2021

Library late fees - Not just ineffective, but harmful

Increasing numbers of libraries have eliminated late fees because they are ineffective at promoting the timely return of materials, and argue that they undermine the mission of the library to provide equitable access to library services and resour

cover of library late fees not just ineffective but harmful
2019

"Blockchain, Linked Data, and You"

Our article on the possibilities of blockchain technology in the library and linked data ecosystems was published in Public Library Quarterly.  The abstract:

Blockchain, or distributed ledger technology, has been an increasingly common topic in technical circles over the past several years.  You may have read one of the thousands of articles documenting the dramatic swings of blockchain-backed digital currencies like Bitcoin or the utopian musings that blockchain could replace our voting systems, financial systems, or other society-wide infrastructure.

There is some hype about blockchain but the technology does show promise for providing a secure decentralized digital infrastrucure with data integrity - and libraries around the world can find valuable uses for that infrastructure.  In addition, the scourges of fake news, misinformation, and disinformation can be weakened by potential applications of blockchain technology in the infosphere.

2019

Going Beyond "Learn to Code" in the Library: Partnerships and Resources for Delivering Successful Advanced Technical Training

Abstract: As more libraries offer "learn to code" and digital skills training programs to patrons of all ages, there is a significant opportunity to offer more sophisticated services for advanced learners, even up to the level of

2018

What we can learn from Wikipedia; Why we should jump on board

Wikipedia is a proven model for openly and effectively creating and distributing high quality information in a way that users can easily access it. Its success provides lessons for the library profession to learn and challenges some of our assumptions about how we might address the mission of providing free and open access to everyone. Wikipedia is a platform for librarians to put their professional skills to work adding content and improving the quality of the entries while addressing the gender imbalance of the male-dominated group of contributors that are currently doing this work.

2018

Algorithms: Avoiding the Implementation of Institutional Biases

Computer algorithms, the logic and code that power automated decision-making programs, increasingly dominate many aspects of modern society. There are already many examples of institutional biases – including ideological bias, racism, sexism, ableism – being solidified in algorithms, causing harm to already underprivileged populations. This article explores library-specific and society-wide examples as well as efforts to prevent the implementation of these biases in the future.

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2017

Leveraging Our Trust: Taking Action in Support of our Democracy

If we are truly committed to an informed citizenry, the job of the public librarian today is more akin to an activist than an archivist. Teaching media literacy, acting as fact-checkers, facilitating community conversations, collaborating with teachers and other organizations in the community – these are action steps. It isn’t enough to organize a collection and wait for people to come use it. As representatives of a trusted profession and a trusted public institution committed to our American democracy, we are duty-bound to do as much to leverage that trust as we can.

2017

Protecting Patron Privacy: Vendors, Libraries, and Patrons Each Have a Role to Play

Our commitment to protecting our patron’s intellectual property is a guiding principle in the ALA Code of Ethics stating that librarians “protect each library user’s right to privacy and confidentiality with respect to information sought or received, and resources consulted, borrowed, acquired, or transmitted." The ALA Code of Ethics was originally adopted in 1939 before MARC records, the integrated library system, and definitely before the Internet. It is much more complicated to protect our patron’s privacy today than it was in 1939. However, it is timely to revisit the issues around patron privacy as we embark on our journey with the new administration. According to the ACLU Trump Memos (http://bit.ly/2gJvdok), and now confirmed by Executive Orders, we are dealing with an Administration that uses religion to justify surveillance, is threatening to deport large numbers of members of our communities, and has redefined accepted definitions of freedom of expression and libel. It is more important than ever to know how to protect our patron’s privacy.

2017

You Can't Be Serious

https://digitalcommons.du.edu/collaborativelibrarianship/vol9/iss3/2/Every once in a while I get a call from someone with an idea they want to explore that just makes no sense at all. At least not at first. The latest zany idea a client brought to me is a concept they dubbed, “pure central processing” and although my first response was, “You can’t be serious” it is definitely growing on me. Their idea was to eliminate check-in at each of their branches entirely by letting people return things but instead of checking them in there, the items would be taken elsewhere for check-in and then brought back later. They weren’t talking about moving from a staff check-in experience to a self-service check-in experience. They were talking about eliminating the check-in transaction and associated workflows from public service library staff and the library environment entirely.

2016

The Impact of Information Technology on Public Libraries

Abstract: In the real world of library service, librarians have to keep up with change by answering specific questions. They need training because technology, the character of populations, and local economics all are changing.

2016

Who's Out There? The Power of Spatial Data

Library communities today are not just melting pots, they are roiling stews of people moving in and moving out.  Sometimes it seems like our communities are changing almost as fast as technology! So how do we get a handle on serving that dynamic community? How can we identify the services they need if we don’t really know who they are?

The good news is that there is data and expertise out there to help a library understand more about the people living in the shifting neighborhoods that make up their service area. Using data in the library system combined with census data, and other spatial data, a library can learn who is and who is not using the library. They can identify areas of growth and plan for a new library and they can learn who lives in that growing area to ensure the collection and services reflect their needs. https://digitalcommons.du.edu/do/search/?q=author_lname%3A%22Ayre%22%20author_fname%3A%22Lori%22&start=0&context=7293930&facet=