PROVIDE TANDEM SERVICES
- traditional and electronic
- latest in technology - free
- print based services - technology increases the demand for print
- balance electronic services with traditional services
- children's services - teach them how to effectively use the resources, traditional as well as electronic
- universal service point for both print and electronic information
PROVIDE TECHNOLOGY BASED SERVICES (ELECTRONIC)
- all libraries connected to Internet
- Internet accessible at all libraries and to all people
- Internet for research, protocol - how to use, rules
- provide access for those with no electronic access
- library as an access point for everyone, especially lower economic folks
- public access for e-mail (not providing addresses, but a place for people to check their e-mail)
- on-line librarian (i.e., e-mail access to a librarian from home)
- use technology where appropriate and efficient
- look at capacity of websites to help provide information - list resources, recommended reading lists, go beyond word processing
- statewide access to databases
- information in electronic format
- better access to more materials
- multiple access points (networked)
- access for all users, including those who need special formats (braille, speech, etc)
- full text retrieval
EQUALIZE ACCESS TO INFORMATION BY EXPANDING SDLN
- SDLN - every library a full member to equalize access
- expand SDLN - reach all libraries and every state and local government office
- recruit new members into SDLN
- all libraries as full members
- all collections in SDLN
- training needed for library staff and school administration
- makes statewide library card easier to implement
BY EXPANDING OUTREACH SERVICES
- bookmobile and technology-mobile - take to rural areas, distance disadvantaged, those with limited transportation
- bookmobile still viable means of delivering services
- add Internet access on bookmobile
- better variety of formats, etc
- bookmobile services
- develop more satellite libraries in rural areas
- bookmobile could work as a library outlet
- reservations, distance-disadvantaged need access
- improved telecommunications may help in those areas with no phones, weekly mail
- access must be there when people need it (libraries need to have ATM information machines)
- books need to be available everywhere (including remote areas)
- outreach - go where the people are (outreach story hours, elderly)
- take resources and librarians to where people are rather than expect them to come to the library
- Meals on Wheels delivering books
- library card sign-up at the mall
- check out books, issue library cards at Crazy Days
- get deposit collections of materials where the users are
- outreach to homebound, daycare centers
- expand the courier service
- keep things available: no user fees, equal access
ADDRESS SPECIAL NEEDS
- elderly and blind needs
- need to learn to use the library and what it has to offer
- need to learn how to use the resource
- local libraries need services for print-challenged
- low-tech aids (magnifiers, etc)
- rotating collections
- promote current services to these groups
- large print and talking books are still needed
- outreach to homebound / elderly
- equalize services
- expanded literacy programs
- reading, information literacy
- pre-literate, family, and adult literacy programs
- close alliance between literacy councils and libraries
- stronger library role in literacy (all types, but especially reading literacy)
- senior citizens - special needs, educational and recreational
- more taped texts are needed, all kinds of books for visually handicapped - provided by more libraries, more cooperation with publishers
- services to provide access for physically and visually challenged (using community common sense)
- wheelchair access to terminals
- personal help retrieving books and information
PROVIDE QUALITY SERVICE
- more customer driven, act like they want people to come in
- no "shhhing", not be intimidating
- inviting environment, friendly place, fun for kids, a place to meet kids who like to read
- patrons are why we exist
- every library director should be an information specialist who accepts responsibility to link every patron's request to appropriate resources
- don't lose the patron - reach more patrons
- look at the needs of the patrons
- make technology the tool
- more flexible policies, such as circulation period
ROLES FOR LIBRARIES
- community resource center, gathering place
- library as the community center
- opportunities for multi-generational activities, programming
- libraries are more than checking out books
- expanded community service role for libraries
- become a community center - be visible in the community, meeting room space, programming
- library as the community center for arts and humanities
- libraries as storehouse of literature, book discussion groups, etc
- information is readily accessible from a variety of other places (Internet at home, etc)
- provide social space, meeting place, promote cultural literacy
- library as resource center, physicians' assist - need comprehensive information on how to maintain health
- access point for governmental and legislative information at the local level
- library as Internet provider
