Reference Services

I recently participated in the Webinar MORE Reference session training. It was a very interesting. We talked and practiced about Reference Interviews in all types of libraries. We also did a detailed study about print reference materials and Electronic Resources. In addition we discussed the future of the Reference Section in libraries. The question: Is print reference dead? was a topic to be analyzed by the participants. Of course, the library as a Virtual Reference Service, known as Online Reference was a much discussed topic within the training. In addition, we had training in Reader‘s Advisory. The interview skills in the Reader’s Advisory are similar to the reference interview, but oriented to finding out the patron's needs regarding reading.

The Print Collection in the Libraries

What do book displays mean for libraries among all these online resources and e-books? You can think about the books in the shelves at the MSB library in Rochester. Most of them are useful for research and there are several books for enjoyable reading. But the students usually go directly to the computer and most of their research is online. It is amazing the advantage of the e-books through the Net Library in the online catalog, but it also inevitable that these e-books are creating more distance between the library collection and the patrons. The libraries still have print collections that are useful for the students. The author Linda K Wallace talks about marketing the libraries. One way to promote our collection is through the books display that invites the students and faculty to know and to use the print collection. Librarians also need to create ways to promote or market the online resources and e-books.

Wallace, Linda K. Libraries, Mission & Marketing (Electronic resource)

Online catalog MSB Library.

Second Life Libraries

I visited again the Info Island in the Second Life Libraries. I invite you to watch this You Tube video.

E-Audiobooks and E-Books

As shown in the article of Alan L. Kaye , which I want to share with the readers, I read that iPod or MP3 player lovers have now a new service from the libraries besides music or movies. This new service allows the patrons to download audio books as they do music and videos. In addition, the libraries have e-books service. This innovative and flexible service allows the users to search and use the e-books from the library, from home and from any computer connected to the internet. This great experience saves time for the patrons and staff. The good thing is that it permits you to print a page and save the e-book in your favorites. But it is important to be aware that printing the entire e-book violates copyright laws.

Hubert Humphrey Exhibition

I visited the Hubert Humphrey exhibition at the University of Minnesota. I was impressed by the amount of manuscripts, books and magazines about Humphrey’s life. Including those written documents, furniture, clothing, and art work, plus some items that foreign leaders gave him as gifts, the collection was about 20,000 items. I spent some time reading about this remarkable person: Humphrey was a political leader for more than thirty years, Vice President of the United States (1965-1969) and Senator from Minnesota (1949-1964). Humphrey’s speech at the 1948 Democratic National convention expressed his position about the United States’ need to recognize human rights in the USA. While mayor of Minneapolis, he set standards for civil rights on a national level. Also I learned that he was one of the pioneers of rights for farmers. Hubert Horatio Humphrey was a very friendly and sociable person who got along well with anyone.

MSB Librarians Meeting

I went to an In Service meeting of the MSB at Globe University in Woodbury. I had the opportunity to share information from the Pals Reference User Group Workday. I talked about Library 2.0. I explained the Web tools that libraries are using to attract patrons and to provide more efficient reference services with the use of the Web 2.0 tools.
I pointed out that librarians at MSB are applying these Web tools. Some of the MSB librarians are participating in the 23 Things on a Stick

Thing 23: Final Thoughts

It is wonderful that I finished with the 23 Things on a Stick. I cannot believe that I achieved it. But the steps were so detailed and most of the time the web applications that I selected had user friendly interfaces. I really thank the organizers of this program for the big impulse that they gave me to learn Web 2.0 and Library 2.0 tools. It was such a big learning process for me and this learning was so intensive. Now I know the many web tools on the Internet. And with Library 2.0 tools I will help the patrons at the library even more. I am very sure that from now I will be in touch with what is new in the web tools and I will learn them.