Why we need information fluency?

two tablets to be tested
Originally uploaded by iblee....

THis is the reason we need people fluent in information analysis. It's not enough to understand Japanese in a classroom -that's being literate. It's far more important to be able to confidently move around the country knowing if you get hurt or lost or stuck, you can get help. That's being fluent. Guess which is more powerful information literacy or information fluency?

Chris Demorro disguised his true intentions. While it's easy to say, "hey I'm just pointing out the facts as they lie" -I suspect he couched his true intentions when first publishing this article. He did so knowing it would incite both sides of this vociferous debate. So inciteful would it be, bloggers and the media would fact check after -shoot(post) first... I don't doubt he didn't think this would not generate major interest and potentially garner fame for himself. I quote him here and I cite my source outright unlike Mr. Demorro:

"This is a large part of why I wrote the article in the first place: I believe hybrids are not going to solve our imminent energy crisis, and focusing on a platform that still requires petrol in any amount is ultimately a band-aid for what could become a mortal wound. "
--Chris Demorro "Prius Still Not Sitting Pretty"
--link: http://clubs.ccsu.edu/recorder/editorial/editorial_item.asp?NewsID=203
--date accessed: 06-12-2007
--date article posted as listed on website: March 28, 2007

While that argument seems true when passively accepted, his mark is off. Mr Demorro actually portrays himself as a very real danger to the supposed change he wants to see.

Distorting information because you think your opinion is right and for your own needs dangeroulsy belies how grave an injustice that action is. Presently, hybrids may fail; at present recycling may not work; computers have increased paper consumption -everything that is supposed to save us seems a proverbial dead pointless end. The real point: all those items I just mentioned are beginning technologies that must be developed, adopted, improved, and used for maximum effectiveness. No technology is born perfect. The curve is steep. Yet, the more that newer technologies are adopted the faster those technologies improve: a classic network effect.

Read the rest of his too late self-disclosure here.

Cached here is the paper's editorial response.

Insights:
http://www.truedelta.com/blog/?p=48
http://www.truedelta.com/about.php?session_code=

200,000 mile Prius:
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/8839690/

--Just Google the original article. I'm not linking to it. :)

What are wists?

The Gift from the Portuguese
Originally uploaded by iblee....

The smash-up of list and wish. I like this part.

"...we try to encourage the discovery and promotion of products from
small retailers and manufacturers and young designers."

Imagine information wish lists; a place where someone did the legwork of figuring out some piece of information you wanted to know but didn't want to take the time to find out. Not like the several "answering" services there are but something like an rss feed you could plug into, submit questions to, and something would bet spit out of -kinda like reverse twitter maybe?

How can we connect with u?

Meet me at the Library!
Originally uploaded by iblee....

Gosh, give people ways to connect thru your website & you will drive the use. One of the primary services, (to add value remember), means exposing the seams between the virtual and physical & helping people connect.

Why not think more like a patron?

Why not think more like a patron
Originally uploaded by iblee....

Why did I never hear from the ILL department?
3 months later: In under one week, I obtained this article from another ILL department.

How many patrons are that persistent? How many have been silently frustrated? Why can't we anticipate or adumbrate or predict our patrons' desires? Why do empathize so little with our patrons’ information needs? Why not think more like a patron and less like a librarian? There are ways we can get peoples' information attention -since we have both skill sets: librarian & patron we should be able to meet their needs before they know they have a need.

Why do we force patrons to think like us? When we hate that very thing in other organizations, like the DMV, Health care, Banking?

Why does positioning matter?

great food 1
Originally uploaded by iblee....

In the Way of the Gun, they talk about this and over at the Sushi Economy -they're talking about it too. Worth a look.

Why not consultation cubicles instead of reference desk? oooohhh.

jennimi2iblee
Originally uploaded by iblee....

To create a space to work together is pretty neat -this recognizes the fact & returns to the value that: in libraries we are all equal.

Check out the size of the monitor and the space it's in.

Be sure to humanly advertise your services: we are supposed to be about people.


Let's finish with some signs that work, actively.

Have you edited your Wikipedia entry?

Students want a library
Originally uploaded by iblee....

Your entry is meant to be informative about the Library in general. I bet your library has awesome resources, great people working there (Hmm, imagining an entry on the actual personalities now ), and a rich history. Portray your unique history -even if it's not deep or long or ivy- the curious or casual browser may become enamored with what they learn about the library; they may learn that libraries are these fascinating places where bytes and bricks can meet. You never know when you are going to bring the library into someone's life.

I would bet money that schools and therefore other parts of a school do get looked up on Wikipedia. Since we are one of the items students consider when selecting a school maintaining presence makes sense.

"On students' must-see list during college visits were buildings housing their major, said 56.8 percent of respondents. Rounding out the top five were residence halls at 53.1 percent, the library at 48.4 percent, classrooms at 46 percent, and technology facilities at 40 percent."
http://chronicle.com/weekly /v52/i40/40a02701.htm

Above all else: avoid library-speak in your entry. Make it human-readable.