Share:

The switch from print to digital research media is changing the way students find information, and PCC librarian Dan Haley has been following the development for over 10 years.In his dissertation for a Ph.D degree in Information Studies at UCLA, Haley studied the use of patterns of print and digital resources in academic libraries.

By looking at online circulation records of print materials at both PCC and UCLA, he determined trends in use.

“The use of print journals has dropped considerably,” Haley concluded, “but the use of printed books is actually holding steady.”

Haley believes that use of printed books has not dropped because much of the material is not yet available in digital form, as many academic journals are.

“Users are shifting over to digital because the content is the same,” said Haley. “But books are not quite there yet.”

Haley concluded that users would switch to online digital materials when equivalent content is offered.

“It’s neither bad nor good, but it is different,” Haley said of the trend towards digital content. “Librarians and teachers need to adjust for the change.”

He finds that the change benefits students. With digital resources, all students can access desired information immediately and no longer have to wait for a single printed journal that another student might have checked out.

Haley says that students are learning more due to increased access to digital information, but also believes that assignments have become more demanding as a result.

“Teachers are realizing that research for content has gotten a lot easier, and students are capable of incorporating more materials into their assignments,” Haley said.

After putting the finishing touches on his dissertation, Haley expects to receive his Ph.D early this year.

PCC Dean of Library Sciences Mary Ann Laun spoke highly of Haley’s work and his role as a coordinator of Reference Services at Shatford Library.

“I consider Dan a scholar, a true academic librarian,” she said, “and one who is fascinated with the searching behaviors of our students. He loves connecting students with the information to meet their needs. And, like all librarians, he loves to see the look on a student’s face when he helps them to find the perfect resources.”

Haley grew up in New York City, and moved to California in the 1970s. In 1976 he received a master’s in Library and Information Science from UCLA.

Haley says he decided to become a librarian after taking an occupation aptitude test, on which he scored highly in both library work and computers. Haley had a strong interest in computers in high school.

“The career counselor scoring the test for me said, ‘Libraries are getting heavily into computers. If you’re good at both of these things, [library science] might be a good career for you’.”

Before coming to PCC, Haley worked as a reference librarian for the L.A. County Library system, and then at the Department of Veterans Affairs as a database manager. He has been with PCC for 20 years.

In 2007, Haley led an effort resisting a plan by then-PCC President Jim Kossler to monitor faculty and staff computer use.

In an effort to ensure productivity, Kossler wanted to set up a system that would report what web pages were accessed.

“I thought that was an abridgement of academic freedom,” said Haley. “I protested, and many other people did too.”

When Kossler left office later that year, the issue was dropped and not taken up by his successor Paulette Perfumo.

According to Laun, “Dan is a strong champion for intellectual freedom, and he fought hard to preserve the privacy rights of faculty, staff and students.”

Haley said that he has had a great experience working at PCC, and is most impressed with the students.

“The students here are just wonderful,” he said. “They are very motivated and hard working. I am constantly amazed at the adversity that some of them have to overcome to get though school. I find that very inspiring.

Follow: