Filed under: Uncategorized
We have all heard it many times, outrage voices: I can’t believe you let them play computer games in the library. They’re so loud; libraries should be for reading; for studying. And we also heard: we [libraries] have to move on; people don’t read so we have to give them what they want; technology is our future.
Really? I mean, do we really have to choose one way over another? Cannot libraries be the place where you can read books (Harry Potter as well as Tolstoy), work on your dissertation, ask about the nearest battery recycling place, and play Guitar Hero? Do we have to burn our books because we bought new computers and set up a ‘download your ebook’ service? Or is it that because we have books we cannot have Wiis as well?
As you beloved reader can guess, I do not believe that there is any conflict between the technology and our library tradition. It is not one or another. It is about building on our tradition. It is embracing technology in accord with our tradition. It is, well, what libraries were always about: embracing the new so we can enhance ourselves and thus better serve our users. Let us be libraries.
Filed under: Uncategorized
Blog about your work and you may end up being fired. Post comment about your school on Facebook and you may end up being expelled. Post pictures of yourself partying hard on MySpace and you may not get that dream job of yours even though the job interview went so smoothly.
We all know the phrase ‘drink responsibly’. What are you talking about, you ask. We always drink responsibly, we are responsible people. And how is it related to the web and social networking, anyway? Well, I know that you drink responsibly, no doubt about that. But are you enjoying social networking websites responsibly? What if your boss is going to read your blog? Are you ok with that? Or are you going to start panicking because in your last post you blogged about how all your great and innovative ideas are simply struck down by your reactionary supervisors? And what if the dean of your collage checks out your Facebook account? Is she going to be impressed by that picture of yours where you are holding a pitcher full of beer in each hand? I know you did not drink the beer. But will she know it? And you know, I could go on and on. But instead I will just say:
Social networking website users be aware! Schools and companies are watching!
