Libraries have gone high-tech
21st century library scope even broader

Along with the rest of our society, libraries have undergone some radical changes in the past 10-15 years, and the basis for most of those changes has been the computer. If your image of a librarian is one of Shirley Jones in "The Music Man," constantly shushing people, think again. Computer technology has "transformed the profession," said Bernadette Foster, director of the Chili Public Library. The job of librarian has changed, aided by web sites where librarians can review and purchase books and materials in a more timely manner. The amount of information has grown exponentially; there exist many more research sources of librarians to evaluate and with which to become familiar.

The training required of other library employees has also increased. Computers have "broadened the scope" of library staff duties, according to Patty Uttaro, director of the Ogden Farmers' Library. Each clerk must now be computer literate, and new employees require up to one full week of training in order to learn the ins and outs of the circulation database, override procedures, and solve potential problems with the system. They must also become proficient in computer programs (such as Word or Excel) that are available for patron use. Even with all the technological advances, a library staff member's job still revolves around customer service, says Uttaro.

One main area of serving patrons of the library is assisting with research. While the amount of information available over the Internet has exploded in the past decade, with several information databases available for research at the libraries, along with access to the World Wide Web, that availability of information can be a double-edged sword, says Donna Haire, director of the Newman Riga Library. Susan Henderson, director of the Parma Public Library, agrees. Just because information is on the Internet, "doesn't mean it's right," Henderson says. Indeed, all four libraries interviewed for this article expressed concern that all too many people believe that if it's on the internet, it must be true. In this age of instant information, some patrons are just not waiting for the book, said Henderson, and as Uttaro pointed out, the Internet often isn't the "easiest - or best place to go." Guiding patrons to various types of sources has resulted in more time spent with each researcher, according to Foster at the Chili library.

Another high-tech service that has become extremely popular is the Monroe County Library System computerized catalog. This system allows patrons to check the availability of materials, place a hold on items, and have them delivered to the library of their choice for pick-up. The delivery system is managed out of the central downtown Rochester library, and each county library location is visited each day for pick-ups and deliveries. The popularity of this delivery service has at times temporarily "overloaded" the system, and the cost to the Monroe County Library System - and to each of its member libraries - has greatly increased in recent years. This service, which many patrons access from home via the library's Web site, has greatly increased the number of people coming into libraries.

Not only does the public come to borrow books, patrons take out videos, books-on-tape, books-on-CDs, and at some libraries, DVDs and e-books (being used at other county libraries and coming later this year to Chili). Where in the past a newly published work of fiction would result in a copy of the book being purchased by a library, today it may be purchased in several other formats as well, including large-print books and audio book (tapes or CDs). A movie release might mean purchasing the title in both VCR and DVD formats. All these materials take up more physical space in the libraries. Add that to the extra space the computers available for patron use take up - not to mention the space network cabling, printers and other peripherals require - and one can see part of the reason for another change in recent years in several area libraries: a need for more space.

Newman Riga Library underwent an expansion in 1989 that doubled its space, Ogden Farmers' Library moved to its present location in 1992, increasing from 7,000 to 12,000 square feet, and Chili Public Library moved to its new home in 1998, almost tripling its space. A visit to Parma Public Library makes it readily apparent why an expansion plan is under serious consideration; Henderson hopes to double the size of the current facility, which was built in 1978.

One newer way librarians use to stretch their space (and budgets) is the practice of leasing popular titles, a service utilized by Riga and Chili, whereby extra copies of best-sellers are leased for the period right after publication - when demand for the titles is highest - and then returned to the leasing company. The libraries then retain fewer books on the shelf after demand has died down. Another space-saver involves rotating seasonal books off the shelves and into storage, a practice Haire employs.

One constant at the libraries through the years has been the popularity of children's programs. Story hours have remained popular at all four libraries visited for this article, and the popularity of summer reading programs, in collaboration with local schools, has changed what was in the past the slowest time of the year - the summer months - into the most popular time of the year. In fact, Uttaro reported that Ogden's busiest month ever, as well as their highest single daily circulation, occurred in July. And when kids come in for reading materials, parents come along to find something for themselves, too. Ogden even experimented with an adult summer reading program in 2001, complete with prizes of bookstore gift cards. Uttaro plans to run a similar program this summer, although details such as rewards have yet to be decided upon.

When the computer revolution was beginning, many in the media predicted we were on the way to a paperless society, where we would get all our information via the information superhighway. Instead, circulation at all area libraries consistently increases year after year. Happily for bibliophiles, there is still no substitute for curling up with a good book.