It is clear that technology has changed the way in which we live. Its impact has been multi-faceted and in many ways, it has been changing the ways in which libraries across the world are functioning on a day to day basis. This holds especially true with regards to the acquisition and selection of resources for the library.
Technology has had many pros and cons within the library system. Libraries faced a new challenge obstacle with regards to purchasing materials “due to the nature of license agreements that changed the control libraries had over the product” (Thorton, 2008, March 26). Prior to the onslaught of technology, libraries had more freedom with regards to copyrights and how such materials were utilized by patrons. Licensing issues have not only caused problems with an already limited library budget, it also raised the issue of distribution of services (Thorton, 2008, March 26).
Furthermore, with licensing being at the core of many materials gained, many libraries have had to determine if they should have specialized staff to deal with what materials are included. According to an article by Glenda A. Thorton entitled, Impact of Electronic Resources on Collection Development, the Roles of Librarians and Library Consortia, “Librarians then struggled to mainstream the selection and processing of electronic materials within traditional functional channels but kept tripping up over issues such as whether or not to catalog materials that were licensed but not owned by the library, not to mention how to catalog them” (Thorton, 2008, March 26).
Technology has also expanded the way in which patrons can gain access to information to their information as their means of contacting librarians. Now patrons have the option of emailing inquiries and using databases from at their home to search materials. With the internet having a variety of outlets users can view, there is also the problem of patrons finding it difficult to determine fact from fiction on the World Wide Web. In David Orenstein’s article Trends in the Library Profession and the Impact of Technology at the Montgomery College Libraries, the author stresses, “It is important to note that even with all the technical complexity and additional responsibilities, a librarian’s core role as gatekeeper to information is unchanged” (Orenstein, 2008, March 31). Orenstein goes on to explain that librarians are continually educating patrons with regards to viable resources and websites that are searchable from one’s computer.
It is important to recognize that technology does have a positive useful purpose in the library system. It has made it easier for those patrons who cannot physically make it into a library to access many of the sources has made archiving made archiving more space friendly. Technology has opened the door to obtaining a larger amount of material while reducing the amount of shelf space needed to store journals and even books. In 2004, a research report was released that examined this very subject. It was clear in the study that libraries were able to increase the size of their materials with the technology that was provided to them (Schonfeld, 2008, April 1).
While technology has changed the face of the library in many ways, it has also provided new types of jobs for librarians. Since the technological world is ever changing, patrons need to have an outlet in which they too can be taught how to use the resources.
What technological observations have you made about the library? How does it differ from when you were younger? Do you find materials easier now than you did in the past?
How do you think technology will effect your employment within the field?
Orenstein, D. (2008). Trends in the Library Profession and the Impact of Technology at the Montgomery College Libraries. Retrieved March 31, 2008, from Trends in the Library Profession and the Impact of Technology at the Montgomery College Libraries
Schonfeld, R. C. (2004, June). The Nonsubscription Side of Periodicals: Changes in Library Operations and Costs between Print and Electronic Formats. Retrieved April 1, 2008, from http://www.clir.org/pubs/reports/pub127/pub127.pdf
Thorton, G. A. (2000). Impact of Electronic Resources on Collection Development, the Roles of Librarians, and Library Consortia. Library Trends, 48(4), 56-842.
30 comments:
Speaking as a future archivist, it will be almost impossible to avoid learning new technology because it is becoming more and more prevalent in my field. Today, we having online finding aids that give a user, from anywhere in the world, a glimpse of what a sizable record series contains. These finding aids are like library catalogs, but they outline an entire record series. Furthermore, encoding those finding aids using EAD (somewhat of a HTML encoding style but with XML) requires the average archivist to learn new technologies and to constantly be aware of the latest and greatest technology. EAD is relatively new (15 years old) and now it is on the verge of becoming the norm in record repositories like the Reuther Library and The Bently in Ann Arbor.
TEchnology has expanded records repositories' audience because they are able to place their collections on the web and attract those who can't visit the library in person. Regular libraries, like public or academic, have a much larger patron base then records repositories. Technology has enabled records repositories to enter into a mutually beneficial relationship with patrons and building an audience that is suficent for their existence.
