Something of this kind is already running at Tate South Lambeth
Library in London - especially the Digital Bazaars
http://digitaltuesdays.co.uk/wp/
and in fact was runner up at the 2012 CILIP Libraries Change Lives Awards.
The development work & exhibitions concentrate on IT/reading aids for
visual impairment, plus some work with older people.
This is gradually being rolled ut across the whole borough (Lambeth).
Laura Swaffield
The Library Campaign
On 5/21/14, Phil Bradley <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
> As has already been pointed out, e-readers have already had their
> brief period in the sun. I really wouldn't be inclined to spend any
> time or effort on them. To be honest, attempting to sell a piece of
> kit like that would in any case be fraught with difficulties - taking
> returns, sorting out problems, returning faulty units - more trouble
> than it's worth.
>
> I think a more interesting thing to do would perhaps be to hold a
> technology day; ask colleagues and library members to come into the
> library to show other people what their particular device could do,
> how it works - even how light/heavy it happens to be. Help the
> community to engage with the community and to promote the library as
> being a good place to learn about tech. Then take video of the event,
> or people showing off what their particular gadget does, advantages
> and disadvantages, which could then be posted onto Facebook, YouTube
> and so on.
>
> If you're looking to make money, ask local tech companies, phone
> companies, representatives from Dixons etc to take a stall which you
> either charge them for, or ask for sponsorship for the day. You could
> even do a session in a corner of the library where each company gets
> some time to make a pitch, push their own products or run a Q&A. If
> you don't like the idea of them selling stuff, they could perhaps hand
> out discount vouchers valid for a period of time in their stores.
>
> Then you also get people to come along who like making and repairing
> things; if library members have something which doesn't seem to work
> any longer, maybe they can be fixed, or if nothing else told it's
> beyond repair, and should be thrown away. This then gives you the
> opportunity to get someone giving a talk about recycling old computers
> or phones, and have bins where people can chuck them.
>
> All this shows the library is the place to be, engaged with the
> community, a centre of learning, fun, up to speed and so on. I'd
> certainly turn up to an event like that - I'd never buy an e-reader
> from a library.
>
> Phil.
>
> On 21 May 2014 09:54, Steve Powell <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
>> The two formats will continue together for the foreseeable future - at
>> least
>> until the next step forward which will probably be books being
>> bluetoothed
>> straight into our brains...
>>
>> Ebooks will probably pull ahead and stay there, but it will no doubt be
>> subject to fluctuations.
>>
>>
>>
>> Like the Download/Vinyl/CD debate it's actually a media fabrication [much
>> like the Blur vs Oasis debacle at the tail end of Britpop, or does that
>> show
>> my vintage too much??].
>>
>> All these formats exist and all have positive and negative aspects, I
>> will
>> always love the analogue feel & sound of vinyl and I will always want to
>> own
>> an actual physical copy of albums I love [especially if it's a rather
>> nice
>> deluxe edition box set with extra stuff] but I still download and I
>> certainly rip CDs to my iPod...and this is the same for books.
>>
>>
>>
>> Nothing will ever replicate the sheer sensuous appeal of a paper book -
>> the
>> smell, the feel the sound of the pages turning etc. but there is a place
>> for
>> Ebooks alongside. Some OP titles are now only available digitally and as
>> Librarians surely we appreciate that access to material in whatever
>> format
>> is vital... and anyway, the genie is very much out of the bottle now so we
>> need to embrace all book formats and follow the trends!
>>
>>
>>
>> Hey, whoda thought it? Trendy Librarians, whatever next?? ;-)
>>
>> Steve
>>
>>
>>
>> Steve Powell BA (Hons) MCLIP
>>
>>
>>
>> Team Librarian - Children & Young People
>>
>>
>>
>> Retford Library
>>
>> Churchgate
>>
>> Retford
>>
>> Notts
>>
>> DN22 6PE
>>
>>
>>
>> T:01777 708724
>>
>> E: [log in to unmask]
>>
>> Children, Families & Cultural Services
>>
>> Nottinghamshire County Council
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> From: lis-pub-libs: UK Public Libraries
>> [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
>> On Behalf Of McNabb, Helen
>> Sent: 20 May 2014 16:53
>>
>>
>> To: [log in to unmask]
>> Subject: Re: Selling eReaders in libraries
>>
>>
>>
>> If you look for Farriers instead of blacksmiths there are lots of them
>> about, as lots of people still have horses and they all need to be shod.
>> Far from being an extinct profession!
>>
>>
>>
>> Helen McNabb
>>
>> Library Resources Manager
>>
>> Library and Information Service
>>
>> Vale of Glamorgan Council / Cyngor Bro Morgannwg
>>
>> tel / ffôn: 01446 725383
>>
>> e-mail / e-bost: [log in to unmask]
>>
>>
>>
>> Visit our Website at www.valeofglamorgan.gov.uk
>>
>> Ewch i'n gwefan yn www.bromorgannwg.gov.uk
>>
>>
>>
>> Find us on Facebook / Cewch ddod o hyd i ni ar Facebook
>>
>> Follow us on Twitter / Dilynwch ni ar Twitter
>>
>>
>>
>> Consider the environment. Please don't print this e-mail unless you
>> really
>> need to.
