, after I thought about it a bit, I don’t think they were offended by books. It seemed that their reaction was more along the lines of “reading is punishment, like Mr. Roth’s 11th grade literature class - ugh, that was unbearable;” and that’s where they’ve been ever since high school. It’d be great to show people that reading can be fun (and we might only have a small window to get people into actual print books - we’ve got to get on them before Apple comes out with the brainPod, to which people can just uplink books from iTunes or Overdrive and search for the information they need [but then again, libraries are about information, not books, so maybe this wouldn’t be so bad]).

Anyway, perhaps we’re approaching the whole idea of outreach incorrectly. My marketing degree tells me that perhaps libraries need to do a better job at identifying and approaching a target audience. I mean, maybe general elections and Wal-Marts are too wide a net to cast. I still like Lichen’s idea of being where our demographic is likely to be.

]]> By: jessamyn http://www.swissarmylibrarian.net/2006/11/09/what-is-the-library-expanding-into#comment-72 jessamyn Sun, 12 Nov 2006 09:23:10 +0000 http://www.swissarmylibrarian.net/?p=17#comment-72 Dude, totally! I remember when I was doing outreach at my library by tabling in front of Wal-Mart. I was just trying to sign people up for library cards and so many people were like "thanks, but I don't read" as if that was some sort of totally okay thing to say along the lines of "I don't smoke" It was a real eye-opener for me. Dude, totally! I remember when I was doing outreach at my library by tabling in front of Wal-Mart. I was just trying to sign people up for library cards and so many people were like “thanks, but I don’t read” as if that was some sort of totally okay thing to say along the lines of “I don’t smoke” It was a real eye-opener for me.

]]> By: herzogbr http://www.swissarmylibrarian.net/2006/11/09/what-is-the-library-expanding-into#comment-61 herzogbr Fri, 10 Nov 2006 19:03:07 +0000 http://www.swissarmylibrarian.net/?p=17#comment-61 Yeah, they're out there - I guess I just need to get out of my little cocoon more often. If not reading-for-pleasure, it would be nice to know what library services those people might be interested in. And the greatest joke in the world? Yes, it's not going anywhere. Yeah, they’re out there - I guess I just need to get out of my little cocoon more often. If not reading-for-pleasure, it would be nice to know what library services those people might be interested in.

And the greatest joke in the world? Yes, it’s not going anywhere.

]]> By: Kate http://www.swissarmylibrarian.net/2006/11/09/what-is-the-library-expanding-into#comment-58 Kate Fri, 10 Nov 2006 15:32:53 +0000 http://www.swissarmylibrarian.net/?p=17#comment-58 Man, that is a bit depressing albeit expected. There are sick twisted people out there who don't like libraries. They should seek professional help. :) You are still telling that joke? :P Man, that is a bit depressing albeit expected. There are sick twisted people out there who don’t like libraries. They should seek professional help. :)

You are still telling that joke? :P

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