The first article addresses the issues that com about due to the fact that technology is fairly new and librarians tend to be older. I recall from one of the articles we read during the semester that the average age of a librarian right now is 50 years old. Thus, sometimes the librarians don’t know how to cognitively handle the new programs and machines they are not only supposed to e able to use themselves, but they are also supposed to help their patrons use. The article suggests ways in which to help librarians. The best way to help, the article says, is to develop motivational strategies and programs for librarians who are uncertain of their roles and how to do them.
How do we use the search engines and teach the patrons to use them? How much time do we spend explaining things to one patron? Especially if others are waiting? The ultimate goal of a librarian is to lead a person to the knowledge they are looking for, of course, but should we take complex instructional questions as well as simple directional questions? Are we to be locators? Or counselors? Or a combination of both? These are the types of questions that need to be addressed to clarify a librarians role in a particular setting.
The second article focused on digital libraries and how they affect users. The author writes that how a person is affected is often related to what they are doing. Are they looking for entertainment? Or are they trying to find education? Is this the first time the patron has used a search engine? Or has the patron used one numerous times? How is the digital library set up? What is the content and construction of the digital library? I’m sure we’ve all used online catalogs before and some are definitely better an easier to use than others.
The article talks about numerous experiments about how digital libraries can be “designed with awareness of the functions, limitations, and processes of the human cognitive system.” After studying the issue further, we should be able to update digital libraries for optimal educational and hypermedia experiences. Studying the psychological effects of multimedia digital libraries will lead to better digital libraries. They will be more user friendly, and more educational because we will e better informed as to how the mind processes and stores information.
Rapp, David N., Holly A. Taylor, and Gregory R. Crane. "The Impact of Digital Libraries on Cognitive Processes: Psychological Issues of Hypermedia." Computers in Human Behavior 19 (2003): 609-628. Science Direct. Detroit. 3 Apr. 2008
Rieh, Soo Young. "Changing Reference Service Environments: a Review of Perspectives From Managers, Librarians and Users." The Journal of Academic Librarianship 25 (1999): 178-186. 3 Apr. 2008
13 comments:
Some of the questions regarding the first article are issues that library systems, or even individual branches, must decide how to handle. The number of staff available and the technology level of the staff will be factors.
One of the smartest things our library system did was hire a technology trainer. Our trainer at first offered lots of classes to the public as well as classes to staff. A committee was formed to determine what level staff should be expected to attain and committee members went from branch to branch to administer specific training in areas such as Word, databases, our homepage, basic internet searching, and so on. Now we have a mobile lab that travels from branch to branch with trainers that offer these classes and many others. One trainer focuses on staff training, hitting all the branch staff meetings each month with something new to teach us. I have found this extremely helpful as I can, in turn, help patrons with the technologies I have just been trained to use. We have learned about digital cameras, RSS feeds, various MEL databases, downloadable audios, and digital scrapbooking, just to name a few.
Because the computers at our branch are located in a separate room, and a monitor is always in that room, it is easier to take the time to lead a patron through the necessary steps to find what they want. Branch staff at other locations do not have the convenience of separate rooms/staff for their internet terminals and have to be a little more stingy with their time.
Just today I was talking to a librarian about these very sorts of technology issues. As more and more library space -- academic library space in particular -- is given over to computers, what is the librarian's role? Should we expect a librarian be able to troubleshoot problems with Word or PowerPoint, in addition to providing research assistance? If so, where falls the line between librarian and technologist? Certainly, we need to be up to speed on technological developments; handy with the blogging and the wikis, the tagging and social bookmarking and whatnot. But how deeply comfortable with a computer's inner workings must we really be?
I'd be surprised if some degree of technological enthusiasm isn't a must for librarians on the prowl for a job. There's an open position at my institution that will (hopefully) be posted eventually, and I already know a level of technological sophistication will be a requirement, not just a bonus (if you expect to be job shopping, get comfortable with the web 2.0).
That said, I suspect these sorts of things can probably make librarians who have been in the business for a while a bit uneasy. It wasn't so very long ago libraries were a place of books and cards, where "high tech" was embodied by microform reader/printers. I wonder how some of these folks are adjusting to the increasing encroachment of computers into their workspace.
Mary V,
Who are the trainers in the mobile lab? Are they librarians or is this outsourced somehow?
I plan on working in a library soon, not only to get my foot in the door, but also to make many of these LIS lessons and courses more understandable and easier to relate to. I hope the library I work at is as concerned about continuing employee education as yours is.
Mary V. I love the idea of a mobile lab. Having someone that can focus on staff training or patron training sounds like it can benefit all parties involved. With the changes in technology it is important for librarians to understand and know how to use and guide patrons on the use of many of the technologies or software that come out. Based on your blog you can vouch for the benefits of such a program. I too would like to know if the trainers are librarians or outside vendors. I am interested in the technology side of the library profession and that sounds like something I would love to do.
I think that technology can be a huge source of stress for those that don't understand it. It is also something that many people feel, if they don't understand it, they can just ignore. In daily life, this might be possible, but as librarians we must learn how to incorporate these technologies into our lives, as they are becoming huge part of our libraries.
The idea of the mobile trainer is a great idea and one that sounds like it has been useful to the technologically savvy as well as those that have been in the profession for a while and feel technology is encroaching on their library space.
Kerry & Kimberly,
Our head trainer works full time and has an MLIS from Wayne. The other two trainers are part time and not degreed in LIS.
We also have a technology department that has a staff of 5. These techies work on our computers, our software and everything else tech-related.
I think two good points that have come from the discussion is about having a MLIS trainer and the amount of stress associated with technology. When the frame of mind for the patron or staff is limited in the amount of openess regarding technology usage, then there will be an effect psychologically and socially. But doesn't this happen also when one can not find the information they need?
Thanks, Mary!
I am not in a library setting as yet except once and awhile in the schools. I am an "older" person getting my degree in Library Science. The computer aspect is not frighting to me. Its a challenge but the more I learn the more confidence I have. In the Library visits I found that the two libraries I visited had a person who handled the technology.
The district library I work for does have a technology trainer. I believe he is considered support services, not IT. He teaches multiple programs to the employees (from admin down to pages). He also teaches multiple computer courses at all of the branches on a weekly basis. He is a library employee, and is not outsourced. Also, once one completes the probationary period, they become eligible for reimbursement for continuing education...including tuition reimbursement. They also conduct staff in-service days for all employees to do in-house trainings on our circulation programs, terminal registration stations, etc. I have worked there for about a month, and I can see how important the administration feels technology and continuing education are.
Meagan Brown
I agree that training is the key to reducing stress on library staff. An article I read by Amy Begg De Groff echoes these sentiments. After switching to the Linux operating system many technology complaints were brought to the information and reference desks, but the library staff had not been properly trained and the problems weren’t addressed properly “causing tension between staff and customer.” The solution to the problem wasn’t to reduce the software on the terminals but to expand it. They rolled out a complete desktop package that let users do anything they wanted, word processing, use the web, flash drive access, download videos, and more. This time they had mandatory training session and user’s guides were published. The program was a success and “help desk tickets dropped from 10 to 15 a month to about two a month.” With the proper training in new technology, many stressful situations can be avoided.
Begg De Groff, Amy. “Using Open Source to Give Patrons What They Want”. Computers in Libraries, 28 (3). p. 6-10
I know where I work now the technology part of the job causes much stress on a lot of the staff. Computers constantly not working patrons coming in who have no idea how to use the computer and want to be taught from scratch how to open word. Some patrons really have to have their hands held. Which takes away from other patrons. We have a tech student but he only works some many hours and weeks.
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