http://eprints.rclis.org/5468/1/vol3wp1.pdf
Video Reflection
15 years ago
Monday, February 9, 2009
Social Exclusion and the Public Library
This article contains a study of socioeconomic status and the use of public libraries throughout England. Although the article is very thorough, the author concludes the problems are due to a few basic fundamental principles. First the education level of patrons is one of the largest determinants of their library usage. Uneducated individuals seem to experience a mental barrier when deciding on whether or not to use the library. The author points out that this is a problem even in economically diverse areas because these libraries are usually tailored to those who have high school or college education. This means that those who do not have this education level feel as if they are not suited to use the library as compared to others. The author also argues that the delivery of information services has become very static. With all the new technology available it would be relatively easy and affordable to create different and interesting ways to deliver information so that all individuals can access it regardless of their education. The author also found "patron bias" in many of the libraries within the staff. Through observations the author found staff members to be much more willing to provide help to those who seemed to somewhat understand basic technology like the internet, compared to someone who would need substantial help. The staff members seemed less enthusiastic to offer their services to these patrons.
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I think this article reiterates what we have been talking about all semester. The reason why libraries don't get used is because people with less education or language barriers are too afraid or do not know how to use them. Since this article is talking about libraries in England, this also shows that this is clearly a world-wide problem. As the librarian on the video in class mentioned, libraries are gateways to education and should be the most important part of a school. Students who don't know how to use a library by the time they enter middle school are already behind. What I have found frustrating throughout this course (and it's only been a month!), is the myriad of studies done on libraries and communities. Each study has supported the previous, concerning the "digital divide" and how this divide has become one of race, ethnicity, income, education, location and socioeconomic status. However, I fail to see how these studies are helping. They are providing useful information and facts, but these statistics are not going to change until we do something about these inequalities. A field of study can do as much research as it wants and point out the problems of this current society, but that has shown it's not getting us anywhere. The few articles that have used the information they gathered to help the community at hand (the north Denver cities) have shown success. I think that researchers need to stop collecting data and publishing it. We know what the problems are, they have been made evident throughout various articles. The task at hand should be using this data to change the statistics. These researches should use their money to reach out to disadvantaged people and supply them with the tools to use a library for all its worth.
ReplyDeleteI think that this is a few interesting topic, and it makes sense when you think about it. Most people are often nervous and hesitant to get help on anything they don't know because they don't want to get embarrassed so it makes sense for it to apply at libraries as well. If someone isn't educated, then they don't feel they are on the same level as someone who is. I also think the "patron bias" is a good thing to point out though I'm not sure that's the right name for it. I don't think the library staff are less likely to help them because they don't know as much. They just don't want to do as much work.
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