Today's library catalog is a technological observation I have made. Knowing what branch owns a copy of a specific book and whether or not the book is in at that very moment is something I could never have imagined when I was younger. When I first started working for the library system, we had a ROM, which was like a microfilm reader that showed our holdings (we also had a regular old card catalog, but that was on its way out in the early 1980's). One never knew what branch housed an item, so when a patron was in desperate need of soemthing right away, we always called the main branch for a shelf check first. If the main branch did not have a copy of the book on the shelf, we had to take a request and it took about 10 days to 2 weeks to get the book to the patron. We had to write a request out on a little pad of paper, using carbon paper so we had a copy to send and a copy to keep. When the interloan department received the requests, they searched the stock cards to find what branches owned the item, then made actual phone calls once a day to ask branches to search the shelves for items. The next day, when interloan made their phone calls, they would get the answers from the previous day and either report the item on its way or move it to the next branch by phone reports.
Now, all one has to do is look at the catalog to see who owns the book. The patron makes his or her own request and if the item is available, the request immediately goes to a branch's paging list.
Technology has made my job a lot more effective and efficient and will certainly keep me on my toes as advances are made in the future.
Technology certainly has changed the way people use the library. I can remember that as a child, my local library used the traditional card catalog and it was a very big deal when the library got its first computer. I really enjoyed using the old version as a child and can remember feeling like quite the grown up when the librarian taught me how to use it. Although the online catalogs are much more efficient, I feel somewhat nostalgic knowing that my kids won’t get the same joy from using the old card catalog as I did. (In no way am I suggesting libraries switch back – just remembering)
I agree that the online catalog has made it much easier for patrons to find material and understand how much material is available to them. I do think that patrons need to be taught how to take advantage of the different ways to search though in order to fully benefit. As with most improvements in technology, there can be a sense of frustration while new users get accustomed to new searching techniques.
I liked the quote about the librarian as a “gatekeeper to information” because I think that in this age of technology people can forget how helpful the librarian is. If more people treated the librarian as the gatekeeper, I think that more people would be able to find information they were looking for that was appropriate and therefore have a greater benefit from the library resources.
Laura you touched off on a great point that librarians are "gatekeepers to information"." I think that technology and the ease of transference of information complicates the quality of information that is available. Often times patrons don't care how the information is obtained, or even the quality, so long as they get it in the easiest and quickest way possible. But librarians can guide those who want the best information; but that's often not the case and it's kind of sad.
I find that the libraries I patronize have made many advances in regards to technology. Within the past ten years, my local library has doubled the number of computers available for patron use. While visiting a local library, I was introduced to a microfilm machine that is connected to a computer, so a patron can find an article or record on the microfilm, then print it, or email to someone else. This bridge between the past and present technologies was quite impressive. I don't recall if there were computers available for use when I was younger, but I do remember having to use an actual card catalog. In fact, my high school media center also used a card catalog up until about 8 years ago.
The arrival of "U-Scan" library checkouts are relatively new at my local library as well. This new technology has helped keep patrons moving and adding a bit of privacy (in case you don't want anyone to see what you are checking out). I think it is easier to find materials now because of the advanced search options available.
I also like that many libraries have their catalogs available online, so I can see before I leave home if the book is available or if I need to place a hold on it.
I think my employability will be better if I am accustomed to working with various technologies. From my previous job searches within the LIS field, it is definitely a desired skill. By being able to demonstrate advanced knowledge of various programs, I would be able to position myself above other applicants who may not have experience with Web 2.0 technologies.
Jessica Kay-Oosterhouse
No matter what aspect of librarianship you are about to enter, technology will be a major part of it; we are providers of information, and like it or not, technology is noe how we as a people receive our information now. I'm notsure if it has necessarily made things easier - definitely more convienient, as we can search online databases and such, but I worry about the dependency on technology. Just today, the computers at my job went kaput for no reason that we could figure. We could manually check out books, but we could not renew any items nor allow patrons to pay fines, etc. I'm not saying I'd like to go back to the card catalog, but I worry about our reliance on computers for the simplest thing.
Technology will have a huge impact on my employment in this field. This class and touring libraries has really emphasized how much technology is used in libraries today. As librarian we need to be able to use computers and their software, troubleshoot problems and creatively think of new ways to take advantage of the technology our library has.