>>
>> Ystyriwch yr amgylchedd. Peidiwch ag argraffu'r neges hon oni bai fod
>> gwir
>> angen.
>>
>>
>>
>> ________________________________
>>
>> From: lis-pub-libs: UK Public Libraries
>> [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
>> On Behalf Of Ian Stringer
>> Sent: 20 May 2014 16:12
>> To: [log in to unmask]
>> Subject: Re: Selling eReaders in libraries
>>
>>
>>
>> Cold Hanworth in Lincolnshire has a village blacksmith but no Library!
>>
>> They also train people to be blacksmiths, but not librarians
>>
>> but as Henry Ford said 'History is bunk'
>>
>>
>>
>> On 20 May 2014 15:41, Gary Porter <[log in to unmask]>
>> wrote:
>>
>> To be honest I can't see Amazon 'kicking themselves' over anything the
>> library sector does - we are just too small and getting smaller!
>>
>>
>>
>> My own view is that we are likely to have a mixed economy of e and
>> physical
>> books for longer than many people think. I'm not sure one format will
>> wholly
>> supercede the other - TV didn't kill radio, video didn't kill cinema (or
>> the
>> Radio Star), although to be fair Henry Ford did successfully see off the
>> village blacksmith! It's difficult to call. Who would have thought the
>> download generation would get into vinyl. I think the e/physical book
>> balance will change in favour of the former with physical books becoming
>> more niche. So...are librarians assuming the role of blacksmiths? Discuss...
>>
>>
>>
>> From: lis-pub-libs: UK Public Libraries
>> [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
>> On Behalf Of Ian Anstice
>>
>>
>> Sent: 20 May 2014 15:20
>> To: [log in to unmask]
>>
>> Subject: Re: Selling eReaders in libraries
>>
>>
>>
>> An interesting fundraising idea (and heaven knows we all need those) and
>> another plus about it is we would have some stock in the library from
>> which
>> to demonstrate with. At the moment, I bring in my own iPad. I also
>> agree
>> with the reasons listed.
>>
>>
>>
>> Careful though as e-readers are likely to be a transitional technology
>> ...
>> I'm seeing a lot more interest in reading on iPads and other tablets than
>> straight e-readers. Now, if we became Apple agents, I'd be really
>> interested! Technology may also be moving too fast for a national
>> consortia, even if for a moment we think that is possible, to cope with -
>> by
>> the time something is bought, it may be out of date. There may also be a
>> loss of impartiality with such a deal.
>>
>>
>>
>> There's also an element of turkeys voting for Christmas (it's so sad
>> seeing
>> the Waterstones staff having to sell e-readers don't you think?) but I
>> guess
>> that horse may already have bolted.
>>
>> Ian Anstice
>>
>> Public Libraries News
>>
>>
>> On 20 May 2014, at 11:59, "stjohnknight, jan"
>> <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
>>
>> Hi Sue
>>
>>
>>
>> I think a national/ consortium deal would be just the thing to help us
>> get
>> started. A better deal for income generation. I bet Amazon will be
>> kicking
>> themselves if it happens!! Lol
>>
>>
>>
>> Best wishes
>>
>> Jan
>>
>>
>>
>> From: Sue Lawson [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
>> Sent: 20 May 2014 11:56
>> To: stjohnknight, jan
>> Cc: [log in to unmask]
>> Subject: Re: Selling eReaders in libraries
>>
>>
>>
>> Hi Jan
>> I think it's a great idea. Makes perfect sense to me as we could offer
>> ereader support, information about library ebook services plus help
>> navigating all the different types of ebooks including free, self
>> published,
>> fanfic and traditional publishers.
>>
>> Could even feed into the movement for libraries to become community
>> publishers plus a source of income generation.
>>
>> Perhaps a good idea to negotiate a national/consortium deal with ebook
>> retailers rather than 150 individual authorities talking to the vendors?
>>
>> Sue Lawson
>> www.librarycamp.co.uk
>>
>> On 20 May 2014 10:49, "stjohnknight, jan"
>> <[log in to unmask]>
>> wrote:
>>
>> Morning J
>>
>>
>>
>> Has anyone thought of selling eReaders in their libraries?
>>
>>
>>
>> Or is anyone actually selling them now?
>>
>>
>>
>> If so, is this successful?
>>
>>
>>
>> Just a thought... I'd be interested in your views of whether they should be
>> sold in libraries or not and how you think they would be received.
>>
>>
>>
>> We offer eReader support for our members to borrow ebooks so I just
>> wondered
>> if we could offer the sale of compatible eReaders for potentials...
>>
>>
>>
>> Best wishes
>>
>> Jan
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> ________________________________________________
>> Jan St. John-Knight
>>
>> Library Development Officer
>>
>> Strood Library
>>
>> Medway Council
>>
>> 32 Bryant Road
>>
>> Strood
>>
>> Rochester
>>
>> Kent ME2 3EP
>>
>> T: 01634 337285
>>
>> E: [log in to unmask]
>>
>>
>>
>> For key information and news about Medway Libraries visit
>> www.medway.gov.uk/libraries
>>
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>
>
> --
> Phil Bradley: Internet Consultant, Trainer, Social Media observer and
> Author.
> Visit http://www.philb.com for free information on aspects of the
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