When My Mother Makes Me Smile...

I received a nice call from my mother the other day.  We talked about life, school and family, the usual.  When the subject of school came up, well, I naturally went into library politics.  I told her about the rough road to e-books in libraries, funding issues, my current project to help create a collections policy, and somehow I got onto an old topic.  I brought up my worries about the nay-sayers.  The ones who believe that libraries are obsolete and dying.  What she said to me after that was pleasantly surprising.

I should first mention that she has been on quite the social kick lately.  She's found a new social circle and every time she mentions what I am in school for they reply with "Wow, that's amazing!  That's a field that's really changing, it's a great time to be a part of it."  Not all of them went with those words, naturally, but to hear that people outside of the system are acknowledging it immediately made me feel better.  I couldn't help but smile.

It's working guys, keep it up!

To all librarians who are changing their system, innovating their methods, rethinking their status quo, people are noticing and reacting positively.  You're doing it.  We still have a little ways to climb but there are already measurable results.  Maybe now everyone will pile into the innovation wagon and we can get this momentum rolling faster.

It makes me feel confidant about the future.  When I graduate in a year or so, what will the library world be like?  Will it have changed drastically or will it still be in a state of flux and growth?  Either way, I can't wait to get out there and be a part of it.

Oops, sorry, as my husband says I already AM a part of it.  Maybe I'm not getting paid or making any really hard decisions but I am involved, and I will continue to become more involved.  I still have that little barrier of "I'm in school so I'm not really involved yet," which is something I think all students have at some point.  We just need to get rid of that.  It's useless for us to have when there is so much we can help with.

We are involved, and we're making progress.  That's what's really important.

Libraries and e-books (and the Anime Industry)

(Long entry)

Thanks to LIS News I have been kept quite updated with the current trends of publishing companies not wanting their e-books to go to libraries.  Their thought is, "We'll lose money."  But looking at the comments on the various reports and articles, people have quite a few points on how that is not going to happen AND how they could profit more from it.

I can't help but think it as a similar situation to the Anime Industry in the US.  For those who do not know I am a bit of an anime "nerd."  Recently, one of the biggest anime companies in Japan who has a lot of presense here in the US, Bandai Entertainment, is pulling out of the US because of the massive amount of piracy from the anime fanbase here.

How Pirating Went Mainstream

This article is extremely harsh on the fanbase.  Anime came to the states in the first place due to pirating.  There was never any interest until people began to pirate, AND SELL copies of Dragon Ball Z, Gundam, and many other shows.  When the industry in japan heard about this, instead of throwing lawsuits they made deals with TV companies, got voice actors, and mainstreamed it.  They made it available, LEGALLY and with good quality.

So why is there piracy?  Well for one, people are always going to like free stuff and not care.  Secondly, it takes months, even years for an anime to come from Japan to the US.  People want their anime as it comes out, not months or years after.  The most pirated stuff is the most recent stuff to come out.  I know this because I've done it.  It's the reason I find sites to read Manga on for free.  THEY HAVE THE TRANSLATIONS AS SOON AS THE MANGA COMES OUT.  Maybe it takes a few days but the fansubbers have the product available in our language YEARS before that particular comic will even come out in the US.  It is the same for anime.  This is the biggest problem.

So what does this have to do with e-books and libraries?  Libraries aren't pirates...except the publishers are treating them as such.  Their mistrust and fear of losing revenue comes from complicated copy write laws that may or may not be being infringed upon in libraries already.  I'm not that informed about the debate itself, but I do know it is an issue librarians worry and debate about all the time.

In short though, the publishers are afraid that if they allow e-book loaning, the public will never buy the book, and quite frankly you can look at pirating for why they have these fears (in my own personal opinion).  Here is the article that first caught my attention:

Publishers vs. Libraries: an E-book Tug of War

Thank you New York Times for covering that.  HarperCollins solution, to give libraries 26 loans on a single e-book, might be a step in the right direction for working WITH the publishing industry, but 26 loans is not enough for large public libraries.  One could argue it is a sort of gateway, a way to gain the publisher's trust and be able to provide our patrons with e-books, but most big name publishers are still refusing to allow e-book rentals.  Smaller companies however, are using this method the way they should: by promoting their business and gaining public interest in their work.

Here's a link to a blog post I read.

Why a Shift to E-books Imperils Libraries

I feel this blog is a bit extreme on the issue, but they make some good points and offer some potential solutions.

Also, this article is rather interesting in that they predict how the shift will go if big publishers keep refusing to lend e-books.

If Libraries Didn't Exist, Would Publishers be Trying to Kill Book Lending

I think they are right.  We'll see a rather large industry shift.  When you refuse to allow free access to your product, then no one knows about it, no one cares, and they go to where they can get stuff for free.

Going back to the Anime Industry, Bandai, instead of trying to work around piracy or find a way to capitalize on it, gave up.  Now all of their material will be pirated to the US and in the end they suffer.  Another anime producer in the US, Funimation, has found a new and improved way to fight piracy.  Offer free streaming of quality anime on their website:

Funimation

With the revenue from ads, easy access to purchasing the anime, AND timely translation, they have revolutionized how the Anime Industry should be functioning in the US.  I would not be surprised in the least to see them grow immensely, even take over anime titles from Bandai in the future.  These people have good business sense.  Give the public a taste, and make them want more.

