Information policies: Services
Technology has played a major role in the change of how information is accessed, but it also has created new ways for libraries to make it easier for patrons to request and receive materials. Government largely affects policies within libraries as well. While the most apparent influence in this realm is copyrights, other factors that may not be as apparent can affect how libraries can serve patrons.
One of the most current trends in services has been the integration of self-services for patrons at the library. Today many libraries offer the services of remote renewals or place holds over the internet; self-service in libraries has the ability to enhance the ease in which patrons can access materials to loan. The patron can now come to the library and retrieve the items from hold by themselves, as well as check them, and any other additional material out using self-scanners. These machines are like those used in stores and offer freedom and security for the patrons. With this system, holds are securely kept in an area that requires your library ID to access, while giving patrons the freedom to access these materials themselves; it also allows the staff to process requests quickly, and as one library found out when implement the system, saved the processing area from being over-run by returned and requested materials.
As stated, other policies and services can be affected by current government actions. Last year in Virginia, two counties tried to limit illegal immigrants’ access to public services. In an article published in American Libraries, it states that “Administrators in both counties must report back to county official s on any services that can legally be denied to anyone residing in the country unlawfully.” For the library this means that they must reexamine their policies on issuing library cards.
As previously discussed, policies relating to services are an important part of library “life”. We have seen how intellectual freedom is affected by various policies, concerning both web use and circulation of materials. As new technologies and issues arise, libraries must consider how to best serve their patrons by changing or creating new policies.
Question: Have you ever witnessed a change of policy within any type of organization because of technological or political changes or issues? How did it affect the patron, customer, or user?
Sources:
Werne, Ken. (2007). Self-service works! Public Libraries, 46 (3), 19-20.
G.M.E. (2007). Libraries examine policies as counties target illegals. American Libraries, 38 (8), 20.
Technology has played a major role in the change of how information is accessed, but it also has created new ways for libraries to make it easier for patrons to request and receive materials. Government largely affects policies within libraries as well. While the most apparent influence in this realm is copyrights, other factors that may not be as apparent can affect how libraries can serve patrons.
One of the most current trends in services has been the integration of self-services for patrons at the library. Today many libraries offer the services of remote renewals or place holds over the internet; self-service in libraries has the ability to enhance the ease in which patrons can access materials to loan. The patron can now come to the library and retrieve the items from hold by themselves, as well as check them, and any other additional material out using self-scanners. These machines are like those used in stores and offer freedom and security for the patrons. With this system, holds are securely kept in an area that requires your library ID to access, while giving patrons the freedom to access these materials themselves; it also allows the staff to process requests quickly, and as one library found out when implement the system, saved the processing area from being over-run by returned and requested materials.
As stated, other policies and services can be affected by current government actions. Last year in Virginia, two counties tried to limit illegal immigrants’ access to public services. In an article published in American Libraries, it states that “Administrators in both counties must report back to county official s on any services that can legally be denied to anyone residing in the country unlawfully.” For the library this means that they must reexamine their policies on issuing library cards.
As previously discussed, policies relating to services are an important part of library “life”. We have seen how intellectual freedom is affected by various policies, concerning both web use and circulation of materials. As new technologies and issues arise, libraries must consider how to best serve their patrons by changing or creating new policies.
Question: Have you ever witnessed a change of policy within any type of organization because of technological or political changes or issues? How did it affect the patron, customer, or user?
Sources:
Werne, Ken. (2007). Self-service works! Public Libraries, 46 (3), 19-20.
G.M.E. (2007). Libraries examine policies as counties target illegals. American Libraries, 38 (8), 20.
3 comments:
libraries I visit were due to technological innovations, such as the self-check out of books. I can say I was there when it was so new that it kept malfunctioning. Ha ha. It's true though, as I guess with a lot of things, that in it's beginning phase the technology itself can be an annoyance or even discouraging because of imperfections in the system. The Skillman branch downtown has a self-check out machine, but usually one still has to stand in line because some of the books will have some sort of a problem.
According to the article you cited, the counties "are scrambling to find out whether the new directives conflict with federal and state laws".
it' interesting to me, that it wouldn't be as simple as that. What do the laws say that the libraries are governed by? Are libraries tied to federal law or state law? Do they have the freedom to create their own policies that may not be in accordance with those? I don't think so, but the article made it seem like it wasn't that easy. However, it didn't really explain that part, or maybe I just didn't get it.
I have an example of a social/political change that slightly changed the check-out policy in the library I work at. The change was the "go-green" attitude that has surfaced recently. Very much like grocery stores have changed, our library ordered reusable bags, and plastic bags are no longer given out. Also, these bags are one dollar: very cheap, but you'd be suprised how patrons can get upset over a dollar bag. Some people don't like change. Since the change was for an obviously good cause, it wasn't so bad.
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