Librarian in Black Blog Review
It may seem odd to recommend a blog like the Librarian in Black on this site, since it focuses solely on libraries. However, the discussion of technology within the library setting has proved insightful. The benefits of reading about technology used in a particular setting are great. Too often, technology writing, even my own, is divorced from a particular context. It may sound silly, but how a person uses something as mundane as Excel in an accounting office may look very different from the way a library may use it. It is not the library part that interests me as much as how technologies are implemented and the often creative ways they are used.
Often, LIB discusses something about a technology that is often overlooked on other blogs. Since the blog deals directly with practical application in a real setting, there is very little theory or fluff. For LIB, the question always is “Will it work in a library context?”
We need to ask that question regarding are our given contexts. Technology should be contextualized. Too often technology is generalized. When that happens, I think it loses some of its power.
I would like to see more blogs of this nature. Is there someone out there that works for a city government who is head of IT? or someone who is involved in IT for a large retail chain? etc., etc., etc.
Posted by Paul Flyer on Monday, July 10th, 2006 in Recommended Blogs
Sarah Houghton (LiB) Says:
July 10th, 2006 at 11:20 pm
Thank you so much for your kind comments. And let me start by saying this: librarians don’t shush people any more. Really. Public libraries offer more than books and DVDs–many of us have downloadable audio books, free wireless, free public computers, color printing, blogs, wikis, and podcasts. The list goes on. I do focus on practical applications for technologies in libraries for, well, practical reasons. Many of us have been thrown into IT with little or no training, and no funding whatsoever. We have to scrounge for free services, free code, etc. That’s why the context is so important to us. If we’re going to spend time on it, it had better work. I’m so glad you find my comments helpful, and if you ever do find a city IT person with some insights, let me know. I’d be curious to read from that perspective as well.
Paul Flyer Says:
July 11th, 2006 at 12:08 pm
Your welcome, sarah. And if I find any quality contextualized blogs I will shoot a link your way.
Sarah Houghton (LiB) Says:
July 11th, 2006 at 7:50 pm
Thanks!