I didn’t post last night - just couldn’t come up with much to say. I think I may not post every day for a while - depending on how the spirit moves me.
We only got out of the house once today - to a meeting at the Library for the Friends of the Library. This was the second “strategic planning session” for the FOL, attended by staff, members of the Friends, and “community stakeholders”. I guess John and I fell into the “community stakeholder” category, although I was on the Council of the FOL for a 3-year term a few years ago. We decided the term referred to people who supported the Library and the FOL, but weren’t directly connected to it.
Anyway, we participated, although I don’t know how much we actually contributed. We are interested in seeing the Library prosper, but don’t want to be involved in any organization. Our days of direct organization involvement are over, even though we support the aims and goals.
All libraries are going through tough times right now, trying to cope with the “digital evolution”, as our young, vibrant director puts it. She’s gathered a new young staff, and from what we can see, they are doing a great job in dragging this old library kicking and screaming into the 21st Century. We support them all the way.
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The huge old fig tree outside the San Diego Natural History Museum in Balboa Park.
2 comments:
A neighbor stopped by this morning to ask whether I knew where the bookmobile had been. (It's about a month since it stopped by.) You can't get any information by phoning the library, and snail mail to the director is ignored.
I have a feeling the libraries will be converted to Wi-Fi centers within the next twenty years and the only books you can borrow will be e-books. Libraries are still measured by their circulation, but they don't do anything to make borrowing easier for the readers
Under our library's new director, acquisitions are request driven. If there's a book you want, ask for it, and they'll try to get it for you - in the format you want, and it'll be delivered to the branch you designate. I don't think we have any bookmobiles, but the area is pretty well covered by the main downtown building, and three branches.
Certainly something new around here. While definitely working with electronic stuff, they're not looking to phase out paper. And one entire floor (of four) is dedicated to ages 0-18.
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