LIS Students and the Scan

On Monday evening, I spoke to a Library Automation class in the Kent State University LIS program offered here in Columbus. Nancy Lensenmayer, the Program Officer for Education and Professional Development in the OCLC Member Services team, teaches the class and invited me to speak about the scan.

This was a fun, feisty group. We had several delightful detours into areas I hadn't planned, such as the pros and cons of self-service (the verdict: occasionally overrated, but getting integrated in our lives in surprising ways), the role of libraries in easing the digital divide, weighing the possibility of misusing ILS data by government agencies and private industry against the ability to mine data to improve overall service, and the dependability of wikis as a source of information.

The best thing about this class was that they were ready to think about library automation beyond the integrated library system. They were looking for ways to expand the possibilities. They were deeply inculcated with the best library values of service and preservation, but they didn't seem to be as hidebound as some other groups that I've worked with. They were also more than willing to challenge my preconceptions, making me think more deeply about what I was saying.

If you're one of those library directors who wrings your hands over the state of library education, relax. I've seen the future, and to quote Arthur, it doesn't suck!