-Holly C
I have noticed many technological changes in libraries since my youth. It seems like all libraries use a computer for circulation purposes, as well as general collection purposes, these days. This unfortunately doesn’t always eliminate error though. Computers are supposed to be infallible, but I know the software at the library where I work definitely has glitches now and then. Not to mention the book scanner sometimes mis-scans the barcodes.
I have sometimes found material easier and at other time have longed for the old system. But in either case sometimes a patron simply needs help from a qualified librarian.
It is certainly a wonderful convenience to be able to search the library’s catalog system anywhere, at anytime and to request a book to be sent to the library closest to you.
- Holly C.
I sometimes miss the old card catalogs. After college in the early 90's, I did not visit a library for several years and I was shocked to find they were gone when I returned. As a future librarian, I absolutely do not want them to return, but when library computers are unavailable or too slow, they sure would be nice to have.
Self-service checkouts are also new to me. I actually prefer the customer service aspect of having a librarian take care of this task, especially if I have my hands full with my child and other books and bags or if I have a lot of books and I don't want to miss scanning one. I have no problem with self-scan at the grocery store, but I have a cart to keep track of things (and my kid) there. I'm sure I'll get used to the self-serve eventually and that it will be easier when I am not checking out 15 - 20 books at a time.
Most libraries are far more technologically advance now than they were when I was younger. I suppose the most obvious difference is the availability of computers. As a child I would have to search for books in a card catalog, now I can use an online database and find books in my library as well as others throughout the state. It definitely makes it easier to find materials within the library as well as from outside sources. Many libraries also have websites with neat web 2.0 features like IM, ask a librarian email features, RSS feeds, and blogs. This isn’t the case with all libraries though. I grew up in a small town with a very small library. Little has changed since I was a child. Aside from the acquisition of new books and 4 or 5 computers it looks exactly the same as it did in the 1980s. I’m not positive, but I think they still use a card catalog. The library doesn’t have a website either (in fact, only 2 libraries in the county I grew up in do).
The technological advancement that I have noticed the most (perhaps because I used to work in a periodicals department) is the access to online journals. When I first started my previous job 5 years ago, most of the journals we subscribed to came through the mail, were processed, and placed on a shelf. They were bound after a certain amount was received and put on the shelf for future use.
My last project at this job was closing out about 600 titles because the college was getting online access to these titles and the print copies were no longer necessary. This was a huge project to get through and make sure all the steps happened. In the end though, I think this is a great idea and one that saves a lot of space for the library.
I think technology is of utmost importance to any librarian pursuing a job right now. If you are not familiar with technology, you'll have a harder time finding a job.
From the ‘Academic Libraries’ course I have become familiar with the so-called “crisis in scholarly communication” that academic libraries face. It is a major concern. The costs of electronic resources and databases that hold journals materials especially have been rising astronomically so that a larger proportion of academic libraries’ budgets must be spent on these databases, meaning that the funds for purchasing monographs are reduced. Particularly at research universities access to up-to-date journal materials—either in print, or increasingly, electronically—is essential. There are also issues about copyright which are a major concern for authors of scholarly works. A key job within academic libraries seems to be negotiating the licensing of these electronic databases to ensure maximum value for the dollars spent and the broadest access possible for these databases. This appears to be almost a specialist field that requires ongoing monitoring of the products (e.g., ‘bundles’) available as well as excellent negotiation skills. Michigan State Universities Libraries provide a good introduction to this topic as well as some additional resources on it. http://www2.lib.msu.edu/features/crisis/
I would prefer to see information professionals as conduits to, and stewards of information rather than as ‘gatekeepers’ which to me has the connotation of wanting to ‘control’ things (although this was hopefully not the intent of the writer).
With respect to technology, having grown up in a ‘paperized’ library environment, which (at university as an undergraduate in the early 1970s) meant laboriously handwriting out carbon paper slips for every book I was borrowing, I welcome all technologies that lessens these clerical functions. I also do not miss the card catalogs at all. I love the online catalogs and keyword search abilities of the computers. Get me to the information I seek as quickly as possible. That’s what I want and wish the same for others.
