Books, Libraries, genealogy research is changing drastically
The books housed in the Genealogy section of the Chula Vista Civic library will be moved to another section in the same building. This move is scheduled to happen before the new year.
Change is now. The Chula Vista Civic Library and Genealogical Society has the opportunity to reevaluate the needs of the community.
The CVGS board wants to keeps the membership informed of how and why the library is changing
The “new library” thinking is to provide open comfortable space for patrons to enjoy their studies, Their on-line studies.
A statement by American Library Association
We believe that free communication is essential to the preservation of a free society and a creative culture. ~
And free is what libraries want to provide for their communities. Over 70% of the public libraries in America provide free internet use in their facilities. To help the increasing population to on line studies many manufactures are gearing up to provide free services to public libraries.
Over 80% of those questioned provided reasons why on-line research was preferable to library research:
So the moral of the story is:
. If you have not started digitizing your genealogy –
note if you do not do it someone in the near future will need to do it.
Which supports the idea of turning your pedigree sheets in as soon as possible to be included on our website.
See below a statement released by SONY:
Sony's Perspective
At Sony, we believe there is a place for public/private partnerships. That's why we're so excited to be working closely with libraries and librarians across the country as part of our Reader Library Program. While there are several different views on the future of libraries, we believe that digital reading will be at the core of libraries, regardless of how they grow and evolve.
Sony's Reader Library Program is designed to help libraries overcome the challenges of adopting eBooks and educating their constituencies on how to borrow, read and make the most of digital reading content. eBooks, like traditional paper books, will play an important role in our civic and cultural life, but only if they are made broadly available and people understand how to access and use them. Sony's Reader Library Program includes four main components:
• A training program for library staff developed by Sony. This training includes in-person workshops, video training and additional materials available on the web, covering digital reading formats, an overview of sources for digital materials, and training on Sony's Reader digital reading devices.
• Sony's Reader digital reading devices for use by library staff.
• Educational materials to provide readers some background on digital reading devices.
• Bi-annual update sessions designed to keep libraries and their staff current with the latest developments in digital reading content, format and devices.
We believe it is extremely important to support public library systems as they expand their digital offerings and our initiative will provide these professionals with training and additional resources that will enable them to inform their patrons on how to benefit from their growing eBook collections. With this type of support, we believe they'll not only survive, but thrive in continuing to provide free access to knowledge in the digital age
end of Sony quote
Would it surprise you that there is belief that laptops will soon be obsolete?
The new technology will look more like kindles with library staff trained to assist patrons on the use of these handheld devices.
Besides the physical moving of the books there are many other changes planned for the genealogical research library team.
This is a very exciting and growing time for our society and genealogy research in general. While supporting our members with more tradition methods of research ---- the board is hoping to support new ideas that makes sense for each and every researcher.
With the widespread use of e-books, on-line help sites, and digitized records the library business is in a state of tremendous change.
Change -- the only constant in our lives. The traditional use of the library to: “see a book”, visit a reference desk, check books out of the library is being replaced with e-books, on-line help sites, and digitized records.
Less and less magazines and newspapers will become available.
It is no longer your parents’ library; I remember just 20 years ago we heard how the catalogue files were going to start disappearing from our libraries. Expect and be informed of more changes in Books, Libraries, and Genealogy Research—you have become so familiar.
Authors, professionals in the publishing industry, book sellers, independent bookstore owners, CEOs of the big bookstore chains, libraries, genealogy researchers and readers have all been left with an abundance of questions as we go through this exciting transfer.
The Chula Vista Civic Library staff are already adapting to this “new library” thinking. The staff is keenly aware of the impact new technology is having on their community.
CEOs of the big bookstore chains:
As you have probably realized Borders, a large bookstore chain, has consistently been in the headlines since January 2010 because they cannot pay their publishers.
Professionals in the publishing industry are adapting to the fact the cost to publish a book is much too costly.
Libraries and bookstores are assessing what do with all the square footage if all go to e-readers ?
The marketing emphasis is on the e-book, no longer the physical book. It seems a major overhaul is overdue.
How do authors react to the e-book? Seth Godin, a well- known author, says his next book will only exist in e-format. Do all authors only want to read and publish books this way? We don’t think so. Authors also feel the financial pinch of the e-book. While many unknown writers may have a better chance to get published, established authors are seeing a fraction of the advances they typically received. One has to ask how does this influence the quality and respect for literature. Will authors rally to preserve printed books?
This leaves independent bookstores in particular with many more questions: Will publishers give bookstores the information and tools to help preserve the hard back read? Will publisher sales reps go to bat to preserve their stores and keep reading vital? Will marketing become more credible and more important to the independent book seller? Will the publishers recognize a need for real book selling, word of mouth in our stores and on our web presence?
Will all these changes make readership grow? As the demand of maximizing our reading time increases, will these changes add more value to our lives?
This time is very exciting for our industry.
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Internet Caucus Advisory Committee Members and Supporters is an important public/private/profit/nonprofit organization keeping its eyes on the internet industry.
They have annual meetings of no less than 500 professionals of different walks of life. A statement regarding libraries and the internet suggested a major change is facing the public libraries of today
“Since the founding of our country, libraries have always been important to freedom. Today we are in the midst of a tremendous shift in the way Americans consume literature and other content, but one thing has not changed -- the library must continue to play a central role in providing open and free access to information and ideas.
Exactly what that role looks like is the subject of much debate and many differing perspectives. Some believe libraries will shift into learning and information centers while others insist they will maintain their role as a physical location for cataloging and loaning books -- in addition to housing sources of information technology.
While providing books was a standalone function for libraries throughout the last few centuries, their offerings have evolved with the digital age to meet the changing needs of their patrons. In fact, according to an article in the November 2009 issue of American Libraries, more than 71 percent of public libraries provide their community's only free public access to computers and the Internet. Not surprisingly then -- due to the economic hardship -- more people are using libraries. A study sponsored by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and published by the Institute of Museum and Library Services last year found that 69 percent of Americans 14 years of age or older visited a public library in 2009.
Regardless of its exact nature, technology will play an increasing role in shaping our future libraries. For centuries, the book publishing industry has worked closely with and supported libraries, and they have done so without influencing the freedom of the institution. It is now time for the technology industry to step up and play a similar role.
Here is how technologists can, and should, help support libraries:
• Offer training and support -- free of charge -- to libraries for items such as digital reading devices, tablets and other media devices. Helping technology companies as well as libraries, this will serve to educate the general public in the long run.
• Provide special access to materials - something publishers have been doing for years. While technologists can't always control pricing, we can offer special programs to help educate the public and broaden access.
• Open lines of communication, offering libraries insight into how technologists see the market evolving. This will help library administrators make informed decisions regarding the future of their institutions.
Free means Free
Digital reading has taken off over the past three years in ways that no one would have imagined a decade ago. Earlier this year, the Book Industry Study Group reported that eBook sales rose from 1.5% of all book sales in Q1 2009 to 5% in Q1 2010. This is a wonderful thing in many respects - digital reading makes it easier to publish and distribute materials than ever before. But, the race is also on to lock down the market on ebooks by locking consumers into a specific platform, and this is the equivalent of curbing access.
