Librarians and Reference Publishers Discuss Access, Priorities, and What's to Come
RSSBy Henrietta Thornton-Verma
ALA Midwinter offered a chance for representatives from several reference publishers and database producers to sit with librarians and discuss some exciting—and at times contentious—issues surrounding reference work in today's school and public libraries. The Sunday morning discussion was moderated by Christopher Harris of Genesee Valley, NY, Educational Partnership, and Wendy Stephens, Buckhorn High School Library, New Market, AL. Joining them were Jennifer Pfau, ABC-CLIO; Rick Lumsden, Britannica; Matt Andros, EBSCO Publishing; Roger Rosen, Rosen Publishing; Geraldine Curran, Scholastic Library Publishing; and Jon Gregory, World Book. School Library Journal's Editor-in Chief, Rebecca Miller; its Reference Editor, Henrietta Thornton-Verma; and Contributing Editor, Rocco Staino; and Library Journal's Barbara Genco were also part of the conversation. The discussion used a very broad definition of reference and the conversation was similarly freewheeling. Competing priorities were a recurring theme; for example, the publishers and librarians emphasized that decisions about what to put "above the fold" on a website should be based on close analysis of patron needs so that they can find what they want right away. On the other hand, the group acknowledged that such a practice curtails serendipity. The group also debated the difficulty of deciding whether to invest in print, which will never disappear, or online subscriptions, which may evaporate once a library cannot afford them but which are frequently updated. Harris and Stephens emphasized to the vendors present that librarians are willing to explore, and are eager for, different subscription models. They were also very clear that access continues to be an issue, with emerging technology only widening the digital divide. Watch for full details of the conversation in the pages of School Library Journal in the coming months.
January 23, 2012