A lot that I use to see in the library done manually is done by machine. Some of the changes I have realizes are the record of books that have been checked out and in is done by a machine. Most people doing research come to the library and ask for web sites and online databases where they can get information. Checking out books for whatever reason is becoming increasingly very rare. Apart from the obvious aspects such as cataloging, license check and the multiple use of the computer, there are other stunning technology devices which I saw during my library visit which really surprise me. The fact that a patron can get in to the library, carry out his/her transactions and leave without talking to anybody. The self check machine is used to check out books and other library material as long as the patron has a library card. If you do not want to stand in line to do book check with the librarian at the circulation desk you can use the self check machine. Also I came across another device called the playaway. Which is a novel, documentary, play or film? It is an audio device with films and novels recorded. The patron doesn’t have to borrow a book and read, they join get it on audio and use earphones to listen to this novel.
Our world is really becoming a machine world, and especially the library. As a librarian if I have to stay in this career I have to join the technology moving bus. Technology will make work easier as well as faster, but just every other thing has its advantages and short comings. I could make the librarian job seem a woman’s job or lazy peoples’ job as some people already call it. The is because, the librarian does not go to the shelves or other collections to get books for patrons they just sit in one spot and do all on the computer.
What technological observations have you made about the library? The majority of the library content is now online.
How does it differ from when you were younger? There was an actual card catalog in my library as a child. I was usually too lazy to actually flip through the cards, so I would just end up browsing the shelves.
Do you find materials easier now than you did in the past? Most definitely. A few clicks and I've found what I wanted. Encore is a wonderful tool for user interface.
How do you think technology will affect your employment within the field? Refining patron searches is a snap. My job will be more tech-based, with less human contact. This isn't necessarily a good thing, but we can adapt.
I work in a small library and occasionally I still have to use the old card catalog to figure out where a mistake may have been made in the online catalog record. Some of the records are just the information entered from the original card. I am so happy to have an online system where it is easy to browse through items with the same subject headings, sort in various ways, do complex searches and see item status instantly. As some people have mentioned the ease at finding journal articles relative to looking through paper indices is great. I do get concerned that libraries throw out paper copies of back issues of journals because they have online access. What happens if they lose that access or something changes? Yet space is at a premium in libraries. More funds are devoted to licenses for access to electronic journals and databases. The work that goes into negotiations is great and it seems that different schools get different deals, i.e. pay different amounts for the same access. As more money is spent on electronic access information less is available for monographs or other items. Is the answer in creating or joining consortia? Most libraries are a part of some consortium or other. Would it work to say X school buys these books, Y those books, etc.? But the less libraries buy the more the prices will rise because the sellers of the information have to get back the same amount of money or more from fewer people. The Committee on Institutional Cooperation (CIC) claims to have saved their members millions of dollars. http://www.cic.uiuc.edu/PurchasingAndLicensing.shtml
What technological observations have you made about the library?
The main thing I’ve noticed is how many computers are now available in libraries. Years ago there used to be maybe five computers but now in larger libraries there can be up to 12-15 per floor. Another thing that I’ve noticed is how self sufficient patrons are. With many journals being available online, users can locate reference materials without the use of librarians, unless they really needed it.
Do you find materials easier now than you did in the past?
With the changes in technology, I most definitely find materials easier now than I did in the past. The thing I find most convenient is that I can research where materials are available before I get to the library. This is great because some libraries may not have what I’m looking for, but another library within the network may have the materials and I can get it via interlibrary loan if necessary.
How does it differ from when you were younger?
When I was younger there were not many computers available for patrons use. There may have been possibly 5-10 available for the entire library, which was small. Also as a child I remember librarians being very busy helping patrons locate books and journals on the shelves. Or teaching people how to use the card catalog.
I know that I will constantly have to keep learning new technology skills. I can see from this class and my job that it is never ending, there is always more to learn. Seems like the more I learn the more I see there is to learn. But at least I am more comfortable with it and see how important it is. I can’t imagine getting hired for a librarian position without showing that you have good technology skills. It will be just as important to be able to teach or share the use of technology with others.
