http://marylaine.com/exlibris/xlib67.html

Ex Libris: an E-Zine for Librarians

#67, August 18, 2000.

READERS RESPOND: THE IDEAL LIBRARY
GREAT WEB SITES FOR OTHER COUNTRIES





SUBJECT INDEX to Past Issues

http://marylaine.com/
exlibris/archive.html

* * * * * * * * *

Neat New Stuff I Found This Week
August 18: gift ideas, Peanuts tributes, book lists galore, and more.

* * * * * * * * *

My resume

http://marylaine.com/
resume.html
Or why you might want to hire me for speaking engagements or workshops.

* * * * * * * * *

What IS Ex Libris?

http://marylaine.com/
exlibris/purpose.html
The purpose and intended scope of this e-zine -- always keeping in mind that in response to readers, I may add, subtract, and change features.

* * * * * * * * *

Highlights from Previous Issues:


My Favorite Sites on___:

http://marylaine.com/
sites.html

* * * * * * * * *

My Rules of Information

  1. Go where it is
  2. The answer depends on the question
  3. Research is a multi-stage process
  4. Ask a Librarian
  5. Information is meaningless until queried by human intelligence

* * * * * * * * *

Guru Interviews

  1. Tara Calishain
  2. Jenny Levine, part I
  3. Jenny Levine, Part II
  4. Reva Basch
  5. Sue Feldman
  6. Jessamyn West
  7. Debbie Abilock
  8. Kathy Schrock
  9. Greg Notess
  10. William Hann
  11. Chris Sherman
  12. Gary Price
  13. Barbara Quint

* * * * * * * * *

Wanna See Your Name in Lights?

Or at least on this page, anyway? I'd like to print here your contributions as well as mine. As you've noticed, articles are brief, somewhere between 200 and 500 words -- something to jog people's minds and get their own good ideas flowing. I'd also be happy to run other people's contributions to the regular features like Favorite Sites on _____. I'll pay you the same rate I pay me: nothing.

* * * * * * * * *

E-Mail Subscription?

To subscribe to a combined subscription to Neat New Stuff and ExLibris, please click HERE, complete the form, and click on "subscribe." To unsubscribe, use the same form but click on "unsubscribe." To change addresses for an existing subscription, unsubscribe from that form and then return to the page to enter the new address.
PRIVACY POLICY: I don't collect or reveal information about subscribers.

* * * * *

Drop me a Line

Want to comment, ask questions, submit articles, or invite me to speak or do some training? Contact me at: marylaine at netexpress.net.

* * * * * * * * *

Talk Back

Where I will post any comments you want to make public. E-mail me and use the words "talk back" in your subject line.



Visit My Other Sites


BookBytes

http://marylaine.com/
bookbyte/index.html
My page on all things book-related. NEW STUFF ADDED in August

* * *

Best Information on the Net

http://library.sau.edu/
bestinfo/
The directory I built for O'Keefe Library, St. Ambrose University, still my favorite pit stop on the information highway.

* * *

My Word's Worth

http://marylaine.com/
myword/index.html
a weekly column on books, words, libraries, American culture, and whatever happens to interest me.

Subject Index to My Word's Worth at
http://www.qconline.com/
myword/subindex.html

* * *

My personal page

http://marylaine.com/
personal.html

* * *




READERS SPEAK OUT: THE IDEAL LIBRARY

from Karen Huber, kbh32@mail.pa.net

I would use Dynix automation for the library and there would be a computer person hired just for the library. There would be small groups of comfortable chairs around tables with plenty space around them. The library would be catalogued in LC with room for all titles to be facing out; it would be a very large library with many windows. The check out desk would be in the middle of the room and the computer stations would be grouped around the checkout desk with the monitors facing the checkout desk.

I would have two full time assistants to help, each with regular duties. They would be at least certified library assistants if they did not have library degrees. They would be cooperative, knowledgeable, and helpful.

The library would have a large budget and contain new fiction, picture books, reference, nonfiction, special collections (including AV), periodicals, all new and in good condition.

The first thing patrons would see when they walked in the door would be the OPAC with instructions on a few machines.

Most books could be checked out for a month, except reference, periodicals, and special collections. People with overdue books could not check out anything until books returned and fines paid. Only staff could have drinks at their desks. There would be carpeting and lighting that would be easy on the eye. There would be study rooms with computer rooms at the perimeter. Anyone under 18 would have a library card with Internet permission with guardian signature. Library cards would be sold at a small fee to ensure that serious patrons would take care of the library. Unfortunately, there would be a security guard.

I don't know who or what would fund this library; this is a dream library.

______________

2. from Glenna R. Rhodes, Reference Librarian, Jackson County Library Services Ashland Branch Reference Dept.
grrhodes@jcls.org

What an opportunity! Here's a few thoughts off the top of my head as we build our new but not close to ideal library in Ashland, Oregon. Nothing really radical I suppose...

  • space, space, space for comfort, for privacy, for activities, for reading, for leisurely daydreaming
  • more than enough parking
  • community meeting space for large and small groups
  • separate area for storytimes and children's programs
  • wired to accomodate laptops
  • Internet access everywhere
  • database access to things like Infotrac or Ebsco, Novelist, ReferenceUSA
  • a homework center
  • a computer lab - for training and daily use for Internet and other PC programs
  • ergonomic furniture
  • individual workspace with PC's to increase work efficiency
  • outdoor space landscaped for reading and programming
  • small business service and collection if appropriate for community size

    Last but not least: staff that is comfortable working both in the library and out in the community and is not dependent on the library building to define themselves or their work

    Notice how I never mentioned books and magazines? guess those are a given but somehow my passion and perspective comes from the reference and adult and children programming perspective... thanks for your newsletter and the daydream opportunity.

    ____________

    I'm open for more visions of the library you would build if you could start from scratch -- building, collection, staff, policies, technology, or whatever else you can think of. Send them to me at mblock@netexpress.net.

    * * * * * * * * *

    GREAT WEB SITES FOR OTHER COUNTRIES

    Thanks for your participation. So far I've had responses for Australia, South Africa, the UK, Canada, and Scotland. I'll be happy to hear from those of you in other countries; this will be an ongoing feature as I get more material.

    Sybil Finemel, who's just relocated to Los Angeles from South Africa where she was the director of a large private high school library, offers these sites for South Africa:

  • http://pub01.ananzi.co.za/
    This is a general local search engine.
  • http://www.anc.org.za/
    African National Congress, the majority party inSouth Africa's Government
  • http://www.satour.co.za/satour/
    South African Tourism
  • http://www.polity.org.za/gnuindex.html
    South African Government information

    Michael Kealey, of Glasgow, offers "an e-mail newsletter that gives "a weekly insight into what has been happening in Scotland, snipped from the Scottish media - plus some elements of Scottish culture." It's at http://www.RampantScotland.com/letter.htm. He adds " In the site it's easy to subscribe for the weekly, either text or colour graphics. I get it in 2 parts-Text only. The site has loads of Scottish links worldwide, including America. There must be more Kilts in the USA than Scotland !! Scottie (scottie@cqm.co.uk), the webmaster, has promptly replied to queries from me in the past."

    Josette Crane, an internet researcher in Wessex Water, offers these sites for the United Kingdom:

  • Searching/Portals : UKPlus http://www.ukplus.com/ and UKMax http://www.ukmax.com/
  • British Broadcasting Corporation http://www.bbc.co.uk
  • Newspapers http://www.thepaperboy.com/uk
  • Tourism/Cars/Homes http://www.thisisbritain.co.uk/

    Patricia McDougall recommends these Canadian sites:

  • Canada Resources - Research, Maps, Current Events, Lessons... http://www.li.net/~ndonohue/sscan.html
  • Canada's School Net http://www.schoolnet.ca/home/
    A joint project of Canada's government andprivate sector to connect Canada's classrooms and First Nations communities to the Internet by the end of fiscal year 2000-2001.
  • Canadian Information by Subject http://www.nlc-bnc.ca/caninfo/esub.htm
    from the National Library of Canada
  • Canadian Communities Atlas http://cgdi.gc.ca/ccatlas/

    For Australia, Jo Summers of AssistNet Training has offered such a wealth of good stuff that I'm saving that for another issue.

    * * * * * * * * *

    COOL QUOTES

    In learning, the teacher or lecturer has always been the authority in the classroom. With the worldwide web, the distinguishing features of authority disappear and are taken on by those who use language persuasively.

    Neil Hendriksen, The Times, January 30, 2000

    ______________

    And where does magic come from? I think magic's in the learning.

    Dar Williams. "Christians and Pagans." from the album Mortal City.

    * * *

    You are welcome to copy and distribute or e-mail any of my own articles (but not those by my guest writers) as long as you retain this copyright statement:

    Ex Libris: an E-Zine for Librarians and Other Information Junkies.
    http://marylaine.com/exlibris/
    Copyright, Marylaine Block, 2000.