Demonstrate proficiency in identifying, using, and evaluating current and emerging information and communication technologies.
“The number one benefit of information technology is that it empowers people to do what they want to do. It lets people be creative. It lets people be productive. It lets people learn things they didn’t think they could learn before, and so in a sense it is all about potential.”
-Steve Ballmer
EXPLICATION
Librarians are gatekeepers of knowledge. In the current information age, perhaps it is more accurate to think of librarians as those who keep the gates to knowledge open. Printed books are no longer the prime “technology” for delivery of information. In today’s fast-paced world, information is created, disseminated, accessed, and processed in a variety of formats, both print and digital. Keeping the gates of knowledge open and ensuring users access to that knowledge is the same basic job librarians have always carried out. However, with the explosion in information and communication systems that has occurred in the last quarter century, it has become incumbent upon librarians to continually identify and evaluate current and emerging information and communication technologies in order to ensure patrons continued access to information that fulfills their needs.
To identify innovations in technology that may be useful to the library and its users, librarians must first identify avenues for finding up-to-date information. Each librarian will likely build his or her own list of trusted sources, which may include library journals and technology publications, blogs, websites dedicated to technology news and products, social media, professional contacts, conferences, and the ALA TechSourcewebsite. Webinars are another excellent source for information on new technologies. Websites such asTechsoup For Libraries, WebJunction, the Public Library Association (PLA), and the Association for Library Collections and Technical Services (ALCTS) provide information about upcoming webinars as well as recordings of archived webinars.
There is no “one size fits all” answer when it comes to technology for library utilization. What works for or is useful in one library may not be right for another library. Evaluation types include user, content, structural, statistical, comparative, and cost-benefit. The type of evaluation undertaken will depend on what a librarian wants to know about a piece of technology. For example, user evaluation requires an understanding of the user communities’ abilities and needs in order to determine if a specific technology will help or hinder users. Other factors affecting a decision to employ a new technology include determining how easily user training can occur. Can effective screencast tutorials be made and, if not, will staff need to provide training? How will this impact other areas of library work? What is the cost to benefit ratio? What resources will be needed, e.g., more staff, training for staff and or patrons, new hardware or software, etc.? Even after diligent homework has been undertaken regarding a new technology, deciding what will work is still often a case of trial and error.
The explosive growth of technology has, in some ways, changed staffing requirements for libraries. While librarians have, in one sense, always been at the forefront of technological innovation by the very nature of their commitment to the core values of librarianship, today’s librarians are not only gatekeepers of information but also gatekeepers of information technology. Because technological advances have made it possible to access information in so many new ways, it has become almost required that librarians be proficient in areas, such as developing, coding, and managing web applications, that were once thought of as the traditional purview of IT specialists. Many libraries now employ systems librarians, a position that developed out of a need for someone on the library staff to manage, keep track of, and troubleshoot the various forms of technology being integrated into the library. Born of necessity, this position requires a blend of expertise in library science and computer technology and the ability to put those two fields together to best benefit library patrons and staff (Liu and Cai, 2013), (Fu and Fitzgerald, 2013).
Innovations in technology have changed how libraries provide information to users and how users access that information. When I was growing up, card catalogues were the technology patrons used to locate materials. In the last quarter of the twentieth century, technological advances saw the transition of card catalogs to online public access catalogs (OPACs), as well as development of applications to automate the purchase, cataloging, and circulation of library materials, collectively known as integrated library systems (ILSs). In the twenty-first century, the ubiquity of computers and portable electronic devices has necessitated developing modes of access to meet the demands of on-the-go lifestyles. Library mobile apps offer busy people the flexibility to “visit” the library whenever and wherever they have the time and/or inclination as well as the ability to reach people who might not otherwise use the library, including, seniors and the disabled, urban youth, and minority communities. Social media can be used to inform the community about library programs and services, and it can also be used to gain information about people, companies, and trends. Libraries keep the public abreast of advances in technology through access to computers and tablets, as well as through workshops and online tutorials explaining the use of software and applications.