Nowadays with the emergence of technology at the libraries, everything has changed for the staff and for the patrons; it is more work for the librarians and less work for the patrons. Librarians’ jobs have changed and being computer knowledgeable became a prerequisite for any librarian who wants to enter the field. The transformation of the card catalog to online catalog was a very big movement and the beginning of the emergence of technology. Everything is computerized even the simplest thing which is checking out books is done through an online system. As for patrons now it is very easy for them to access information without having to visit the library and with the existence of virtual reference it is so easy to get instant help from any place around the world just through IM.
As a reference future librarian I think that new things will emerge different than the IM, new technologies which will change our job nature. In this fast world pace, we as librarians, no matter in which department we will be serving, have to stay up to date concerning technology to be able to best serve our patrons.
I have experienced what Andrea said, sometimes at my previous job due to the technology the system stopped. Hence all staff stop working because we all use the computers to perform our duties and we are linked to a server so when there is a problem with the server the staff get affected as well as the students whom they become unable to use the online catalog to conduct a search. One time the system stopped for three hours and we started to receive calls from the students about this issue and we had no answer!!! I am not against technology as well I think that when problems emerge we can just deal with them and try to fix them as soon as possible!!! I am totally with the technology and the new issues that emerge and facilitate our job.
One of the biggest changes since I was younger is doing away with the card catalog and implementing the electronic catalog. This makes it so much easier to try different keywords in order to find your information. Before, you would have to try one word, pull out the drawer, search through it, decide it’s not what you wanted, think of another word, find the drawer… etc. By using the computer, even the slowest typer would be able to accomplish the task quicker assuming the system is user friendly and/or staff is there to introduce new patrons to the system. I find it so much easier to locate books when using the computer as a source as opposed to the ancient cards.
What technological observations have you made about the library?
Many libraries have a lot more technology resources to use than five years ago.
How does it differ from when you were younger?
When I was younger I remember using the card catalog. I never really understood how to use it.
Do you find materials easier now than you did in the past?
It is way easier now to use technology in the library. I think the computer catalog to look up books is so much easier than the card catalog.
How do you think technology will effect your employment within the field?
I think we will always need librarians, but librarians will have to know so much more, than just finding books.
What I am impressed about is how well some libraries are doing at not only employing new technologies but doing it in a way that makes sense to their libraries and patronage. With all the discussion of how libraries need to stay relevant by keeping up with technological advances and different trends such as MySpace and blogs many libraries that I have visited have been doing a good job at employing these new tools.
The Ann Arbor District Library seems to be at the forefront as far as their website goes. They incorporate all sorts of web 2.0 tools by allowing library patrons to review and tag books that they have read. Giving their site the feel of the widely used Amazon.com which gives the library catalog a hip and modern style. They also employ numerous blogs to keep patrons up to date on various programs and information.
The Capital Area District Library has begun to install self check out stations in some of its library and has also formed a collection of eBooks, eAudiobooks, and eVideos that their patrons can access and download to their home computers or transfer to portable devices.
The Delta Township District Library has also employed the use of a blogs to keep their patrons up to date on events and information concerning the construction of their new building. In addition they have utilized services such as an online book club service.
It seems that while libraries might not always be the fastest to jump on the bandwagon of new technologies and trends many area libraries are finding ways to incorporate new technologies and to stay relevant.
There are definitely a lot more technological advances in libraries today. I can remember in my school library all the way up to high school that the librarian's still checked out books by hand. Using the stamps and having the a card in each book to check it out to the patron. In high school they had a electronic card catalog which made things a whole lot easier. Finding materials is so much easier on the patron when you can look it up online or on a computer in the library. You can see if the material is checked out, where it is located and even the subject to help weed out the books that would be helpful to you. Library websites now have blogs, wikis, podcasts and many other technologies that were not around just a few years ago. Libraries can now coordinate book clubs online, post links to useful resources and many other things that are so helpful that I wish I could have experienced when I was in high school. Libraries need be be up on the resources that are available and make purchases that go along with the needs of that particular library. Technology is becoming a huge deal in libraries and the librarians need to keep up with it the best they can.
What technological observations have you made about the library? How does it differ from when you were younger? Do you find materials easier now than you did in the past?
How do you think technology will effect your employment within the field?
Good Questions. Technological observations I have made about the library...more and more people go to the library to use the computers. Computers are becoming a more and more central point in the library. They are used for entertainment and to do research and to do work.
