More thoughts

The future of library dissemination and diffusion is embedded in the whole process of providing and using information. Libraries began as a storage facility for knowledge. As this evolved, a way of accessing the information became necessary so different ways of organizing knowledge were developed including the Dewey Decimal System, the Library of Congress System and other types. For example, Paul Otlet devised the Universal Decimal Classification system because he visualized all information as individual pieces of information and developed a system of storing this information on index cards. But he had to devise a system to organize it so he took the Dewey Decimal System and adapted it as he needed. He in many ways he even anticipated a mechanical devise (computers), the modern World Wide Web, and online access (Coletta, 2008).

Libraries began to share their stored knowledge leading first to simple dissemination-we have put this information out there on the shelves and organized it if you want to use it. Then some librarians and other professionals began to go a step further until the library began to center more on the user and providing more directed services. Diffusion became part of the equation. We provide the best information to the user we can and guide them providing education as well. We want to know that the information is useful and being used.

The future of libraries is now tied directly into technology delivery. Organizing the knowledge available is even more crucial. The Internet is a vast ocean of knowledge with very little organization. The future of cataloging is dependent on a way of organizing meta data. OPACs must evolve to make them more relevant and useful. The user today is used to searching the Internet by keyword and hoping for the best. Providing a link to OPACs and making them user friendly is important, whether we continue to use cataloging with AACRII (Anglo American Cataloging Rules) or a newer version or change to RDA (Wiskoff, 2008) or we change to a entirely new system. We need to find a way to organize the information on the Internet. Winfield (2008) on her blog discussed an article on data visualization that listed several search engines that are providing new ways of organizing search results. New ways to make the information online and in physical formats available and preserving for the future must be devised.

Librarianship/Information Science is not on its way out. It is becoming even more relevant. We need to change and evolve along with the way acts of information creating, organizing, disseminating, preserving, and archiving are changing. Our field has always adapted to change and I think it always will.

Coletta, M. (2008, April). Do you know who Paul Otlet is? If not, you should... Information dissemination…Connecting people to information. Retrieved April 12,2008, from
http://infodissemination.blogspot.com/

Winfield, C. (2008, April 10). Visualizing search results. Information retrieval and the information professional. Retrieved April 12, 2008, from http://infoprosretrieval.blogspot.com

Wiskoff, E. (2008, April 10). RDA: Resource descriptions and access. Retrieved April
12, 2008, from Describing information: In a nutshell. http://emilyw6260.blogspot.com

Thoughts on Disseminating and Diffusion

We only have a few days left to post so I want to explore my own thoughts. First and foremost use what works to disseminate and diffuse. Do not be afraid to try new ways and technologies. Especially if it does not involve a great deal of time or expense. Analyze your clientele, what they want and what they need (this may not be the same thing).

The clientele of a public library, special library, or academic library will have vastly different needs. Blogs or wikis may work better for academic libraries than public libraries. Public libraries may find online information boards, newsletters, frequently asked questions useful. They may want to use book club blogs to reach their patrons. This could be useful for those who cannot physically visit a library. Academic libraries may find more response from podcasts and links to Facebook, etc. accounts.

Explore what other libraries with similiar missions and clientele have used with success. Let it direct you not dictate. Use technology to connect but do not forget the old fashioned one-on-one connection whether in a physical sphere or virtual space. Learn and evolve, but most importantly reach out, diffuse not just disseminate. Libraries from the beginning of this countries' history has played a role in educating, informing, and keeping democracy alive. Libraries had a role in the past and will continue to have a role in the future, it just will be a developing and evolving role.

Web 2.0 for libraries

Stephens in an article in American Libraries discusses how to make Web 2.0 useful for your library. Web 2.0 is useful if you are implementing carefully chosen social tools. His 5 principles are:

Remember your mission: They should be chosen because they foster the mission of the library not just for the sake of using technology.

Be selective: create a timeline featuring the tools that you would most like to incorporate, perhaps using a technology committee to explore and test.

Beware technolust: don’t jump on the bandwagon just because a feature is new, make sure it serves a purpose.

Tell stories: create a voice for the library, one that is caring; use the social tools to tell the human story of the library.

Participate: the social web is increasing exponentially, how will it look in 15 years? Will the library be there? Yes, Stephens says if we meet the users at their point of need, whether in a physical place or in virtual spaces.

Stephens, M. (2007, December). Web 2.0 and you: Which trends and technologies are for your library? American Libraries, 38(11), 32.