Isabel's Hyperlink Library Blog

Finding ways to incorporate the whole community by considering what types of services can be adjusted to better suit the needs of not only the community as a whole, but also considering sub-communities can change the way people view the library. Something that really stuck with me from the lecture was the idea that changing patrons’ perspectives can change the impact the library makes. If people still view the library as a space for books, they may be missing out on the amazing services they could be benefiting from. 

Thinking about how libraries can continue expanding and changing the services offered inspired me to think about the learning center where I currently work. I love the idea of taking inspiration from libraries to try to get students in our learning center because I think there’s something we are doing wrong. I am currently a Tutorial Program Coordinator at a community college and help our Lab Coordinator think of ideas to get students to visit us. Since the pandemic, our numbers have declined and we have yet to pinpoint why that is. Being able to draw inspiration from libraries and articles has somewhat helped us, but we still have much work to do. Aaron Schmidt in “Asking the Right Questions” opened my eyes to something really important – we cannot rely on patrons telling us what types of services to develop as that is a burden on them, but we can focus our energy on creating a welcoming environment that people want to come back to. As simple as this shift might be, it made me realize that many student spaces do not place the emphasis on the students’ current experiences but rather how we can improve the space for future visits. 

Libraries should continue to expand and re-evaluate their services as community needs change. I really enjoyed learning about the mobile reference desk which allows librarians to move around the library, helping patrons explore the library and still get the assistance they need. Continuing to think of ideas like this allows for patrons to benefit from library services much better than before. 

References

Schmidt, A. (2016). Asking the Right Questions.

Libraries Need to Change: Why Not Libraries?

When people search for information, they tend to choose the most convenient method. Google has become a powerful tool to access information quickly, but many people do not realize Google retrieves information from multiple sources (Google, n.d.). While people may generally find the information they are searching for,, the information does not always come from reliable sources of information. Without realizing it, Google users may be accessing incorrect information from their quick Google searches. Recently, Google has integrated AI which has resulted in even more misinformation being spread. Google claims, “AI Overviews can take the work out of searching by providing an AI-generated snapshot with key information and links to dig deeper” (Google Search Help, 2024). With this claim it is clear that Google is putting the responsibility on the user to check the sources of information by clicking on the additional links provided by Google, but we all know from experience that many (if not most) Google users do not usually check for the source of information leading to inaccurate information being provided. How can we get people to realize  that maybe Google is not the best way to search for information, but do they know where to go for reliable sources? Will people utilize library services to supplement their need for information in light of these changes?

Information Accessibility

Not all libraries are accessible to all. The topic of library hours of operation affecting accessibility to library resources and services has long been a topic of discussion. As libraries have built on their virtual presence, the idea of the 24/7 library has been reconsidered. Virtual reference services have become increasingly popular and physical library reference services have declined significantly (Burgerm Park, & Li, 2010). Being able to access virtual reference services quickly was proven to be beneficial to library users, but the convenience factor still remains an issue libraries everywhere confront. 

This brings to question: how can libraries change the way information is provided or increase accessibility to compete with large search engines? It is not just Google that is providing quick and easy access to information online – ChatGPT is also a well-known source of information for many people. How can libraries compete with the convenience and accessibility of AI and massive search engines? The implementation of chatbots has helped libraries compete in the quick search for information since the early 2000s and continues being an amazing resource for libraries to provide quick and easy access to information (Adetayo, 2023). However, most public libraries use chatbots for general information regarding library hours and providing links to additional resources as opposed to answering reference questions (Adetayo, 2023). Adetayo (2023) argues that resources such as ChatGPT can be useful for libraries to provide more convenient reference services to patrons, but the gap in literature and lack of human touch can negatively impact its usage. Libraries must consider changing the convenience of reference services as many users need access to more reliable sources of information.

Reflection

As a future information professional, I feel responsible for providing people with reliable information and informing them about the risk of relying on sources such as Google for information. I feel that we, as information professionals, must continue searching for ways to make information more accessible to all. We must realize that the library is not always the welcoming space we consider it to be – some people are intimidated by the unfamiliarity of the library, virtual and physical. We need to ask ourselves how we can continue competing with the convenience of search engines – how can we make our services less intimidating and easier to access? 

References

Adetayo, A. J. (2023). ChatGPT and librarians for reference consultations. Internet Reference Services Quarterly, 27(3), 131–147. https://doi-org.libaccess.sjlibrary.org/10.1080/10875301.2023.2203681

Burger, A., Park, J. ran, & Li, G. (2010). Application of reference guidelines for assessing the quality of the internet public library’s virtual reference services. Internet Reference Services Quarterly, 15(4), 209–226. https://doi-org.libaccess.sjlibrary.org/10.1080/10875301.2010.526479

Google. (n.d.). “How search works.” Retrieved on 19 June 2024. Retrieved from https://www.google.com/search/howsearchworks/how-search-works/organizing-information/

Google Search Help. (2024). “Find information in faster & easier ways with AI Overviews in Google Search.” Retrieved on 19 June 2024. Retrieved from https://support.google.com/websearch/answer/14901683?hl=en&visit_id=638544198113892639-1230929838&p=ai_overviews&rd=1

Hi everyone!

My name is Isabel and I am from Long Beach, California. I am currently taking 3 summer courses and working full time as Tutorial Program Coordinator at Long Beach City College. I am set to graduate in the Fall which is so exciting and gave me the motivation to take 3 summer courses, however, I did not plan to be working full-time for summer which caused some unexpected stress. I did go to UC Irvine for undergrad which was a quarter system, making me believe that I can handle 3 courses in 10 weeks (we shall see).

I am excited to be taking this course to learn more about hyperlinked libraries and how libraries have changed, and will continue to change. My motivation to start the MLIS program was because of my lifelong love for libraries and my connection to librarians.

I wish everyone the best summer!

-Isabel