Tech Topic Connection: Libraries

            At a glance, there does not seem to be much that connects the world of libraries to that of IT, outside of the obvious free usage of computers to those cut off from networking by the digital divide. Upon closer examination, it is easy to see that they two are actually woven closely together.

 

            A librarian is defined as one that is "a specialist in care or management of"..."a collection of literary, musical, artistic, or reference materials" (Merriam-Webster, n.d.). Their main goal and purpose as curators of the collections they oversee is to share the wealth of information under their supervision (American Library Association Admin, 2017). Before the advent and widespread use of computers as we know them today, librarians (or library professionals) were who the general public turned to in order to locate information they were seeking. Most of that information was in the form of books, but the advancements of the past 30 years have drastically altered that landscape. Information Technology (or IT) calls for the use of technology to create and curate information (Vahid, 2017). The beginning of computers, where the data for the machines to run properly, were stored on cards with certain patterns punched into them, like the storage of information by the written word. As information in the current age has gone to a digital platform, massive amounts of information are more easily accessible to all. Both those in the IT world and library professionals are adept at navigating through the overload of information to find the data sought after.

 

                As technology continues to advance according to Moore’s Law, the ability to store impossibly large amounts of information onto the tiniest of microchips. The faster the processors in a computer’s hardware, the sooner the information stored on it can be accessed. And now, with the ability to store information on a distant server, known as “the cloud”, an entire library can be easily accessed by the small mobile device in the pockets of most of the population in the developed world.

 

If librarians expect to maintain their profession, the evolving needs of users that they assist must be met by the continued learning of the software and application programs that continue to develop for the use of computers (Gireesh, 2013). Some of these programs are related, but not limited to, the use of word processors, instant messaging, RSS feeds, wikis, and blogs.

 

With the right training and continued learning, library professionals can also establish an online presence that appeals to an even broader audience. Building custom blogs and apps by use of a programming language they are familiar with can further their profession’s goals and the sharing of information valuable to educate others is even easier to tap into. A database coupled with the network available today, both via the Internet and the sharing available through library networks, a book that was once unattainable due to geographic constraints is no longer out of reach. The use of digital tools, such as scanners, in conjunction with vast servers and solidified networks, can make an entire library’s database available with just a few clicks. A great example of such a database that is open to the public is the Library of Congress. Their database is not only vast but organized so that information can be found through cross-referencing, circulation status, and even specific notes on the work (Bhoi, 2017). Unfortunately, such troves of information tend to be a target for cyber criminals, and even the Library of Congress is not immune to DoS attacks (Mazmanian, 2016). With the current social climate and pandemic challenges, libraries have had to rely even more now on digital resources than before. Those institutions that seize this opportunity to further their virtual reach will be the ones with the key information that continue at the right-hand of the helm guiding the human race onward toward a higher level of both sentience and technology.

 

 

 

References:

American Library Association Admin. (2017, March 01). Mission & priorities. Retrieved July 19, 2020, from http://www.ala.org/aboutala/missionpriorities

Bhoi, N. K. (2017). Use of Information Communication Technology (ICT) and Library Operation: An Overview. In International conference on future of Libraries: From promises to Practices, Indian Statistical Institute (pp. 445-456). Bangalore: Indian Statistical Institute.

Gireesh Kumar, T. K., & Murali. (2013). Information and communication Technology literacy (ICTL): Skills for Library professionals in the digital era. In E. Rama Reddy, T. V. Prafulla Chandra, A. S. Chakravarthy, & G. Chakravarthy (Eds.), Information Management Today and Tomorrow: Festschrift in Honor of Prof. S. Sudarshan Rao (pp. 353-366). B. R. Publishing Corporation.

Mazmanian, A. (2016, July 18). Library of Congress wracked by DNS attack. The Business of Federal Technology. Retrieved July 19, 2020, from https://fcw.com/articles/2016/07/18/loc-cyber-attack.aspx

Merriam-Webster. (n.d.). Librarian. In Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary. Retrieved July 19, 2020, from https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/librarian

Ogar, C. E., & Dushu, T. Y. (2018). Transforming library and information services delivery Using Innovation Technologies. Library Philosophy & Practice, 1-18.

Saravani, S., & Haddow, G. (2011). The mobile library and STAFF preparedness: EXPLORING Staff Competencies using the unified theory of acceptance and use of technology model. Australian Academic & Research Libraries, 42(3), 179-190. doi:10.1080/00048623.2011.10722231

Vahid, F., & Lysecky, S. (2017). Computing Technology for All. Https://www.zybooks.zyante.com/.