When I was young we had a card catalog and we flipped through the little cards to find what we wanted. I think we picked the chest of drawers to look through by subject or author. The cards were kind of yellow and smelled old.
As far as how technology will affect the profession...I think about this often and I have some anxiety about it. I feel like it is speedily going towards a more technology oriented profession and I worry that my skills will be inadequate in this changing field. I wonder if I should have simply studied info technology or got a degree in computers. Long ago, a literature degree was enough for someone to work with literature, but not anymore it seems. Don't get me wrong it is a good thing. I think...
How do you think technology will effect your employment within the field?
I work in a library in which most of my time is spent accessing and delivering items electronically. There is very little interaction with actual periodicals or books. This is a much different environment than I would have ever thought I woudl be working in as a librarian. I see technology, as the post states, as both a positive and negative for the library field. It think many young kids think that they should be able to access everything they could ever want by typing it into a Google-type database and that just isn't always possible. This is where our job as librarians can influence research habits and teach effective discernment of online media. Technology has also created many new jobs for librarians. This is a positive in many ways and also, I think, makes our jobs more interesting by adding a new and ever-changing dynamic.
I see libraries, like my own in EGR, having used technology in helpful ways because they have the money to do so. It think it is unfortunate that less wall-funded libraries might not be able to take advantage of technology and its positive effects due to money constraints.
Technology will definitely affect future employment because technology is ever changing itself in addition to the profession. We will have to adapt to smaller and possibly more people interactive. Technology, although maybe it already has, changed how librarians dispense information, i.e ask-a-librarian links on websites. I think the job will get a whole lot more technical.
What technological observations have you made about the library? How does it differ from when you were younger?
The simple increase in number and capability of computers has been a huge change. I've seen libraries go from having one or two Apple II computers outfitted with Oregon Trail sitting next to the card catalog to having PCs for patrons to access the Internet and do all their routine office or school tasks. The MSU library even opened a cybercafe during my sophomore year.
Do you find materials easier now than you did in the past?
Definitely, and in a good system, I can find lots of related materials that I may not have known I was looking for.
How do you think technology will effect your employment within the field?
I plan to work in an arhive after I finish my degree, so I'm going to have to learn EAD (Electronic Archival Description) and become engaged in the discussion of how to accession, describe, and provide access to digital records.
My library has changed from using a card catalog with 3 by 5 cards to having it on a computer. The Magazines went from fish to disk to on the internet. You can now check out your own books and tapes. I do not always find magazine articles faster. Usually need to ask for assistance.
Technology is diffidently going to affect and has affect the library.
To be honest, I don’t remember the library’s card catalog days very much at all. During that time I was just a little kid, so I had no trouble finding books because what I was looking for was books that looked fun on the outside. By the time I was actually searching for specific things the catalog was available on the computer system. Even though I would probably consider the library’s old system fairly primitive now, I never had trouble finding things I was looking for when I was young.
There are a few technological changes that I’ve noticed in my library. Some are new materials such as books on CD, DVDs, and video games that weren’t there before. Also, there are computer labs with fairly up to date computers and internet access and wireless internet access available throughout the building. Maybe the biggest change is the addition of several electronic self-check-out stations.
I’m not sure what the question: How do you think technology will affect your employment within the field is really getting at, but here’s the answer to my interpretation. I think technology will make me much more available to employers everywhere. My current employer found my resume via an online career site, and otherwise I would never have encountered the job. Also the internet allows me to view job descriptions and requirements for all sorts of positions that I never knew existed. Essentially it opens up a whole new world of possibilities in terms of future employment.
New technologies will certainly change the field of librarianship. New methods of cataloging are one example. The information in digital databases used to index materials, Metadata, is changing constantly. Many different formats and tools are needed to keep up with the times. The simple MARC standard is falling by the wayside, and Dublin Core, Metadata Object Description Schema, and Metadata Encoding and Transmission Standards are taking its place. Library schools need to respond to this ever-changing field. New librarians, and old Librarians, need to learn these new technologies. Roy Tennant states, “the modern cataloger will one day be a software-enabled specialist... The need for catalogers will not go away soon, but what they will be asked to will be very different.”
References:
Tennant, Roy. "The new cataloger." Library Journal 131, (7). p 32.
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