So, I attended a workshop about engaging youth on their own terms in the library, or community, and they brought up some really good points.
One thing I think all this move from book libraries to 2.0 Libraries is all about is the shift in society norms. People who grow up with this technology have a totally different way of thinking about things than the people who grew up without it. I count myself as caught in the in between generation. I hadn't used the Internet until after I graduated High School. I remember the first search I ever did was on cats (my favorite topic) and I waited five minutes (literally!) for a page of text to load. Crazy!
Anyway, there's a more sociable collaborative mentality to society now. And with technology comes the usual time rush. No one is going to work to find you anymore, you have to get out there and sell yourself to them!
That is one reason I think all these programs that the libraries are now employing are so important!
If a library makes a page on Myspace, or implements a reference librarian on IM available to people in their own homes, the youth will be more likely to find and utilize the library, simply because of convenience or familiarity. People don't like getting out of their comfort zone, and kids especially will actively engage in conversation or activity with someone willing to embrace their favorite pastimes than something they see as antiquated. For example, it was brought to my attention at the workshop that kids and teens IM constantly (no surprise) and yet they think email is ok, but only to communicate with old people! I had no idea email had such a short shelf life! After all, that is our main source of communication aside from the phone throughout the district!
And, yet, I see their point. Texting is more like conversation, and socially more gratifying, certainly more efficient for most inquiries.
And don't think that the IM reference librarian is limited to just kids and teens. You'll get undergrad students, stay-at-home parents, even tech savvy grandparents that use it. The point is that you're accessible, convenient, available! If the person has you on their buddy list, it's so easy for them to just ask a question. It takes all the reasons not to approach away. They can't see if you're busy or not and assume that you're there waiting to help (which you hopefully are, isn't that what we strive for?) They can't tell what you look like, so they won't have qualms about whether you know something or not, or may judge them, or judge you based on that. And, not to be redundant, but you are RIGHT THERE for them to talk to, so it's not like you're with another patron at the moment and they're standing there facing an empty desk, or a long line, even if they are.
IM can also help inter-department communication. How easy is it to whip off a small text to someone asking something, rather than having to find and dial their extension, wait for them to answer, and depending on the type of phone and it's range....well, you get the picture. An IM can be portable if used as SMS, but even if it's not, an employee could leave the computer (if necessary) to find the answer, and then come back and answer at their convenience. Customers wouldn't need to be interrupted with phones ringing, and also the other staff won't be tied up on the phone and will be available to aid others. In fact, if your IM reference librarian is a multitasker, they could potentially help two or three people at once, as opposed to what they could do in person. No one would look kindly on another cutting the line, so to speak, but with IM, they wouldn't know, and the ref librarian could be more efficient in their work.
The more I think about it, the more advantages I see to IM implementation.
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