For the publishing industry, the library is that taste.  Can you imagine how high Kindle sales will go if people find they can borrow e-books at the library?  Why not slip an ad in the library e-book to make it less attractive to steal and increase revenue (I know, that brings up a whole new argument, but it's just a suggestion from a business prospective)?  There are many things the publishing industry can do, but for the most part they refuse to innovate.  Very few are trying to make headway with libraries, and it makes me very sad to see how obstinate they are on their stance.

As bad as it may sound, my only hope is that the ones who refuse to cooperate go under and make way for new and more innovative companies.  The world is going digital and global, people.  There is a right way to do it and a wrong way.  We need to be careful.

Low Stress Job?

This entry has been inspired by:  http://lisnews.org/librariana_low_stress_job

Is being a librarian a low stress job?  I am honestly wondering that now, and re-evaluating what my original stance on the matter was.  Originally I had thought being a librarian to be a low stress job.  You organize books, answer questions, and sit in a nice relaxing quiet atmosphere.  Then I actually went to library school.

Thing is, I think being librarian can be a relaxing career.  I just don't think it should be.  Not that every librarian should stress themselves out, I just feel like if it is relaxing you're doing something wrong.  Going back to my previous classes, you should be out and about talking to people, keeping up with current events, talking with teachers and professors, managing programs and generating ideas all day.

Take in to account all of the busy work that also goes with being a librarian and I don't see any room for relaxing.  It's not necessarily stressful, but it is certainly not "quiet" enough for one to sit back and contemplate.  If we compare it to other professions I am sure "relaxing" could describe it but if we get into the drone of just sitting behind our desks checking books we're going to go back to making people question why they need us.

Librarianship should NOT be relaxing.

New Careers

Careers are, in general, difficult to start.  You begin with all these hopes and dreams and expectations and as the career goes on you just...lessen those expectations.  It's hard to keep up and keep yourself on your toes enough so that you DON'T lessen expectations.  It's a never ending battle and stamina is key.

So how do we build up stamina?  Those with enough self discipline will be able to gain that through sheer repetition but in my experience not a lot of people have a whole lot of self discipline.  I feel there has to be better ways, better methods.  Sometimes "Just keep going" really isn't enough to well, keep one going.

I bring this up due to big news my husband brought to me today: He will be stopping to get his masters at the end of THIS year to get some real world experience and then re-evaluate his scientific focus.  It makes sense, his advisor was the one who brought this up as the best idea but...I had thought I had 3 years to complete my own masters and start my career before we had to worry about his.  Now I have four months.

It's a tad overwhelming.  Now my whole concentration is, how do I juggle this new turn of events with both of my careers that I am trying to stay on top of which are really both new in the grand scheme of things.  Librarianship and writing, it's more than just networking and reading (thank goodness for the web that I can do that easily anyway) but it is the stress and the pressure.  What should I be doing?  What do I need to do?  Am I really doing the right thing or is there something key I forgot?  Is this turn of events really going to effect all of this?

I know I am probably over reacting, but I cannot help but have this small nagging feeling like I am forgetting something.  I feel like I am not doing enough now, and I need to step it up.  Maybe take more classes next semester.  More importantly, support my dear husband and his decision that, though he seemed relieved and happy about, must have been tough in and of itself.  Can we both juggle all this?  I guess time will tell.

Today is a Reading Day

This past week has been a recovery week for me.  The two weeks before were a mix of overwhelming information storage, catch up, keeping up, and finding more and more things to keep up with.  I'm still trying to get it all organized not only in my head but on both my Mac laptop and my PC desktop (it really is annoying to have two different systems that refuse to communicate).

It brings me back to the thought of drowning in information.  I now no longer know what I would do without my computers.  I spent the weekend visiting my in-laws and going to a fun Anime convention.  I did not bring my laptop with me.  By the time I got home I felt I had been missing an extra limb this entire time.  I have yet to leave either computer alone for very long.  There is just so much to be done!  So much to read!

A couple of articles written by The Hedgehog Librarain about data storage got me thinking about drowning in information as well.  She brings up the various problems with data storage and the prospects of such overwhelming data that we wont be able to keep up.  Or will we?  Also, a brief glimpse at a friend's daily blog list caught my eye with Peace of Mind: Is the Internet Replacing Our Ability to Remember?  Well is it?  And is this necessarily a bad thing?

Truth is there is a LOT of information out there.  We have the technology and means and will to keep it all, to store it and shelter it like magpies.  We're the only species on this planet who cares/is aware enough about our own history that we record it to the best of our ability and make it mandatory to be taught to our young.  We are a species that loves knowledge.  It doesn't really matter how important the knowledge is, someone will want to keep it.

But how do we prevent ourselves, as individuals, from drowning in knowledge?  To this I say: know your limits.  I believe the question everyone should be asking is this:  "How do we, as individuals, perform our duties to our careers and to ourselves in a way that is healthy for us?"  Yes we should always have the bigger picture in mind, like how to store all that info and how to cross reference it so everyone can have access.  We should be ever mindful of the changing of the times and developments in technology.  But to keep ourselves from drowning in information, we need to be able to take a step back, and breathe.