- library (school or public) as a homework center
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PROVIDE TRADITIONAL LIBRARY SERVICES
- continue traditional services
- all the things we do now, but do them better
- more services for homeschooling - resources for students and parents, curriculum support materials
- recreation, children's books, newspapers, magazines
- programming for children
- story hours
- print materials
- continue to promote books and reading
- expand children's story hours to include more varied programming, perhaps homework centers
- don't let technology replace reading and books
- continue/expand literacy programs
- libraries should be as popular as basketball for kids
- keep the classics; don't discard the past
- increased focus on children
- promote reading at all ages
- libraries should encourage reading
- very young children (pre-literate)
- adult literacy
- mentoring for children (with adults)
- family literacy
PROVIDE PATRON TRAINING
- how to use Internet and traditional library services to best advantage (which to use when)
- how to evaluate content or a service (Internet or print) for accuracy
- knowing where to go to get information
- re-emphasizes the role of the librarian
- getting more complex, need more librarians
- classes on how to use the library and electronic resources
- better hands on user manuals (some want direct access, not mediated)
- teach patrons how to effectively use the resources - traditional as well as electronic
- books and electronic resources - users need help in deciding which is the best to use when
- how to evaluate the value and accuracy of any given source
- increase comfort of patrons with technology
- educate public about how to access and use services - on-site instruction
- instruction about information literacy - good vs bad information, how to verify information sources
- training for patrons in how to use the library, access resources, etc
- expanded training function
- local libraries train users of all ages
- SDSL train local library staff in how to train users - CE
- mobile training unit
THROUGH COOPERATION WITH OTHER LIBRARIES
- resource sharing (intrastate)
- statewide library card
- interlibrary loan and cooperation between libraries is important
- non-traditional students (distance learners) need library support
- more cooperation among libraries - share resources and staff
BY EXPANDING ACCESS
- look beyond political boundaries - i.e. make school resources available to the community
- schools need to share resources with the community
- improved access to school libraries
- public access and public able to check out school materials
- open in summer, evening hours, Saturday morning
- ILL from as well as to school libraries
- more open access to all libraries
- school libraries open in summer, or move materials to the public library
- more access to quality materials and staff
- rapid access to accurate information is increasingly critical in some situations (medical, etc)
- collection development - consider what needs to be in the library vs what's accessible electronically or via ILL
- up-to-date reference books
- videos and audiotapes
- more hours open for local libraries
- libraries should be open when they are needed
- extended campus - requires different/more hours
- formal education support requires timely library service
- more adequate hours - open when patrons need them
- library open 24 hours per day
ACTIVELY MARKET LIBRARY SERVICES
- marketing for users and non-users
- staff be more proactive, get out into the community to market services
- explain that the library is more than Internet
- library services have value
- marketing and promotion of library services so people know what libraries offer
- kids need to come to the library to see what's available and experience it
- librarians need to get the word out about what they do and have
- more promotion to reach non-users
- more marketing/promotion of library services
- Friends of the Library, more community involvement - Boy Scouts selling FOL memberships
- publicity, promotion, marketing
- get visible on Internet - a major source [of information] in rural areas
- advertize on TV and radio - literacy hour-long program, call-in program on public radio
- use RDTN for statewide booktalks - needs to be used more
- don't use language that encourages user fees
- metaphors are important - what exactly are we trying to say?
- don't use language that is over technical or full of acronyms
- use radio and newspapers to get the word out - repeatedly
- advertise the radio newspaper service
- educate citizenry about what libraries are and what they can do
- more education about services available, and follow-up to see if people are using them
ROLES FOR LIBRARIANS
- help patrons find and evaluate information (pilot)
- information technology specialist
- curator of knowledge
- library as information broker - traditional assumption that all items in the library have passed through a selection process (vetted) is no longer valid with Internet
- teach patrons how to choose and judge validity and accuracy
- librarian needs to play the same role with Internet
- provide mediated services - help customers work more efficiently
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