libraries and IM featured in the chicago tribune
Evanston Public Library’s new IM availability gets a nice plug in the Chicago Trib. The article does a nice job highlighting the fact that some libraries are attempting to remain relevant by adopting the preferred tools of their users.
I’m quoted in the article in a few places, and despite the slightly negative tone I like these the best.
“There’s a lot of dead wood in libraries, and I think there’s a lot of administrations that are kind of just biding their time for retirement and don’t feel like putting forth a lot of effort,” he said. “I think there’s a general culture of resistance to change. That needs to go away.”“There might be only two or three libraries in the U.S. experimenting with delivering services or notifications via text messages, which is really, really sad,” Schmidt said.
Here’s the article, titled Libraries using IMs to attract young clients.
The Trib has been all over libraries using technology recently. You’ll remember that they covered the TechSource, Gaming, Learning, and Libraries Symposium last month.
14 Sep 07 :: 5:45:43 am
Actually, numerous libraries in the Chicago area (Evanston being a Chicago suburb) have started doing IM reference. At my library (Park Ridge Public Library) we offer it in Childrens, YA and Adult Reference. Maybe there are only two or three libraries using IM in the rest of the US (though I find that hard to believe), but it’s pretty prevalent here.
14 Sep 07 :: 7:28:37 am
OMG, that Evanston PL site — please, someone do something about it!
14 Sep 07 :: 7:33:23 am
@Sarah- I think you misread the last quote, which is about SMS, rather than IM. You’re right, there are a plenty of libraries doing IM at this point, and many in the Chicagoland area.
@Leo- Those columns of blue links remind me of yahoo! c. 1996!
21 Sep 07 :: 2:53:13 pm
The last number I saw is 140 libraries across the country are using IM in their reference departments–we are in Palm Springs CA!