This evening I went to a lecture by Leonard Kniffel, editor of American Libraries, at Salem College. It was hosted by the Center for Women Writers, Salem Academy and College Libraries and the Friends of the Libraries.

Kniffel had to address a number of audiences: writers, librarians, a few students. As such, I’m capturing from an academic library worker perspective.

• It’s been about 20 years since he’s worked in a library, so he said that he was actually giving an outsider perspective.
• Talked about how technology changes the way we read. There’s a constant fight for attention, so a main theme to think about in editing is who would actually read it and in what format.
• Suggested that format might not matter. He asked why we read: for pleasure or for education?
• Not hard to find people who say they love libraries. Also not hard to find people who ask if libraries are necessary anymore.
• Suggested that forward thinking news editors are realizing we are looking for a new genre that takes advantage of the screen, rather than just copying print to the screen.
• Pointed out that the average age of a newspaper reader is 55 and rising and that huge numbers of young folks don’t look at papers at all.
• Suggests that people who are concerned about Googlization are those who think of libraries as warehouses with guardians.
• Said that as more formats arise, our role increases: we have more versions to preserve and we have to have the technology to support the formats.
• Then he launched into a string of stats about number of libraries, reference questions, funding, internet access, etc.
• Pointed out the value of databases, the precarious nature of ebooks.
• Suggested there’d be a day when people could get a list of reading, entirely customized, ready to be read in any format, from their library. It’s interesting because, for those using RSS readers, we’re getting most of that right now.
• Pointed out how much the internet has grown. Asked if this might increase or decrease people’s interest in a given research topic. Said that more hits would have increased his interest.
• Admires people can blog with regularity over time. But also pointed to the struggle that many of us talk about: choosing the right ones to read out of millions.
• Next week is National Library Week.
• Reading as an antidote to the isolation of the web. (Julie Andrews)
• Said that he didn’t think libraries were particularly Googlized.
• Talked a lot about false dichotomies: books vs. computers, food and books in the library

Q&A

• Talked a little about crisis in school libraries.
• Successful librarians often have to stop doing what they love most. If you love working with children, but get promoted to management, you don’t work with children anymore.
• When asked to speculate on libraries in 25 years: not only do libraries have to embrace the role of “place” but also community activity and a new role.
• Favors the Chicago Public Library. Also really loves his corporate library for ALA. Talked about Knowledge Management System aspect of the library.
• Suggested that big box bookstores were creating comfortable library-like environments because we were abandoning it for online, technology driven focus.
• Said that it’s harder to get to do book readings in bookstores than in libraries.
• There’s an international comardere between librarians.
• He said Laura Bush said that if you’re a techie or if you’re a people person, go into librarianship–you’ll love it. These aren’t the qualifications we used to think about.
• “Go young people! That’s what I say.”
• Talked about how some countries are skipping the book phase. They can’t afford to do both books and tech, so they leap-frog into the internet age.
• Oprah has done more for reading and book sales… it’s phenomenal.
• Librarians have to be key players in their community. In the case of academic libraries, we have to be plugged in with faculty and academic administration.
• Bill Gates said his biggest disappointment in working with libraries is that he couldn’t get the media to cover it.

All in all it was a nice evening, and a great opportunity to see a national library leader, locally, and for free! Thanks to Salem!