“Make no mistake: mobile
devices are revolutionizing library service,” writes Lisa Carlucci Thomas in
her article surveying the position of mobile
services in 2012. While libraries
and publishers work to resolve their disputes over access to ebooks, one thing
is already for certain: ebooks have paved the way for mobile services. Influenced by the introduction of ereaders and
the proliferation of other mobile devices, the ever-growing interest in ebooks can
be considered the catalyst responsible for sparking awareness on mobile users
and the need for libraries to develop integrated mobile services into existing
service infrastructures. This article sends
a clear message that libraries are rising to the challenge, whether by “improving
mobile access to databases and ebook content” or addressing other “emerging
features and services, such as mobile payment systems (Square, Google Wallet),
checkins and gamification (Foursquare, GetGlue, QR codes, SnapTags), social
sharing and content curation (Path, Tumblr, Instagram, PicPlz), place-based
collections, and augmented reality tours (Scan Jose) built from library digital
collections.”
Mobile services are transforming
library service because they are helping patrons to become more self-reliant
and knowledgeable concerning their own information needs, but what about for those
patrons who don’t have access to their own mobile devices? In his article on current developments in self-service
technologies, Matt Enis observes the possibilities for a library where
patrons use innovative terminals and hi-tech kiosks to do everything from
browsing and downloading ebooks on various mobile devices they themselves check
out and return, to simplifying and expediting a laundry list of community-related
errands, such as the need to “buy a bus pass, register to vote, schedule a tee
time at a local public golf course, or pay local taxes, bills, and traffic
tickets.” These technologies allow the
library to bridge the gap between knowledge center and community center by “offer[ing]
services beyond circulating materials and offering access to computers,” and
releasing librarians from timely circulation tasks so they can focus “more on
people and less on things.”
As libraries move to provide
more resources and services to patrons, these technologies will become a
necessity. Libraries looking to establish mobile or self-service technologies
should first evaluate the needs of their community and determine how these
services fit in with the goals of the library.
Once established, marketing campaigns can work to increase awareness of
new services. And as new services make more
time available to assist patrons, library staff can lead educational initiatives
to help bring less confident patrons up to speed. With these services, libraries are rapidly evolving
to meet concurrent shifts in patron needs.
Questions to think about:
- What are the new skills that librarians are going to need to learn as their traditional tasks become obsolete?
- What are the different areas of focus that could arise as librarians spend less time on those traditional tasks and more time addressing the needs of individual patrons?
- What is the best way to make patrons aware of new services and to understand how to use emerging technologies?
Enis, Matt. (2012). Helping
users help themselves with self-service technologies. Library Journal. Retrieved
Thomas, Lisa Carlucci.
(2012). The State of Mobile in Libraries 2012. Library Journal. Retrieved
from http://www.thedigitalshift.com/2012/02/mobile/the-state-of-mobile-in-libraries-2012/
Check out the WSU Libraries Mobile app to see how librarians here at Wayne State are addressing the needs of mobile users.
I think the skills that librarians are going to require include the ability to adapt to technology change, i.e. information technology fluency. I do not think, however, that traditional librarianship is going to become entirely "obsolete." While questions are certainly changing at the reference desk, I think that virtual reference is still utilizing the traditional reference model, merely in a virtual environment. The questions being handled in virtual reference are much like those of traditional reference. Face-to-face perhaps sees an increase of computer-oriented instruction questions, which may constitute a paradigm shift, however, this is in addition to, not instead of, traditional reference such as bibliographic instruction.
ReplyDeleteLibrarians should spend a little bit of time familiarizing themselves with interfaces for emerging technologies. New technologies tend to follow the design of their predecessors, and often one who has a firm grip on operating one device will effortlessly move from device to device.
The best way to make patrons aware of new services regarding emerging technologies is through signage and workshops. Workshops will encourage users to bring in their personal devices which will in turn expose the librarian to many different technologies that are being used by the community. This broadens the librarians knowledge base and hopefully allows for better adaptation to other emerging technologies.
