Chapter: Prospects for New Technologies in the Public Library (original) (raw)
Related papers
Introduction to Library Trends 47 (1) Summer 1998: Service to Remote Users
1998
Ancient libraries provided portable catalogs that enabled patrons to "browse" the library's holdings without setting foot in the library. At that time, librarians were largely familiar with their clientele. Since then, new and emerging technologies have enabled them to expand their services to include a wide range of support to their users. Too, their clientele has grown and now includes the fast growing group of remote users. Kalin (1991) correctly points out that libraries cannot presume to know who their clients are anymore. Remote users cannot be neatly packaged. They come from a wide variety of backgrounds, skills, and expertise. Remote users, in particular, are challenging libraries in new ways to rethink their mission and their services. Technology empowers people. Increasingly, library users have remote access to online information, they can publish from their desktop, and they carry laptops when visiting the library. A mere "point and click provides fast and direct access to information and eliminates the need for long or inconvenient trips to the library. The diminution of time, space, and distance also plays a key role in customer satisfaction provided all systems are stable, reliable, and responsive. The hyperbole applied to new technology heightens the expectations of what libraries should be doing for their users, making it very difficult for them to provide anything less. Ancillary to new and emerging technologies is the change in the user population. A young and sophisticated group, the Net Generation has grown up with computers and is comfortable with technology as a natural component of life (Noble, 1998, p. 51). This group's expectations are
Libraries, telecentres and cybercafés
Performance Measurement and Metrics, 2009
Purpose-This paper aims to offer early insight into ongoing research comparing public access venues such as libraries, cybercafés and telecentres in 25 countries around the world. Design/methodology/approach-The authors studied information needs and uses of information and communication technologies (ICT) in these public access venues, with a particular focus on underserved populations. Findings-Understanding trends, differences and similarities across venues and across countries offers an emerging map that will help researchers and policymakers conduct future research and make better decisions to strengthen public access to information through ICT. Originality/value-The research was done in partnership with local research teams in 25 countries around the world, and studied public libraries, telecentres and cybercafés side by side, while most studies in the past have looked at them independently of one another.
Enhancing community and collaboration in the virtual library
Lecture Notes in Computer Science, 1997
The advent of the virtual library is usually presented as a welcome development for library users. Unfortunately, the emphasis which is often placed upon convenience of access tends to reinforce the perception of the use of information resources as a solitary activity. In fact, information retrieval (IR) in the conventional library is often a highly collaborative activity, involving users' peers and experts such as librarians. Failure in the design of virtual library services to take into account the ways in which physical spaces help engender a sense of community and facilitate collaboration will result in its users being denied timely and e ective access to valuable sources of assistance. We report an investigation of collaboration issues in IR. We begin by de ning a generic model of collaboration, and of collaborative spaces. Finally, we describe the design of a prototype multimedia-based system intended to facilitate a sense of community and collaboration between its users.
2016
In the present society libraries are not only an active component of the process of acquiring, processing, communication, preservation and archiving of information resources. Developments in information technology and communications turns library into a public space for communication. In the information society development of library led to the establishment and redefining its roles: information, enlightenment and socialization are the main features of contemporary library. Library become an educational, cultural and social center and also a tool for promoting research experiences and a means by which community members can participate in the social life. One of the fundamental issues that need to consider when talking about the role of public space of communication and library must assume is the understanding that the user needs have changed. Moreover, increasing and diversifying social needs manifests itself as a service request, and, to this end, one important characteristic of co...
2017
Libraries are undergoing a reconceptualization in their roles as lifelong learning centers for local communities, with STEM content areas and Maker activities receiving special emphasis. This represents a critical and unique research, design, and partnership opportunity for learning scientists and computer-supported collaborative learning scholars. This symposium brings together project teams from four different locales in the United States that have partnered with libraries to bring about new resources and activities that emphasize computer-supported collaborative learning. These projects represent major urban libraries, special collections, community branch libraries, and school libraries. By bringing together these different teams, this symposium aims to promote dialogue about the affordances and constraints associated with CSCL-oriented activity design in libraries, identify commonalities and differences across region and library types, and ground-truth what specific challenges ...
Online Information Review, 2006
PurposeThis article seeks to propose a new vision for public libraries in the digital age.Design/methodology/approachThis conceptual paper is based on an understanding of the recent developments in ICT, internet and digital libraries; and also on the authors' personal experience in research and development in library and information science – especially in relation to public libraries – and digital libraries.FindingsThe study argues that currently there are no proper mechanisms for capturing, preserving and disseminating community knowledge, and proposes that public libraries in the digital age should take a new role whereby they should act not only as a gateway to knowledge, but also as a platform facilitating the creation of, and access to, local community knowledge. Proposes a model for PL2.0 where public libraries can take on this new role to build a network of community knowledge.Research limitations/implicationsThe paper proposes a conceptual model for the second generatio...
Public Libraries and Networked Information Services in Low-Income Communities
Library & Information Science Research, 1999
This article presents findings from an empirical study of community information exchange and computer access and use among low-income, predominantly African-American residents in one locale. Data were collected through household interviews, focus groups, and surveys. Results indicate that, while computer use is minimal, many low-income community members are poised to participate in the local development of networked information services. The article emphasizes appropriate roles for public libraries in community-wide efforts to bridge the digital divide that cuts computer use along socioeconomic lines.
Library Trends, 1994
RURAL LIBRARIES AND PATRONS have always suffered more because of limited access to information than their metropolitan counterparts. Libraries in rural settings have had to deal with the difficulties of working with more limited budgets and smaller collections serving populations distributed over larger areas. With the rapid development of networked resources and access tools available over the Internet, which are most easily accessible in metropolitan areas, disparities in access to information are growing even larger. Instead of widening the rift between metropolitan and rural library users, the new telecommunications technologies could bridge the distance, providing more equalized access to the wealth of human knowledge to rural library communities. This article provides an overview of the current state of networking technology in rural libraries and describes a model for educating rural librarians in the new technologies that will enhance library service to rural communities.
Digital Conversations--The Library is Dead. Long Live the Library!
Against the Grain
Paul, you are a great collaborator because you are a hedgehog specialist who approaches teaching in a fox-like way! You remember the essay by Isaiah Berlin? Paul Chilsen: Yes...The hedgehog knows one thing but the fox knows many things. Todd: Right-I use it as a representation of a liberal arts education. Our graduates know their discipline majors, but they also know how to connect their specialties to many things because of the breadth of their education and the way that we structure the curriculum. The fox-like connection that we are helping them to make is with information and technology for communication and expression. Paul: Well I would say that we want them to be able to make those multi-lens connections. If we've done our jobs well, they should have that critical ability. That is a vital component of a liberal arts education. The literacy skills involve finding and evaluating information and the fluency skills involve communicating their knowledge. Todd: In the print era, students would communicate what they knew with their instructor, and very often it was via a "paper." Today there are many more options. You are a specialist in film and media, but you are really interested in how all our students can communicate broadly with the varied forms of communication and the tools that are available today on the Web. Students can reach a global audience with many of the communication tools and venues that are easily within their reach. Paul: True. I think I know where you're going with this and as always, I'm curious to explore it further. But first, I wonder if we ought to explain our title a bit, this time around? It's fairly provocative. Todd: Well, that's what we are going to do in this piece-explore that notion. Paul: Right. We don't think libraries are dead. Quite the opposite. They are very much alive. They are just alive in new ways. Todd: Exactly! That's what we are here to explore-those new ways. During the print era, the Library took on its importance as a destination based on what it contained. Information was much more precious than it is in the digital age. Much of the information that is needed today resides in the information