“The
core tenets of librarianship – i.e. educating the public by providing free
access to information- remains the same. Technology will only enhance the
ability to meet this mission. Librarians should embrace technological change as
they always have.” I don’t know much about the academic
library but I have worked in the public library for over 12 years. I feel like
we are advocates providing valuable information whether in the library or on
the net to people that can’t afford it themselves. We are still the main place for
acquiring or providing access to books, and other media that meet the
educational, recreational, and informational needs of our users.
In America, millions of people, mostly poor, still
lack Internet access. (According to the U.S. Census, in 2009 somewhat over
thirty percent of households did not have a home Internet connection.) Millions
of others, mostly older, do not know how to download books, and millions more
feel uncomfortable reading on a screen, as opposed to paper. (Bell, 33).
But right now that’s not my issue. The dilemma I
see on a daily basis is the fact that we are standing at the doorway of great
transition from print to electronic resources. Many people don’t want to
transition, while others want a 100% transition, and so publishers are trying
to please both audience-while leaning toward the format, which is more
profitable for the –of course.
So the question that has been running through my
head is where do we (libraries & librarians) stand? As publisher we too are
trying to please our audience, along with keeping up with the most current
technology and trends. So should we buy
more desktop computer, laptops, and tablets and have computer check out
services.
The role of libraries has hardly changed; people
still flock to them for quiet study, advanced research and to learn about new
things. With the Internet, a lot more of that is taking place at computer
screens, rather than card catalogs. But are Librarians ready for the change?
And I have to say that it’s 50/50, some of us are ready to launch out while
others see the change as a huge downturn. What do you think?
Reference
http://cdnimg.visualizeus.com/thumbs/a7/2f/books,cartoon,funny,library,netflix-a72f0afe18ddcba7d2462e48b48125a8_h.jpg
Hey Alexandria,
ReplyDeleteDo you think technology has had a significant impact on library budgets? The current trend seems to be more e-books, with many public libraries even lending e-readers now. Are they concentrating more of their budget on acquiring new technology at the expense of traditional services?
Hi Michael,
DeleteYes technology has had a significant impact on the library's budget. Most of our revenue goes towards computers, upgrades, ebooks, online databases, etc.. It's scary to think of a library without a librarian, but that's what it seems like it coming down too, people and books being replaced by computers and nooks!
I think Michael brings up an excellent question! My experience is in the academic library and for us, it represents a huge impact! To me, it seems like our students want the best of both worlds. They like the almost instantaneous nature of electronic resources and the relative autonomy that comes with retrieving them—they can execute a search from home, enter a password and within minutes download a scholarly article. However, we still circulate around 25,000 physical items per year and there seems to be little evidence of print dying out completely. Paying for database subscriptions, technological equipment, physical resources and the staff development required to keep current, presents a huge challenge!
ReplyDeleteSame with the public libraries, we spend a lot on database subscriptions and technological equipment. And with technology changing by the minute, its hard for the public library to stay current with all the cuts and lack of staff.
DeleteThe library's digital presence is certainly growing. I've been doing extensive research on the progress of this transition -- but strictly within the scope of special collections, where the barriers are largely those surrounding the digitization process itself. Other areas are able to bypass this, of course, as the concerns surround materials that are already available in digital format. In both worlds, however, there is the grand question of whether *everything* might be one day available in electronic format. I've found sources that allude dreamily to a limitless library of perfectly searchable full texts, and others that consider universal conversion an unworkable nightmare that would lead inevitably to the extinction of the physical library. For now, both of those scenarios remain very much impractical and improbable (especially the latter). I think the best course is for libraries to remain aware of emerging technologies, and to embrace them -- but to keep the needs and expectations of the patron the priority of their services.
ReplyDeleteWell said Howling Librarian: "I think the best course is for libraries to remain aware of emerging technologies, and to embrace them -- but to keep the needs and expectations of the patron the priority of their services."
Delete