Are School Librarians Expendable? A Discussion in the NY Times

Read more: http://www.nytimes.com/roomfordebate/2011/06/26/are-school-librarians-expendable

Just in time...

ALA just released a new report - Confronting the Future: Strategic Visions for the 21st Century Library.

This report is just in time for us as we start putting together our final thoughts this summer. The report talks about a lot of things we've discussed, especially the idea of the virtual library versus physical library. Will we be used more virtually in the future and will our physical buildings still matter?

We've discussed this back and forth as we've moved forward, with the majority of us still thinking the physical building and presence will matter, but to what extent? I think that's what we struggle with the most. To what extent will things shift from virtual to physical and vice versa?

If anyone has any insights to share with us, please do so!

New Troubles in E-Authorship

I've been a little bemused by the high number of self published digital downloads in Amazon's bookshelves these days. I vacillate between glorying in the coming age of the "Author as King," spawning a new revolution in literature...and rolling my eyes at sub-par syntax and half formed characters. Heck though, at 99 cents, who can complain?

It seems like the authors themselves can. Is this a case of "What technology giveth, technology can taketh away?"

According to Reuters, spammers are getting their 99 cents too, often at the author's expense.

Just what your library needs...a 3D printer!?!

LITA is piloting a new YouTube presence, and the Top Technology Trends Committee is excited to be a part of this effort. Jason Griffey produced the first video.



Should your library buy a 3D printer like this one?

"Information is now as infinite as the universe, but finding the answers needed is harder than ever"

"We found no matter where students are enrolled, no matter what information resources they have at their disposal, and no matter how much time they have, the abundance of information technology and the proliferation of digital information resources have made research uniquely paradoxical.

Information is now as infinite as the universe, but finding the answers needed is harder than ever.

Our ongoing research confirms proficiency in information problem solving is urgent, given the dauntingly vast and complex wilderness of information available digitally. As one student in humanities said during one of our focus groups, "What's so frustrating to me about conducting research is the more you know, the more you realize how little you know — it's depressing, frustrating and suffocating."

"...It is time for many educators to stop lamenting about "these kids today" and retool and prioritize the learning of skills for solving information problems if students are to learn and master critical thinking at all. Or, as one student in social sciences we interviewed told us, "College is about knowing how to look at a problem in multiple ways and how to think about it analytically — now, that's something I'll use in my life."

Read more: http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/opinion/2015227485_guest05head.html

TEDx: Librarians at Thought Leaders

Should we do a TED? I noticed this event in Toronto http://www.tedxlibrarians.com/ and it made me think of a what a cool event that would be. Here is a little bit on their theme....

"Who inspires you?"

"We live in a time that is in need of inspiration. The aspirations of both individuals and society have always had a home within libraries and have traditionally found a voice through librarians.

The theme for TEDx LibrariansTO is Librarians as Thought Leaders. Come to the event and experience this incredible opportunity to hear librarians speak to the differences we make in the world and how we have, can and do lead and transform society."

We REALLY want your input!

As we continue to engage the larger library community in our conversations, we hope to gain even more ideas, thoughts and comments with the use of this survey.

http://bit.ly/mnlfi2025survey

At our meetings we research and discuss certain focus areas.  What do you envision in these areas in 2025?  Please tell us what you think!