Now, at my own library, we seem to be doing well overall. But I did just have a patron give me a lengthy, energetic rant about why she thinks our OPAC falls short of her desires and expectations–and then she gave me her email address, because she had a lot more to say on the matter. I don’t think she’s typical of all of our patrons, but I also don’t think she’s alone in this.

Having walked in a little dust-up, I’ll just say that while I’m down with “It’s high time we dove right into this stuff,” I can’t really go with “when the digital divide disappears…, libraries will be screwed.” I love my local public library, regardless of how good their online services are (they are OK. Not great, not terrible).

Alright, now that brought a smile to my face. Well done!

My short answer: I think we’re both right and both wrong. Unfortunately, I’ve got other things to do right now, so I can’t expand on that. But I will as soon as I have the time.

I may indeed be wrong. Frequently am.

Or, of course, we could both be right (or wrong) depending on the circumstances.

Heck, I’m feeling cranky because I haven’t been blogging–but I haven’t been blogging because I’m trying to finish a book. A book which, at least indirectly, urges people to experiment more.

Go back and read the first sentence of your last paragraph. Reread the whole paragraph, or at least down to “libraries will be screwed.”

I’m all for charitable reading, but it’s hard not to read that paragraph as saying “libraries will be screwed” if they continue to provide excellent traditional services. (If charitable reading now requires that you go back and read an entire blog before objecting to one post, we’re all in trouble. And I’d say charitable reading has to apply to comments as well–and I most certainly did not say what you quote me as saying.)

Your response is interesting. Do you have specific numbers as to “some” libraries that meet your standard for taking chances and “many” that don’t? I think that falls in the same category as my belief that most public library patrons don’t much give a damn about the quality of the catalog as compared to convenient hours, a good collection, a welcoming staff, etc. They’re both assertions that are difficult to quantify or prove.

As I look at your set of things that web services do and libraries don’t do, I’d want to ask patrons: Which of these things do you believe libraries should be doing? As a public library user, there are lots of things I don’t really expect or particularly want my library to do–organizing my own collections and sharing videos being among them.

Do I want to see public libraries use new tools to improve library services? Sure, to the extent that they can do so within their resources, in ways that their particular community finds useful, and without abandoning those existing services that their community find worthwhile.

Do I find it useful to tell them they’re screwed if they don’t jump into lots of stuff right away? Not so much.

Probably mostly different rhetorical style. I believe in building from strength (and finding the strengths in small, underfunded libraries). I don’t personally find confrontational rhetoric particularly helpful. You may be right; I may be wrong.

But if you’re missing something, it’s this: the larger issue is that while some libraries are willing to jump right in and try new things out, taking chances in offering patrons (and employees) new and varied services, many are not. I’m impatient. I want these amazing places that I love to take chances and throw new things together just to see if they work. I want them to be daring and bold. And I think it’s obvious that I’m not the only one who wants this.

I’m guessing most of those matter a whole lot more to library patrons than the “suckiness” of the catalog (or any other aspect of the catalog) or the nature of Dewey Decimal…