Author Archive
A Realtor By Any Other Name…..
What do Realtors and Librarians have in common?
A lot I think, and I think we need to have more!
Have you noticed those commecials on the radio for Realtors? You might not have, but after you read this, listen for them. Once you notice them, you’ll always hear them.
I have been noticing them for awhile now. They seem to come the AM news stations which I tend to listen to on my way to and from work, or on lunch.
They are commercials basically explaining why you should get a “real” Realtor instead of buying/selling your home for yourself, or through a Real Estate Agent.
Sound familiar yet!?
Where did these ads come from all of a sudden? Why do the Realtors needs ads?
Well, I think that Realtors must have looked around and noticed they have some competition!
- People buying/selling their homes on their own, or
- People using YHD or some other service which maybe doesn’t employ “real” realtors, I’m not sure what the deal is with YHD, but “YHD employs a network of specialists — including lawyers and home inspectors — who handle many home-buying steps. It even has an in-house finance arm. ” from Business Week Online.
- People using Real Estate Agents or other people or just the Internet
They must have decided that they need to educate and to market to their customers why one should choose a “real,” licensed Realtor, rather than anyone/anything else! They must have been losing business!
Sound familiar now!?
WE have competition! WE will lose business!
Who is our competition as libraries and librarians!?
They’ve been around for awhile now and we haven’t really done a good job of speaking up against them.
Our competitors are:
- Bookstores
- The Internet
- Those who think they can “do it on their own” without the help of a “real,” licensed professional librarian
- Local governments who think that putting an encyclopedia in every home can replace us
So, how do the ads for Relators help them?
The ads for the realtors mention the National Associaton of Realtors, and say you should check it out to find one in your area before you buy or sell real estate.
Check out their “When is a real estate agent a Realtor?” page:
“When is a Real Estate Agent a REALTOR®?The term REALTOR® is a registered collective membership mark that identifies a real estate professional who is a member of the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION of REALTORS® and subscribes to its strict Code of Ethics.” (emphasis mine)
I am by no means suggesting that we go about attacking the sources of competition – the commercials don’t do that at all. They simply point out that things will be much more difficult and complicated if you don’t use a “real” Realtor.
The ads and the website seek to educate the consumer about the differences between a Real Estate Agent and a Realtor. They point up the benefits of using a “real” Realtor. The ads have “real” people sharing “real” stories in which they learn that next time, they’ll use a “real” Realtor!
I have a personal belief that commercials such as these infiltrate the brain and stay there, subconsiously. A listener may not realize they heard this commercial. Until it comes time to deal with real estate. Maybe, just maybe, they will then have this feeling that they need to use a “real” Realtor.
Wouldn’t it be nice if we could give our consumers that same feeling when they are considering whether to use the Internet, a bookstore, a friend, or don’t even know what to consult, when they have an information need? The feeling/belief that they need a library and/or librarian!
Request for John Illiff Memorial Podcast
My friend, and fellow-blogger, and fellow NJLA IT Member-At-Large, Tyler, The Rock and Roll Librarian, has the following posted on his blog:
I received a very nice email from Karen Iliff today, widow of John Iliff. She thanked me for the efforts in trying to create a memorial podcast in her husband’s name. She also asked if there was a way to put these on CD as a keepsake.
I would like to give everyone one last chance to visit the Iliff Podcast Memorial and leave a message before I burn the CD. I think it would be an incredible gift to provide Karen. The number is 206-339-7322.
I can admit that leaving a message felt a little weird because I felt like I had to say the right thing. Please, don’t worry about it, it really doesn’t matter. The point is to just take a moment and relive a fond memory with John. Remember, no matter how it sounds, John would be the first one to smile simply for the fact that you made a podcast!
For information on John, please see here.
PayPal Mobile for Libraries?
Here is a great example of thinking about technology and how it can be applied to libraries!
Kate Sherrill, Librarian at Ivy Tech Community College of Indiana – Evansville, posted this on a listserv I am on (copied here with permission):
“I just signed up for PayPal Mobile, so then I was thinking, what is this good for? Here’s an idea: Your library has a PayPal account, a patron needs to check out materials, but has something he needs to pay. He doesn’t have enough cash on him, you don’t take credit/debit cards, and he doesn’t have his check book. He whips out his phone, PayPals you the money via text message, you instantly receive a confirmation email, the fine is paid, he gets his stuff and goes away happy. How awesome would that be?
Kate
KateSherrill@gmail.com
Great thought process!
– New Technology
– What’s it good for? How does it help make our patrons’ lives easier?
– Aha-moment!
– Everyone’s happy!
Of course, with this particular idea, there may be a few issues:
1) most libraries generally discouarge cell-phone use, so the patron may have to step outside
and
2) I believe PayPal has fees associated so the patron and/or library may sacrifice some payment for fees
BUT maybe the service and convenience is worth it!
This way of thinking is just what we need to be doing in the library world and reminds me of what Leslie Burger was saying this past April at the NJLA conference. She said that she is always thinking about the library. When she reads the paper or sees something in the news she asks herself, how could this apply to the library? Or, how will this impact library services and library users?
I really try to think this way and I think that Kate’s comment was a great example of this!
So, are any libraries currently using PayPal in any way – to collect payments, accept donations or other!?
Library Garden 