Librarians Enhancing Skills for Patron Access
Libraries and librarians act as a resolving medium to the digital divide’s prevalence with the continual output of new technology. Factors like cost and knowledge, are examples that widen this digital divide. Even though libraries and librarians work towards providing the access, tools, and knowledge to circumvent the digital divide, professional and aspiring librarians must also address this issue from within the profession and from within their education. Sam Allis states in his article, Checking Out the Future, that “tomorrow’s librarians’ face a two-year graduate school curriculum freighted with technology courses that didn’t exist 10 years ago, courses that will likely be replaced by others within a year or two. The future of libraries is a constantly evolving digital landscape, and technical literacy.” Allis’ heeding advice to librarians is a parallel consideration for libraries that intend to acquire ereaders and ebooks to its circulating materials.
Including ereaders and ebooks to libraries provides many benefits to the community being served. Amongst those benefits is the ability for ebooks to free physical space that could otherwise be used as community meeting areas; ebooks allows for a relatively simple inventory maintenance; and it enables patrons to access technology they may not be able to afford.
Providing these benefits to patrons requires extra vigilance from librarians. With the network-centric characteristic of ebooks, librarians must be tactic in presenting the web interface housing the ebooks to maintain patrons' continual usage (John Burk, 2009, p. 65). Additionally, librarians' must also be aware of the formats ebooks are available in and whether it is and will be compatible with the library’s existing technology (p. 127 & 243). Ebooks’ progressive growth in the book industry also requires librarians to be astute in regards to its ever changing costs and the legislations concerning books’ electronic copyright. The growing knowledge needed to adequately provide patrons with access to ebooks and its related devices encourages the question: Is the staff behind this technology becoming a hybrid of a librarian, engineer, and lawyer? If so, the future librarian of such a digital landscape will surely emerge as a Jack and Jill of all trades.
New and existing skills acquired through experience and education will enable librarians to enhance patrons’ experiences in the library with electronic-formatted books. Librarians should, however, keep in mind of the fact that even an infinite amount of reasoning for why ebooks should be integrated to the library’s collection should not overcome the reality that unless it is relevant to their patrons' needs, it will only become a disservice to the patrons it serves.
References
Allis, S. (2011, April 16). Checking out the future. Forget dusty book stacks. Tomorrow’s librarians are all about tech. The Boston Globe. Retrieved from http://www.boston.com
Burke, J. J. (2009). Neal-Schuman library technology companion: a basic guide for library staff. New York: Neal-Schuman Publishers, Inc.
Burke, J. J. (2009). Neal-Schuman library technology companion: a basic guide for library staff. New York: Neal-Schuman Publishers, Inc.
Weinstock, J. (2010). Turning the page. T.H.E. Journal, 37(6), 32-34, 36-37. Retrieved from http://www.thejournal.com/Articles/2010/06/01/Turning-the-Page.aspx?Page=1
Mary,
ReplyDeleteYour post seems very relevant to us as students. During the past several weeks, I've been researching jobs (for class assignments) and finding that the majority of jobs I like, have high levels of technology skills required. I've begun to map out how I am going to obtain these skills. After I complete my degree, I will need to continue staying on top of the newest technologies - as you noted though, as long as they are relevant to serving patrons' needs.
With regards to e-books, I'm just beginning to grasp their impact on libraries. They are another reminder of how digital technology is changing libraries. In the article, Ebooks and the Real Question: (Library Renewal, 2011), the author talks about how their role as a reference librarian has changed as a result of e-books and some of the frustrations associated with it. The traditional methods of doing a reference interview with an ereader don't always apply because the librarian may not have access to the requested e-book. Another point made is users of ereaders need to have basic computer skills, and librarians must be able to help teach them.
Michelle John
References
Library Renewal.(2011, October 22). Ebooks and the Real Question:. Retrieved from http://libraryrenewal.org/about/
I realized I posted the wrong retrieval URL for my reference.
Deletehttp://libraryrenewal.org/2011/10/22/ebooks-and-the-real-question/
-Michelle John
Your reference was an interesting read. I think what spoke to me most was the line that read "Basic computers skills are components of basic literacy when it comes to ebooks," which is what I wanted to convey in this post by highlighting technological needs. Although new technology is consistently being introduced, it does get introduced to consumers who, I believe, are ready to use it with the skills they already possess. For those who do not have these skills, the library is always an option for a place to learn more at. Even if the attending librarian is not too familiar with the device, s/he should be able to look up the information for patrons and help them learn how to use the device based on the librarian's existing technology skills.
DeleteThis is exciting to me. The idea of the stuffy library with books and card-catalogs is a thing of the past. Our job as future librarians will be to continually learn new things and be able to use them to do our jobs more efficiently. A huge part of why working in libraries is so enjoyable for me is the constant opportunity to learn new things. As newcomers to the profession we have the benefit of being up to date on our computer skills. Librarians that are late in their career had to learn everything about computers on the job.
ReplyDeleteSlightly off topic response to your post but your post could make an excellent argument for why professional librarians should be given more credit for what they do. Although interactions with some patrons may be once or only a few minutes and never again, the work that goes behind the efficiency of what librarians currently do with technology requires a high degree of learning even after their education. Like Allis had mentioned. what SLIS students learn in their curriculum may not necessary be relevant after a short while, which reaffirms the need for librarians to continually educate themselves to help patrons access information, regardless of the device used.
DeleteYour post is very interesting and exciting! I wonder how libraries will continually adapt to e-books? I know that, at least for now, my public library's e-book selection is limited and the portal for checking them out is quite cumbersome. While I've attempted and successfully checked books out in e-format I can only hope that with time improvements will be made.
ReplyDeleteAlternative options to accessing ebooks do exist such as databases like Ebscohost. However, the issue with this is that it seems to be subscription access only. Although it alleviates some of the pressures on patrons who wish to access ebooks but do not have access to an ereading device, the issue with access is merely transformed to whether libraries and users can afford the subscription.
DeleteGorrell, M. (2011, Spring). E-books on EBSCOhost: Combining NetLibrary E-books with the EBSCOhost Platform. Information Standards Quarterly, (23)6. Retrived from http://www.ebscohost.com/uploads/general/SP_Gorrell_NetLibrary.isqv23no2.pdf
*I am curious Mary, how does your library handle checking out ebooks? At the library I work at, students go through our virtual library to access the ebooks and it is then read as a PDF on their computer.
This is exactly where we fit in. Majority of librarians are old fashion in their style of finding and retrieving information. eBook is not their norm and they are not excited about the change. It will take a librarian with an open mind, willing to embrace the new technologies. Even if we do not agree with content or resources it still our responsibility to be abreast of the latest developments.
ReplyDeleteThis is where the lifelong learning that librarians try to instill in their patrons also exemplifies itself in the technological aspect for librarians.
DeleteIn the situation with ebooks, it is such an evolving realm at the moment that it's crucial for librarians to stay updated on the issues surrounding the topic. If and when the day comes for his/her library to decide on whether it is a tool to be utilized in their library, s/he will then have a comprehensive knowledge regarding the issue and able to make a well informed and timely decision.