COMPETENCY DEVELOPMENT
I came of age as computers began to become a daily presence in many people’s lives. I took computer programming classes in high school when the “cutting edge” hardware was Radio Shack’s TRS-80. After graduating from high school, my first job was for a company that provided word processing services for those not yet familiar with computers. I was exposed to a variety of “dedicated word processors” (i.e., computers whose sole purpose was for word processing) as well as one of the first commercially available modems which required laying the cradle of the phone in a device in order to send and receive messages. Throughout my career as a word processor, I had to learn a wide variety of “new and improved” programs: WordStar, WordPerfect, and Microsoft Word. I took college extension classes to learn “cutting edge” software such as dBase III and Lotus 1-2-3. With the advent of the internet, I learned how to navigate the web using a succession of web browsers. And, of course, I have managed to learn how to use a succession of portable phones and tablets, each with more and more advanced capabilities.
I worked as a volunteer in a local library in 1992 and 1993. This was about the time that library catalogs were first offered online in Riverside County, California. I was taught how to use the new system and my job became helping patrons use this new system. Quickly I learned how to spot patrons who were frustrated with the new system but were too intimidated to ask questions. I learned how to quickly determine the level of a person’s skills and their willingness to learn so that I could show them what they needed to know about the system without giving so much information that I increased their frustration. I consider this to be the impetus of my interest in helping library patrons locate information to meet their information needs.
From high school through middle age, I rode the wave of technological advancement and kept my head above water. This continued during my time in the School of Information’s MLIS program. Beginning with LIBR-203, I learned how to use WordPress to publish a blog. In LIBR-240, Information Technology Tools and Applications, I learned HTML, CSS, and PHP coding and created a website for my son’s band. In LIBR-246, Information Technology Tools and Applications—Advanced, I began learning how to use the website content management system Drupal. In LIBR-244, Online Searching, I learned how to perform sophisticated searches using a variety of databases, and created a LibGuide for assisting high school students in the use of Proquest’s Learning: Literature database. In LIBR-254, Information Literacy and Learning, I created ascreencast tutorial using TechSmith’s free software Jing. In this class I also created a Guide on the Side tutorial for using portions of the U.S. Census Bureau website, and an instruction session geared to elementary students using Canvas. For a presentation in LIBR-200, Information Communities, I became adept at using library mobile phone apps for a class presentation on the latest trends in technology, and I revisited and updated this report for a presentation in LIBR-266, Collection Development. These classes and projects have increased my knowledge as well as my confidence as far as trying out new gadgets, applications, and software.
I have also gained practical experience in the use of technologies while in the MLIS program. Since the spring of 2014, I have been a Graduate Assistant to the School of Information’s web technologist (who was also my instructor for LIBR 246. This job has allowed me to learn more about the use of Drupal as a content management system as well as to demonstrate my skill in HTML coding. During my time as a graduate assistant, my responsibilities have included fixing broken links as well as adding, managing, and updating content on the School of Information’s website. Examples of my work can be seen by perusing the Career Environments, Advanced Certificate in Digital Assets and Service, and Open Course List sections of the School of Information’s website.
EVIDENCE
1. Identifying: Open Source Software Pathfinder
In order to identify what information and communication technologies may benefit a library, librarians must consult a variety of sources to learn about new technologies. Many librarians will compile a list of trusted sources from which to find information about new technologies. For LIBR-243, Systems Analysis, I had to compile a pathfinder on a topic relevant to systems analysis and/or systems librarianship. My pathfinder addresses open source software. Open source software is ready-to-use software that also includes access to the programming code that makes software work. With the constant worry about budgets that libraries and librarians must deal with, open source software (OSS) offers great promise for libraries as the licensing and maintenance fees that are standard in commercial products are a non-issue with OSS, thus freeing up funds for support, professional development, and equipment. This pathfinder demonstrates my searching skills as well as my ability to discern quality information sources. A pathfinder not only benefits the person who compiles the list of sources but also serve as a tool for others who may eventually have to research the same or similar topics. This evidence demonstrates my ability to locate relevant information about current and emerging information and communication technologies.