While I agree that the skills learned through traditional librarianship will probably never become obsolete, especially since an increase in virtual reference can actually lead to more foot traffic, it does seem that it is becoming increasingly necessary for librarians to be more than just a little familiar with emerging technologies in order to be successful. I think that in order to properly address the needs of patrons through these technologies, librarians must be proficient with them. For example, librarians need to be actively involved with developing mobile services and apps for their users. And they need to actively involve their patrons in that process as well.
ReplyDeletePatrons are expecting more and more out of mobile services and libraries have been slow to meet that demand. During her presentation “Marketing the Mobile Part of Your Library,” Bohyun Kim, Digital Access Librarian at Florida International University Medical Library in Miami, conducted a live online poll that asked for the librarians in attendance “to rank the current state of their own library’s mobile services. About 45 percent ranked their mobile services as fair, while 47 percent said theirs were ‘poor.’ Few respondents chose good or excellent rankings” (Enis, 2012). This poll was taken last August. What this tells me is that librarians recognize the need for development in these areas, but are not taking action to properly implement them. Why not?
The “Power ePatron”, identified by LJ as those patrons who visit their library websites at least once a week, can be used here as essentially a prototype for the future library patron. These are the users who are calling for such immediate improvements as more mobile services, website redesign and overall better access to online library resources. The ability to adapt to technology change is definitely an essential skill for librarians to cultivate, but I think there needs to be equal emphasis placed on both devices and design.
Sources:
Enis, Matt. (2012). Patrons expect more mobile services. Library Journal. Retrieved from
http://www.thedigitalshift.com/2012/08/mobile/patrons-expect-more-mobile-services-handheld-librarian-conference/
Schwartz, M. (2012). How do power patrons use your website and virtual services? Library Journal.
Retrieved from http://www.thedigitalshift.com/2012/06/digital-libraries/how-do-power-patrons-use-your-website-and-virtual-services-patron-profiles/
I agree that librarians need to be technological fluent, in addition to retaining traditional LIS skills(reference interview, excellent search skills, etc). However, I think the thing that is missing (and what Michael maybe getting at) is software development skills among librarians.
ReplyDelete"...librarians recognize the need for development in these areas, but are not taking action to properly implement them. Why not?"
The reason why is that too few librarians take the leap and attempt to learn programming much beyond HTML, CSS, and module-based Content Management Systems. Librarians more than anyone else see the opportunities for mobile applications for libraries: it will take constant and consistent efforts of librarians to take their visions and either create them or find staff or companies to do so. Only them will the number of "good" or "excellent" ratings increase in future polls.
Emerging technologies are becoming ever more important to developing new models for librarianship and keeping library services relevant to our communities. The technologies that libraries move forward with should be determined by what patrons use and need - making mobile and self-service extraordinarily important.
ReplyDeleteAmong the libraries I use regularly, mobile catalog and account management apps have been developed to fulfill the demand for convenience and mobility that patrons want. Indeed, they expect these types of services due to the saturation of mobile technology tools in the service and consumer industry. Banking, shopping, socializing, etc frequently have mobile and self-service tools available for users to make their business easier. Often, mobile and self-service technologies overlap - a mobile app for paying overdue fines is an example. Other self-services might include library kiosks (like red box movie rentals) or self-checkouts. My local library has self-checkouts and patrons LOVE them. Grocery stores have been using them for years, why have libraries been so late to join the club? Is it a lag in embracing new technology and operation models, lack of funding to buy new equipment and implement? Is it a lack of IT infrastructure? This is a problem for many libraries - particularly academic ones. Lauren Barack reports that not having enough bandwidth is on it's own a major problem in many academic institutions and their libraries (http://www.thedigitalshift.com/2012/09/k-12/your-internet-go-schools-can-assess-their-connectivity-on-the-nonprofit-site-education-superhighway/). If there are issues even with the integrity and strength of tech infrastructure, we can temporarily put aside librarian tech skills and still see that staying on the cutting of new technology will be on ongoing challenge.
But it is necessary to tackle this challenge, nonetheless. People fear that libraries and librarianship are stagnating in the wake of so much technological change. Without continuing education for librarians, innovative programs for encouraging creative use of technology, and strong analysis of patron needs, demographics, and use patterns, libraries will live up to that fear. With the right approach, though, this needn't be the case. And many libraries are light years ahead of the pack - offering new models to build from in a rapidly changing environment.