SLIS 5000.002 Spring 2009
Annotated Mediagraphy
Balancing Technology and Technological Innovation within Libraries
Submitted by: Brittany Carnagey, Eric Smith, Joy Peglar, Benjamin Baron, Amy Leslie, Janelle McCabe Luellen, William Waggoner
Book and Articles:
Coles, A. A., and Dougherty, W. (2009). Hang together or hang separately. College & Research Libraries News, 70(2), 110-113.
Coles and Dougherty outline a helpful guide aimed at improving the often strained relations between Information Technology personnel (IT) and librarians. Too often the IT and library personnel are at odds when it comes to utilizing and/or controlling technology. In reality, librarians and IT personnel must work together to create/provide technical services to library users. Frequent positive contact and a spirit of collaboration are two of the ways communication can be improved between the two departments. Additionally, each department needs to recognize the value of the other and work together to establish common goals in order to be effective.
Gorman, M. (2003) The enduring library: technology, tradition, and the quest for balance Chicago : American Library Association, 2003.
Gorman analyzes the development of communication and its effect on libraries from the 1870 to the mid 2000’s and the impact of technology on the services provided by libraries. Gorman also addresses factors underlying the “digital divide” such as socioeconomic status, local funding of educational resources, multilingual access, and the educational background of patrons. The importance of finding a balance between tradition and technology is emphasized by Gorman who understands that a shift to either side of the scale results in an insufficient provision of service.
Kern, M. K., and Stephens, M. (2008). Taming technolust: Ten steps for planning in a 2.0 world. Reference & User Services Quarterly, 47(4), 314-317.
The lure of technology is strong. To effectively use technology, libraries must wisely choose which applications or tools fit the mission of their organization. Wise planning, trend spotting, collaboration with users and constant evaluation of current technologies in use are all important aspects when incorporating the latest techno-trend into existing library system.
Online Sources:
Bateman, B. L. (2003, January). Educational technology: A guide to resources on the Web. C&RL News, 64 (1). Association of College and Research Libraries. American Library Association. Retrieved April 5, 2009, from:
This article emphasizes on the necessity for academic libraries to continue funding in information technology services in order for librarians to educate faculty, staff, and students in information literacy through the learning on how to use different information technology tools, which will allow teachers and students to know how to commit forms of research that expand knowledge and give students the necessary skills to help them in future careers.
Bordeaux, A., & Boyd, M. (2007, June). Blogs, Wikis and Podcasts: Social Software in
the Library. Serials Librarian, 52(3/4), 263-269. Retrieved April 19, 2009, from:
Social software, such as blogs, wikis, and podcasting, ispresented as tools that help libraries connect with users. Abigail Bordeaux shares the experiences of Binghamton University Libraries withusing a blog for news and events and a staff wiki for collaboration and information sharing. She also explores the emergence of podcasts and presents some possible opportunities for its application in libraries. Libraries are encouraged to experiment with social software to engage patrons who commonly use these tools for otherpurposes.
Boss, R. W. (2007, April 18). RFID Technology for Libraries. Library and Information Technology Association. American Library Association. Retrieved on April 5, 2009, from:
The article reflects on the increasing transformation of library technology by a number of American libraries using RFID systems (Radio Frequency IDentification) for the usage of theft detection systems, self-checkout devices for the fast charge and discharge of library materials to patrons, and for speedy updates of materials that are present in library collections.
Davies, L. (2009). World libraries build online intellectual cathedral. Retrieved April 15, 2009, from the Sydney Morning Herald Web site:
The UNESCO project based in Paris seeks to collect and digitize a diverse collection of cultural artifacts drawn from all over the world. The creation of this digital “intellectual cathedral” will preserve journals, periodicals, news publications, and other delicate and culturally significant pieces of media and provide worldwide access to libraries, individual users, and other research institutions.
Fidishun, D. (2001, March). People Servers vs. Information Providers: The Impact of Service Orientation on Technology Training. Information Technology and Libraries, 20(1). American Library Association. Retrieved on April 5, 2009 from:
This article was chosen to show how the evolution of technology has transformed American libraries into a divided center of information services that is shared between reference librarians orthe majority of the library’s Internet databases and electronic services. With this transition of traditional library access to the modernization of the center of information services online, it becomes important to understand of what the library means to the communities that it serves in daily activity.
Furlong, K. (2009, March). Loosening Up and Letting Go. Computers in Libraries, 29(3), 10-47. Retrieved April 15, 2009, from:
This article deals with the potential problems and solutions with having two separate service desks, one for the equipment and one for circulation, in a library.
Huwe, T. (2009, March). Embrace the Chaos. Computers in Libraries, 29(3), 25-27. Retrieved April 15, 2009, from.
This article examines the role of emerging technologies in the context of services libraries provide. The author touches on current technologies that students have as well as looking at emerging technologies to make determinations on what services will need to be developed in the future.