2. Using: Social Media for Business Research and Competitive Intelligence
People with MLIS degrees work in the private sector as well as in libraries. Many companies are employing those with library degrees to perform tasks involving data mining—examining and synthesizing information to create new information. The last decade has seen an explosive rise in the use of social media sites. Employers have realized the value in analyzing the personal data people provide on social media sites. Data from analyzing social media can provide information about what brands and products are popular and discern trends important to both producers and marketers of products and services. For an assignment in LIBR-282, Using Social Media for Business Research and Competitive Intelligence, I reported on the use of social media sites to pre-screen job applicants. Not only do potential employers read what people have posted on their social media pages, they also use what is posted to conduct personality mining—analysis of social media presence to determine certain personality traits in order to weed out applicants who are not a “perfect fit” for the organization. This evidence demonstrates my understanding of how technology can be used to benefit an organization.
3. Evaluating: Social Media Website Analysis
The proliferation of websites, applications, software, and gadgetry can be overwhelming and requires careful evaluation to determine which ones provide the best fit in terms of a library’s needs. Evaluation involves determining and weighing the good and bad, the advantages and disadvantages. Evaluation may entail analyzing ease-of-use and performance outcomes during a trial use period and/or talking with other librarians who have employed that technology. The next piece of evidence is an evaluation of the social media website DeviantArt, conducted for LIBR-282. It demonstrates my understanding of how to determine the advantages and disadvantages of a given item of technology (in this case, a social media website).
4. Systems Librarianship
As mentioned previously, many libraries now employ systems librarians, a position that developed out of a need for someone on the library staff to manage, keep track of, and troubleshoot the various forms of technology being integrated into the library. Systems librarians took on such tasks as installation, configuration, and updates to software, hardware and server maintenance, data backups, upgrading systems, ILS administration, patch management, printing issues, security, and inventory. The next piece of evidence is a research report from LIBR-243, Systems Analysis, that looks at the changing role of systems librarians in the wake of a trend towards cloud computing.
The Internet is, arguably, the most important technological advance that has taken place in the last twenty years. The Internet has helped put information of any and all kinds literally at people’s fingertips. Most libraries now have websites, some simply providing access to catalog searches and links to online resources, others offering an experience that is virtually the same as visiting the physical library. Thus, it is an important vehicle for providing library-related information and services to people. Designing websites that are meet the needs of patrons requires such skills as coding (HTML, PHP, CSS, Javascript, etc) and understanding of responsive design techniques that ensures the website is accessible and usable on computers, tables, and smartphones. The culminating assignment for INFO-240, Information Technology Tools and Applications, required building a multi-page website. This website demonstrates my understanding and mastery of developing conceptual and practical strategies for presenting information on the Web, presenting information on the Web with a consideration for usability and accessibility, and incorporating interactive forms onto a Web page.
CONCLUSION
In carrying out the role of those who keep the gates to knowledge open, it is incumbent upon librarians to stay informed about new and emerging technologies. Deciding what new technologies may be of benefit to librarians and library patrons is a challenge that requires time and effort as well as careful consideration of a number of factors. Librarians should be comfortable experimenting with new and different technologies with the aim of improving library services. Furthermore, it is important that librarians be aware of and knowledgeable about new technologies in order to answer patron questions about those technologies or, at least, guide them towards information about those technologies.
The discussion and evidence presented here demonstrates my understanding of the necessity for librarians to identify, use, and evaluate current and emerging information and communication technologies with the aim of improving library service.
References
Fu, P., & Fitzgerald, M. (2013). A comparative analysis of the effect of the integrated library system on staffing models in academic libraries. Information Technology and Libraries, 32(3), 47-58.
Lui, W., & Cai, H. (2013). Embracing the shift to cloud computing: Knowledge and skills for systems librarians. OCLC Systems and Services, 29(1), 22-29.
Kristin Lehigh 