And in the case of library blogs, one blog can often take on
many faces. For example, blogs can provide
- Reference services such as
Ask-a-Librarian or instant messaging (Mandal, 2011, p. 157)
- Reader services such as
librarian and patron suggestions and links to GoodReads or LibraryThing
(Mandal, 2011, p. 157)
- Help with collection
development by alerting librarians as to which materials are trending
among library users (Mandal, 2011, p. 157)
- New cataloguing methods such as tags as authority records and a chronological, password-protected method of monitoring acquisitions (Chen, 2009, p. 254-255)
Only time will tell whether these practices will catch on,
but they do make for interesting considerations in LIS practices. After all, fifty
years ago, how many librarians imagined that books could be read from a phone
or that thousands of pages of information could be stored on a device the size
of a thumb?
References
Hello Amanda,
ReplyDeleteLibraryThing is indeed an excellent online tool used by librarians, patrons, and the public to catalog personal library collections. Information specialists such as, the library media specialists, can keep track of the first 200 books for free. Librarians can also create tags, choose book covers, generate citations, and review books. More information on the use of LibraryThings in an article entitled, "The LIbrarian Who Loves LibraryThing" by Roberta Sibley in SCHOOL LIBRARY MONTHLY (April, 2009).
Hi, Edna--
DeleteI agree, LibraryThing is a great resource for librarians cataloguing small collections. I think it would be a good resource for school teachers, as well, considering that they could use it to keep track of their classroom collections.
And of course, I can't help but think of LibraryThing as a type of blog. In fact, all social networks seem like blogs to me. Think about it--aren't Facebook and Twitter just dated chronicles of people's lives and thoughts? And isn't that the same thing as a blog?
Anyway, LibraryThing is a great source for reader's advisory. Not only can users check on what books their friends are reading, but also, they can browse the many lists available under the Talk tab at the top of the homepage.