BlogJunction » Question of the Week http://blog.webjunctionworks.org WebJunction's niche in the blogosphere Sun, 13 Jan 2013 04:26:36 +0000 en-US hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.5 QOTW: Libraries Linked to Economic Development? http://blog.webjunctionworks.org/index.php/2008/06/24/qotw-looking-for-info-on-libraries-and-economic-development/ http://blog.webjunctionworks.org/index.php/2008/06/24/qotw-looking-for-info-on-libraries-and-economic-development/#comments Wed, 25 Jun 2008 01:46:59 +0000 Tim http://blog.webjunctionworks.org/?p=707 Question of the WeekAs most of you know, we run a pretty regular weekly question feature over on WebJunction.org. Most of the questions come from our discussion forums. Elevation to QOTW status comes for many reasons, but central idea is to give attention to questions that will generate community enrichment via discussion while (of course) providing an answer the original question.

This week’s question breaks a trend by coming in through a BlogJunction comment. We’ve often pitched the blog as another place for folks to ask their WJ questions, but hardly anyone takes us up on it. Maybe along with all the other changes we’ve got going, we’re going to some new blog trends, too.

Anyway, on with the question. RoseAleta asks:

I’m trying to find a quote to use for a City Council presentation about how libraries contribute to economic development. It seems I’ve read this any number of times that businesses and homebuyers look for “quality of life” as much as job income, etc. in making a decision to re-locate.”

I’m sure the WJ community is loaded with great ideas for helping RoseAleta (and if you aren’t I’d love to hear that, too. Maybe we can get together and commission a report!). I know my library adds a huge value to the community, but you can’t quote me because I’m not running a multinational corporation.

If you’ve have thoughts to share on the matter, please respond to the question in the WebJunction advocacy discussion forum or here in the blog.

]]> http://blog.webjunctionworks.org/index.php/2008/06/24/qotw-looking-for-info-on-libraries-and-economic-development/feed/ 0 Questions, questions, so many questions http://blog.webjunctionworks.org/index.php/2008/05/12/questions-questions-so-many-questions/ http://blog.webjunctionworks.org/index.php/2008/05/12/questions-questions-so-many-questions/#comments Mon, 12 May 2008 21:36:29 +0000 Emily http://blog.webjunctionworks.org/?p=675 Discussion boards are a great way to ask, and get answers to, your burning questions. Over the last 5 years, the collective knowledge of our over 33,000 members have answered thousands of questions about problems many of you face in your work in a library. During the last few months, we’ve been highlighting questions we think merit a closer look. Check out the answers to this list of the last three months’ Questions of the Week.

Have a question that needs answering? Post your question in this forum and it could be nominated as the next Question of the Week!

]]> http://blog.webjunctionworks.org/index.php/2008/05/12/questions-questions-so-many-questions/feed/ 1 Question of the Week: Copyright on Donated Materials http://blog.webjunctionworks.org/index.php/2008/04/24/question-of-the-week-copyright-on-donated-materials/ http://blog.webjunctionworks.org/index.php/2008/04/24/question-of-the-week-copyright-on-donated-materials/#comments Thu, 24 Apr 2008 18:43:57 +0000 Tim http://blog.webjunctionworks.org/index.php/2008/04/24/question-of-the-week-copyright-on-donated-materials/ Question of the Week at WJ: Share your Library’s Web 2.0 WorkThere’s some interesting discussion to be had over in the Reference area of the WJ community discussions on the sticky subjects of genealogy research, copyright, for-profit end uses of library “owned” materials.

Member peteswind3 started the conversation by asking:

What should one say to keep people from copying donated material to the genealogy department and putting the copied material in a book and selling it. Is there a standard form stating a person cannot copy and sell this material? Then what recourse can be taken if it is copied and sold.

This generated questions about whether libraries “own” the copyright on donated materials.

I’m imagine this topic is relevant for other parts of our collections—especially as self-publishing for-profit becomes more common. Please join the conversation and share your thoughts by commenting here in the blog or in the original discussion thread.

]]> http://blog.webjunctionworks.org/index.php/2008/04/24/question-of-the-week-copyright-on-donated-materials/feed/ 0 Question of the Week: Online Fee Payment Options? http://blog.webjunctionworks.org/index.php/2008/04/08/question-of-the-week-online-fine-payment-systems-or-options/ http://blog.webjunctionworks.org/index.php/2008/04/08/question-of-the-week-online-fine-payment-systems-or-options/#comments Tue, 08 Apr 2008 05:50:49 +0000 Tim http://blog.webjunctionworks.org/index.php/2008/04/08/question-of-the-week-online-fine-payment-systems-or-options/ Question of the Week: Getting Buy-in From IT for RSSI can’t believe it’s time again for the Question of the Week. Where do the days go?

This time we’re highlighting an issue near and dear to my heart as a borderline problem patron—online fine/fee payment options. True confession: we’ve got four high-powered library users in the family and well, we pay a lot of late fees.

Let me say I don’t begrudge the fines at all. In fact, I wish I could take care of them more quickly and conveniently—such as when I’m reserving and renewing materials online. That’s why I was so happy to see WebJunction member mckeogh bring up what I consider a very Library 2.0 topic:

“I was wondering if any library has instituted a system that allows patrons to pay their fees (i.e. overdue fees) online. Has anyone done this? If so, what have been the challenges? What system, software do you use?”

If you have any thoughts or input on the topic, please join the original conversation in the discussion forum or comment right here in the blog. (I’m personally wondering if any libraries out there take PayPal or Google checkout—chime in if you know of any place doing so).

As always, if you have if you have a question you want to ask the larger WebJunction community or you see an interesting question coming in, please post it in the Question of the Week topic.

]]> http://blog.webjunctionworks.org/index.php/2008/04/08/question-of-the-week-online-fine-payment-systems-or-options/feed/ 0 Question of the Week: Tips for Public Scanner Access? http://blog.webjunctionworks.org/index.php/2008/03/27/question-of-the-week-tips-for-public-scanner-access/ http://blog.webjunctionworks.org/index.php/2008/03/27/question-of-the-week-tips-for-public-scanner-access/#comments Thu, 27 Mar 2008 20:58:48 +0000 Tim http://blog.webjunctionworks.org/index.php/2008/03/27/question-of-the-week-tips-for-public-scanner-access/ Question of the Week: Getting Buy-in From IT for RSSLet’s take a break from all this PLA action for a quick Question of the Week, shall we? Can anyone in the community share a policy or best practices for patron scanner use? WebJunction member phenley has found resources on what type of scanner to purchase, but needs some related policy and/or training tips.

Phenley asks:

“We have a scanner for staff (actually in my office, and I’m usually the only one to use it) but would like to put it out for the public, since we do get a few requests. So my question: if you offer scanning for the public, does staff do it, or is the scanner out and available for anyone to use? Do people seem to be able to manage, or does staff usually have to help?“

Please share you best practices, pitfalls, or other comments either in the original discussion or here in the blog as a comment. As always, if you have if you’ve got a question you want to ask the WebJunction community or you see a good question coming in, please post it in the Question of the Week topic.

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