Michael Wensch's Digital Ethnography should be a reality check for all libraries. Having complicated, cumbersome data bases is pointing libraries down a deadend road. With accurate, helpful, not to mention - easy to find, information on the web, why would anyone bump around in the dark? If the antiquated card catalog is just that, antiquated. Difficult data bases become useless.
Think about this...
How many people does it take to teach someone to use Google? Most of us have pecked and poked around all on our own. And most have mastered searching.
I worry about public and university libraries. They must evolve into a social gathering place to survive. But is that the goal? We must become user friendly, self explanitory, streamlined and selfhelpful, if that's a word.
That's what the video showed me.
The views expressed in this article are those of the authors alone. They do not represent the views or opinions of EKU Libraries or its staff, nor do they represent the views or opinions any entity of, or affiliated with, the EKU network.
Think about this...
How many people does it take to teach someone to use Google? Most of us have pecked and poked around all on our own. And most have mastered searching.I worry about public and university libraries. They must evolve into a social gathering place to survive. But is that the goal? We must become user friendly, self explanitory, streamlined and selfhelpful, if that's a word.
That's what the video showed me.
The views expressed in this article are those of the authors alone. They do not represent the views or opinions of EKU Libraries or its staff, nor do they represent the views or opinions any entity of, or affiliated with, the EKU network.
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