Closing Thoughts...

Library services, in terms of the services we provide and how they are provided, remain at the forefront of our profession. Library services have grown and developed so much over the last century. Considerations are made in order to best service all types; the disabled, scholars, the blind, children, and many more. The ways in which each of these groups is serviced are constantly evolving. New technology is being incorporated constantly in order to best meet their demands. These are just some of the topics that were explored in this blog, and it is just the tip of the iceberg in terms of all that our libraries do for us.

The issues that have been discussed will help to mold me as a professional. I hope that libraries will continue to provide services so that patrons can have there needs met. Thank you for visiting my blog, and for your participation. I appreciate all of your thoughts and comments, and for joining me on this interactive learning experience. Feel free to leave comments, as I will check back in periodically.
Best of luck to you all :)

Interlibrary Loans- Part 2

Interlibrary loans are utilized in order to bring the information to the people. There is innumerable information available about any given topic, and it is impossible for any singular institution to house everything. Therefore, libraries agree to share their resources so that patrons will have access to much more information than can ever be in one single place.

In order for the interlibrary loan system to function optimally, there needs to be an established operating procedure that is agreed upon by the participating libraries. There also needs to be strong communication between the libraries, and of course the utmost respect for the materials borrowed. There are sometimes fees incurred with this service, and a waiting period to receive the materials can be lengthy. Often times the original text is not sent, but rather a photocopy of the material is sent. These are just some considerations to keep in mind before placing the request.

I see interlibrary loans as the library's version of a business doing what it can to keep the customer happy so that they come back again. It is a service that I have recommended to many others and one that I will continue to use myself. I hope that libraries continue to have the funding nevessary to provide this service.

Here are some links that relate to interlibrary loaning that may be useful to you. Enjoy!
http://www.loc.gov/rr/loan/illscanhome.html Library of Congress's Digital Interlibrary Loan program
http://www.nmrls.org/ill/illcode.shtml The National ILL Code for the US
http://www.ala.org/ala/rusa/protools/referenceguide/interlibrary.cfm ALA ILL Code revised 2001
http://dlis.dos.state.fl.us/flin/pdf/FLINmanual.pdf Florida Library Information Network
http://www.lib.usf.edu/public/index.cfm?Pg=InterlibraryLoanFAQs USF ILL questions

Library Ethics

The library ethics paper was my favorite assignment for this class. I found it challenging and thought provoking. I felt that it motivated me to think like a professional in order to provide the best possible library service.

In perusing the Internet, I found this comic that directly correlates to our assignment. This excerpt is actually the end of the comic, but the gist is pretty clear. The patrons have a right to privacy, and it is our job to uphold that. I have attached the link here as well http://www.cafemeg.com/patriotact1.htm . Hope you enjoy, and better yet, hope that it keeps you thinking!

Interlibrary Loan- Part One

The interlibrary loan is my favorite library service. I am amazed that the library will work so hard to find you exactly what you need and go through a series of channels to find it for you. There is little or no cost associated with this service, and the service that you receive is fantastic.

A few months back my husband asked me to go to a bookstore and pick up a specific book for him. I was very happy to oblige his request, but since we were (still are) trying to be careful with our budget, I asked if he would mind if I tried the library. My feeling is, truthfully, unless you are going to read/ refer to the book a number of times, why buy it? He reluctantly agreed, and I was off on my quest.

At the library reference desk, I asked if they had the book in their stacks. They did not, so she checked some nearby libraries. They did not have it either, so she then suggested that I take advantage of the interlibrary loan in order to locate the book. She explained that they would keep looking for the book, county to county than out to different states, asking the nearest ones first. The librarian took down the information and said that it might take a few weeks to get it. We got a phone call two weeks later that the book had come in and that we an come pick it up. When I went to get it, It said that it had come from a library in Oregon. We live in South Florida- that is one long trip!

Just for laughs~

I thought since we are all busy finishing up our blogs this weekend, that maybe some laughs will help!

This bit was taken from the site http://www.unshelved.com/ they have a lot of funny stuff. Check it out!

Library Services and Technology Act

The services that the library provides have increased in both quantity and quality over the last century. Much of the change has been brought about by organizational and legislative demands i.e. through the American Library Association, and through our governing entities. The Library Services and Technology Act was created in 1996 through the Institute of Museum and Library Services. It main purpose is to bring about improvements to all types of libraries by bettering library services, increasing access to resources, and encouraging communication and sharing between libraries (Institute Of Museum And Library Services, n.d.). Much of this includes grants for various programs and services that specific libraries would like to offer their patrons.
It also requires collaboration, not only with other libraries, but with professional organizations and state legislature (Museum And Library Services, 2006). This act has resulted in bringing new technology and resources to many library patrons.

References:
Institute Of Museum And Library Services. (n.d.). Overview. Retrieved April 8, 2008, from http://www.imls.gov/about/about.shtm

Museum And Library Services (2006). Education: Museum and library services (20USC9121). Washington, DC: U.S. Government Printing Office. Retrieved April 9, 2008, from http://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/getdoc.cgi?dbname=browse_usc&docid=Cite:+20USC9121

Public Library: Access Denied?

In this day and age you think of a public library and you picture an assortment of users. Various ages, colors, races fill the picture and add to our library the public element, meant to serve the people. This was not always the case. In our not so distant past, people were denied access for just these reasons. Libraries were not for all people, just certain people. Society has changed as has the library system, as well as the advancements, detailed in the Library Bill of Rights, that set all of this into motion (American Library Association, 1996) .

Though access to information can no longer be denied based on the user, it can be made a challenge to retrieve. Another aspect of denying access, which appears when you scratch the surface, is how accessible are we making the information, or the physical space itself. Does information inaccessible = access denied? If a library does not have a functioning elevator, can a disabled patron access any of the holdings? If there is not information or any texts relevant to gay and lesbian users, are they being denied access? What about non- English speaking users, or the hearing impaired?

As an information professional, I think that it is important to be aware of these elements of librarianship. We have guidelines that dictate in a broad sense the what and how of our profession. A true professional will go beyond this and get to know there patrons of the community that they serve. The best services will be provided by a professional that tailors them to the community that they are serving. In this way we are able to truly able to ensure that access is granted to all.

References:
American Library Association. (1996, January 23). Library Bill of Rights. Retrieved April 6, 2008, from American Library Association Web site: http://www.ala.org/ala/oif/statementspols/statementsif/librarybillofrights.pdf