Outreach in the digital age

Perhaps the greatest issue in dissemination is connecting with patrons (users, readers, information consumers, if you will). Traditionally, libraries have done that with community involvement by offering a wide variety of programming for all ages, book sales, promotions, presence at large community events, and other people-based initiatives. However, Terence Huwe wrote an article in 2006 discussing the possibilities of some Web 2.0 programs and applications which can be effectively used in the information age to increase the dissemination of information by both library professionals to other professionals, as well as to the public.

Huwe addresses several forms of electronic outreach available to librarians interested in pursuing patrons into the virtual realms. Among these, he discussed blogs, Really Simple Syndication (RSS) feeds, and automated alerts. Here are a few of the advantages and disadvantages of the form, and my assessment of whether it is a viable option in a high school media center.

Blogs
Advantages: simple, free, easy to "brand" or gain recognition, allow for user feedback with comments
Disadvantages: require time commitment, can be forgotten by readers, may not receive feedback, can feel like one-way communication
Viability: For a high school media center, the best application would be with staff as an information tool. Most students would respond more easily to something more interactive, like a wiki or instant message reference service.

RSS Feeds
Advantages: subscribers automatically receive content, does not require intentional user searching, easy to initiate
Disadvantages: can be ignored by users, does not offer feedback opportunities
Viability: Viable for high school students (if teachers insisted they sign up), but would be a greater opportunity for teacher or parent outreach.

Automatic alerts
Advantages: after initial set up users get automatic information, easy to continue
Disadvantages: if the information is not relevant, users can unsubscribe or ignore subsequent emails
Viability: Not very viable for students, because they do not have school-related email at the high school level. However, it would work fabulously with teachers. At one school in my personal experience, each department has a collaboration folder with these properties for their specific use.

A final thought: Huwe emphasizes the fact that none of these methods for disseminating information will be effective if the originator does not understand the patrons targeted and the needs they possess. As librarians assembled bibliographies (and still do) for patrons on specific informational topics, these electronic methods of communication must be focused and useful in order to bring patrons back again to use library resources.

Huwe, T. K. (2006). Some best practices for outreach. Computers in Libraries, 26 (2), Retrieved May 27, 2008 from Academic Search Premier database.

Access is the core

At the core of the dissemination of information is access to that information. Realistically, it would be impossible to spread something that was not portable in some sense. Although information is not tied down in one place, there are restrictions to access in some countries due to governmental policies, in some places dues to community standards or other social limiters, and for children as a result of both age and parental permission. This is not to say that all restriction is harmful or destructive, but simply to illustrate some reasons information is limited.

However, there are some abuses of information restriction. As a result of this, several library professional organizations have published documents that declare their support for the free access to information. The American Library Association's (ALA) Library Bill of Rights declares ALA's commitment to promoting universal access to information, through all points of view, without discriminating against materials, users, or groups based on their origin, background, or affiliation. In addition, the International Federation of Library Associations and Institution's (IFLA) Core Values discuss the importance of not only freedom to access information but equitable access without regard to who they are, where they live, or the circumstances of their life. Implicit in these documents is the understanding that library professionals not only provide this access to patrons but also purposefully assist in the dissemination of these materials.

Without these core beliefs and purposes, librarians would have little information to disseminate. Even in the age of information ubiquitousness, we must work toward closing the gap for patrons who are limited in access- whether because they lack technical expertise, have not developed the skill of reading, or who simply lack the access to information devices such as books, computers, magazines, or movies.

American Library Association. (1996). Library Bill of Rights. Retrieved May 20, 2008 from http://www.ala.org/ala/oif/statementspols/statementsif/librarybillrights.cfm

International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions. (1999). IFLA statement on libraries and intellectual freedom. Retrieved May 20, 2008 from http://www.ifla.org/faife/policy/iflastat/iflastat.htm

This blog is the result of a project I have in my Summer 2008 Information Science in Librarianship class at the University of South Florida. I decided to name it "Information Sprinkler" because my topic is dissemination, and one of the analogies I thought of was that of a water sprinkler, which has the purpose of spraying water over an area of ground in order to nourish it.

Throughout the semester, I will be focusing on ways that librarians and other information professionals can "sprinkle" their patrons, organizations and communities with reliable, accessible and equitable information.