Isaacson, D. (2009, April). On the Same Screen. Library Journal, 134(6), 47-47. Retrieved April 15, 2009, from.
This article deals with how people use electronics differently than traditional media. Scanning computer screens as opposed reading printed materials.
Jennings, S. L. (2007, June). Emerging Uses of Wiki in Library Services. Tennessee
Libraries, 57(2),1-5. Retrieved April 19, 2009 from:
Jennings presents a brief history of wiki from its creation by Ward Cunningham in 1995 for use in the corporate world to the present. She suggests the utilization of wiki technology in libraries in three ways: 1) as an inter-department tool, 2) as a cross team collaborative tool, and 3) as an intra-department tool
Kohl, D. (2004, May). The Paperless Society … Not Quite Yet. Journal of Academic Librarianship, 30(3), 177-178. Retrieved April 13, 2009, from Academic Search Complete database.
It was thought at one point that Beta would be the technology to rule all technology. And libraries invested. While digitization of information has increased, so has book production and book sales. The author, David Kohl, states, “We live not so much in a post-Gutenberg society, as in a Gutenberg society on digitalsteroids.” Technology certainly improves the accessibility of information, but it won’t necessarily replace the older and seemingly preferred formats. At least not any time soon.
Lankes, R. D. (2007) R. David Lankes Presents the Participatory Librarianship Starter Kit. [website]
This entire website is a collection of information about how the focus of librarians should be on the people and not the collection. And how books or works of art or electronic resources are all merely tools that are used to encourage people to be continuous learners.
Medical Library Association. (2009).
The MLA or Medical Library Association is a web site that provides both the information professional and the consumer information and tools for balancing technology and its innovation within the medical library environment. Resources found here can also be applied to a more traditional library setting. The Web 2.0 Resources section has listings for blogs, wikis, Facebook groups, RSS feeds and social bookmarking. On the site a health literacy project is providing resources for health and information professionals and resources for health consumers. The Career Development section has many offerings listed. Special Interest Groups (SIGs) are located on this site too.
Midland, S. (2008, April). from stereopticon to Google: technology and school library
standards. Teacher Librarian, 35(4), 30-33. Retrieved April 19, 2009 from:
Midland’s article presents summaries of standards for school libraries published between 1918 and 2007 with emphasis on the evolution of information and technology. The changing standards illustrate the development of and need for school libraries, trained librarians and accessibility to the technical resources of the day.
OCLC. (2007) Who’s Watching YOUR Space? [video file]. Found on the website OCLC: The World’s Libraries Connected. Viewed on April 10, 2009.
This video is an attempt to inform and challenge educators and librarians to intervene in the digital revolution within the role of information guide. What this means is innovation in terms of how to guide. The idea is that “digital natives” or those who have grown up using digital social and information tools such as MySpace, YouTube and Google, are organizing their own information. As information professionals, it is imperative to pioneer these attempts at organization and utilize technology while maintaining the social connections that are missing from digital social networks like MySpace.
ThinkeringSpace, IIT institute of design. Retrieved April 5, 2009, from:
The Illinois Institute of Technology’s Institute of Design designed a virtual meeting space. It can be constructed quickly in small spaces using modular furniture. The environment uses a library’s collection through RFID technology. Within the space, visitors take objects (books, toys) and manipulate them or the content (story) on the screens. While this technology is currently ‘play’ oriented it has far reaching capabilities such as allowing patrons with accessibility issues to interact with collections. It could also be utilized to facilitate group projects, where users work independently in various locations and complete work in stages.
Webb, P. (2007, June). Prevailing Practices for Libraries on MySpace. College &
Undergraduate Libraries, 14(2), 39-44. Retrieved April 19, 2009 from:
This paper is a study of twenty academic libraries with sites on MySpace. Webb presents the prevailing practices developed so far with the libraries use of MySpace. Librarians have a variety of free template designs available and can experiment to create pages that best suit their needs and the needs of their patrons.
Willis, K. D. (2009). Teaching with Technology Resources: Research Guide: NCSU Libraries. A Bibliography In Support of "Teaching with Technology: What's Next?" An LTS Teaching with Technology Seminar Series. NCSU Libraries. Retrieved April 12, 2009, from:
This bibliography supports teaching with technology which many librarians do each day. The sources listed here provide a teacher or librarian with tools and advice for enhancing the students learning experience. In addition to methods and tools, this page provides resources for subject headings listed as Multimedia, Inquiry-Guided Learning, Small Groups, Evaluation, Communication, Engagement and General Web Sites.
Youngs, I. (2006). Libraries fear digital lockdown.Retrieved April 15, 2009, from BBC News Web site:
Youngs’ article addresses the development of digital information and the risk of a further digital divide through the application of digital rights management (DRM). While libraries are allowed to provide resources through the presence of fair use rules, some forms of DRM operate in a manner counter to the fair use doctrine. Libraries and information handlers must be aware of the consequences of DRM and the extent to which protections may prevent the open exchange of information.