Library News, by David W. Keeber
Red Rock News
Date: July 18, 2008
It's a new world. So much has gone electronic nowadays and at Sedona Public Library, we have gone electronic in spades. Whether it is the computer-based catalog, or the Library's website, there are myriad ways that we have taken advantage of computers. For some, the new technologies present a challenge, for others it is much easier. Let's look at the many ways we have incorporated technology at the Library.
First and foremost is the computer-based catalog that replaced the old card catalog. Here is where the real strength of computers has been brought to bear on the search for information. Whether the catalog is paper-based or computer-based, it is still a database. Searching a database, whether paper or electronic, can be either simple or complex. The paper version in the old maple cabinets always yielded a simple search – you plugged along one topic at a time – and that tended to be pretty time consuming.
The computer catalog always searches for the most information when you hit the button. That is why you get a list of similar spellings, similar topics, and so on. Quite often, a search term is misspelled, but with the computer's power, you can easily see a list that will show you the correct spelling, thereby reducing your time spent "hunting and pecking." With the many ways things have related links, computers make those "side searches," such as different authors who have written about the same topic.
Other ways in which the Library has gone electronic is in the form of books on tape, CD, Playaways and now, downloadable books. There has been, and will continue to be lengthy debates about the death of printed books. While I used other columns to discuss this topic, for now, consider the fact that by having books in a myriad of formats allows the "reader" to enjoy them in places you simply cannot read. Can you use your long commute to read a book in print, or can you simply pop a tape or CD into your car's player and still enjoy your reading time?
A number of years back, librarians debated whether to allow books on tape into the collection as they weren't really books. I am glad that we have concluded that debate in favor of their addition because we now have even more ways to offer our users access to the information they seek. Playaways and downloadable books are simply the next incarnation of the earlier formats.
We have all seen kids walking around with the Walkman players and iPods. We may mutter about how they are ignoring the world around them, but they are onto something – the ability to go anywhere and enjoy their music. Few adults have made the transition to owning an iPod or a similar device, and have considered a book on tape or CD something you only enjoy in your car or in front of your stereo system. With the advent of the Playaway, you can now enjoy your favorite book while taking a walk, or gardening, or doing your hobby.
The Playaway is an MP3 player, the equivalent of an iPod that has a single book loaded on it that you can easily carry around with you. Now, you don't even need to own your own player, but can simply use one of these to "read" a book on the go.
Once you get accustomed to reading on the go, you may well decide that you want other titles than the ones we offer on the Playaways. Now, the Library offers downloadable books that you can place on your own device. The offer the same convenience as Playaways, but you will find even more selection. These titles are available on our website by clicking on the link to "ebooks" under the Find Books and More heading.
And speaking of the website, any and all of our services are available on that electronic resource. Do you want to browse the catalog? Go to the website. Do you want to see what books you have checked out and maybe even renew them? Go to the website. Do you want to learn about the programs we are offering? Go to the website. It is the electronic doorway to Sedona Public Library. By the way, the address for the website is www.sedonalibrary.org
One can certainly be a book lover and still take advantage of the many electronic resources that the Library offers. But, if you find that some of them present a hurdle for you as you attempt to learn how to use them, simply seek help for the Library staff. We are happy to show all the features of our catalog, or how to download a book, or where you can find the information you need on our website. Just because we have many new electronic resources doesn't mean that we have abandoned our commitment to service to our users.
