Overview & Q+A

With permission, I use an audio app (“Voice Memos”) when I interview because I like to catch the nuances of the conversation and engage in it, which I cannot do while I’m trying to take notes. My handwriting is already messy, so it doesn't help when I'm trying to record conversation

I also brought along a notebook and pen with my scribbled outline and questions.

 My notebook outline was basically as follows: 

"Overview: library technologies, digital services + policies, issues with tech, and the future direction of tech based services 

Meeting with/email correspondence: Emily DiGiulio

Emphasis on:

• How library develops policy for technology
• budgets for + purchases technology
• maintains + repairs equipment
• develops instruction for the public
• promotes use of tech in community
• special features of tech service

• what staff involved using + maintaining tech?
• what are some types of tech?
• technology classes to public?
• what tech are offered to public vs. specifically library use only?
• common tech issues?
• looking to integrate new tech?
• any tech goals?
• differences between school/public library?"

Using the assignment guidelines, I made notes I directly put into my emphasis section and used that section to formulate my personal questions. Fairfax is a joint school/public library, so I also wanted to learn more about how technology worked between the two.

Response

The director of Fairfax Library, Emily DiGiulio responded to me in timely fashion.

I find that whenever I reach out to local libraries seeking help for school they are always welcoming, Fairfax was proving to be no different than what I have experienced thus far.

I replied with a quick email back setting the time up to be sure that Emily would be able to sit with me for a few minutes to interview for this assignment.

Reaching Out

I decided to reach out to Fairfax Library via email. I chose this method because with email I feel as though a response can be answered in a timely manner and allows the recipient to plan out what they would like to say.

As someone who works with the public currently, there are times that I feel as though I'm constantly answering phone call after phone call when I'm already extremely busy with things in front of me. Whereas an email allows me to take the time to answer at my leisure and set up a response after pondering it a bit.

I found the email for Fairfax through their website and reached out via my personal gmail account.

I wanted to give them an idea of what the main objective of my assignment was so I included a few blurbs of exactly what the class objectives for said assignment were. This way I could allow whoever replied to me time to think about some responses they may have. This also allowed my email to be directed to who would best be able to answer these types of questions.

Intro

Hello, my name is Deidre Loiselle-Root and welcome to my blog.

I am currently a student at University of Maine at Augusta attending classes online, and this particular blog is for my Information and Libraries Studies (ILS225) Introduction to Library Information Technology class.

This blog is a tool I will utilize through the next few weeks as I visit a local library with the hopes of gleaning some information on their technology.

The library I hope to visit and connect with is Fairfax Community Library in Fairfax, Vermont.

Vermont is my homestate and I am lucky enough to be able to attend classes online via UMA and continue living here. Through and with these classes I hope to visit more of my local libraries and Fairfax is the next option for me, I find it intriguing because it plays dual roles in the community: public and school library.

I hope to connect with them and receive some response in the next few days.