Monday, December 25, 2006
Get Over It?
When I recently renewed my ALA membership, I decided to finally bite the bullet and join LAMA, partially because I think LA&M has been one of the consistently strongest ALA-related publications. My joining pretty much coincided with LAMA's decision to cease print publication of the journal, and they just posted their first electronic-only issue.
This is a little frustrating, but OK, I understand the reasoning and can deal. I dig out my ALA login and password -- and, by the way, why can't the site remember me from day-to-day? -- to find that each article is one large pdf file, the first of which locks up my PC. Reboot, grumble, wish for a web-based or plain text alternative, try again, cruising along... and then I get to the "Editor's Keyboard" column, which talks about the move to an electronic format:
I still appreciate LA&M's content, but I'll need more than "get over it" as a reason to re-up next year.
This is a little frustrating, but OK, I understand the reasoning and can deal. I dig out my ALA login and password -- and, by the way, why can't the site remember me from day-to-day? -- to find that each article is one large pdf file, the first of which locks up my PC. Reboot, grumble, wish for a web-based or plain text alternative, try again, cruising along... and then I get to the "Editor's Keyboard" column, which talks about the move to an electronic format:
At the same time, I also realize that not all of you will regard this as a singularly propitious event. Trust me: I feel your pain. On the shelves behind me in my office, I have every print LA&M back to 1990. It does distress me to know that I’ll never add another issue to this collection. I know that many of you colleagues feel the same melancholy. Still, I beseech you at this time to turn the page (pun intended) and, how can I put it politely...?All right. I'm a fan of electronic publication. I write an electronic-only column; I publish an electronic-only newsletter. But, this gets even my hackles up. "Get over it!" seems a less-than-productive approach. We try to avoid talking to our patrons this way when we move to online catalogs or cancel print publications; we should extend the same courtesy to one another and recognize that there are better ways to get folks on board.
Get over it!
....To the naysayers, all of you have spoken to me at conferences and other venues, about the creature comforts of print publishing—of being able to read LA&M on buses, of curling up with it and a cup of cocoa (or scotch) at night, and even of taking it into the bathroom on Sunday mornings (yes, I’ve heard this said), I can only respond...have you never heard of the "print" button?
I still appreciate LA&M's content, but I'll need more than "get over it" as a reason to re-up next year.
Labels: ala, electronic, lam, lama, pdf
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I'm not a LAMA member (I've never been a library manager or administrator)...and "Get over it!" sure won't encourage me to change that status. I'm with you on this one: That little phrase ranks right up there with "inevitable" in the "shutting down discussion" pantheon--but it's a whole lot more insulting. (And I guess I can say this now without sounding like a Luddite Grinch, since my credentials for not wholly opposing electronic-only publication are reasonably well established...)
I think there's another issue here ... an abysmal regard for history (and the history of computer formats in particular). It's nice that it's available now on pdf (assuming it doesn't lock the computer), but ten years from now?
Somehow, a shelf of paper -- if slowly mouldering -- seems a lot more secure for what LAMA editors see fit to print.
Somehow, a shelf of paper -- if slowly mouldering -- seems a lot more secure for what LAMA editors see fit to print.
I hope you give everything LAMA has a chance to keep your membership in the future. It is not just for administrators but focuses on other issues like leadership and effectiveness throughout an organization.
The new edition of the publication will probably see many changes before the best foot is put forward. It will allow for many electronic-based supplementary materials that could never be offered before.
We just completed the skin for another LAMA blog: LA&M Editors Desk. I hope it offers another ways for members to get more involved and drive the direction of LA&M.
I created and moderate the Dialog with Directors Discussion Group within LAMA. I can tell you that the old publication was almost useless in publicizing or sharing information on your events. Due to the publication schedule, it was great for articles but poor for columns or short member submissions.
I am now on the e-LA&M taskforce and will be attending my first meeting at ALA Midwinter as the LAMA Web Coordinator. If people have comments, I (bcg8@case.edu) would be glad to share or act on them as appropriate.
The new edition of the publication will probably see many changes before the best foot is put forward. It will allow for many electronic-based supplementary materials that could never be offered before.
We just completed the skin for another LAMA blog: LA&M Editors Desk. I hope it offers another ways for members to get more involved and drive the direction of LA&M.
I created and moderate the Dialog with Directors Discussion Group within LAMA. I can tell you that the old publication was almost useless in publicizing or sharing information on your events. Due to the publication schedule, it was great for articles but poor for columns or short member submissions.
I am now on the e-LA&M taskforce and will be attending my first meeting at ALA Midwinter as the LAMA Web Coordinator. If people have comments, I (bcg8@case.edu) would be glad to share or act on them as appropriate.
Brian: I do appreciate the new LEADS from LAMA blog (and all you've done there!), and will also subscribe to the new one you mention when it's live. I joined LAMA in the first place because I appreciate its focus on both management and leadership (and, as I mentioned, because I enjoy LA&M). This particular editorial, though, really rubbed me the wrong way. One of my points in posting was to note, if it rubbed me the wrong way, even though I'm predisposed toward the advantages of electronic publication, what effect does this type of language have on those who are more upset about the change?
I agree. The wording is not user-friendly. I am surprised how much of this behavior or communication style I see, even though we are in a service industry.
I also wonder what others had thought by that message, especially when very few (if any) complaints were received to the initial announcement of the switch to electronic. Do people just not care? Was it a long over due change? Or, are people holding back until they see the new product?
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I also wonder what others had thought by that message, especially when very few (if any) complaints were received to the initial announcement of the switch to electronic. Do people just not care? Was it a long over due change? Or, are people holding back until they see the new product?
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