One of the significant points Shatzkin (2016) mentions on his blog is the power of the major companies or ‘The Four Horsemen: Amazon, Apple, Facebook and Google’ (para. 7). These companies not only influence the lives of adults and older consumers, they also affect the lives of young people, specifically students. Teenagers are more likely to find resources through mediums such as Netflix, Google and the iTunes Store due to ease of access and the plethora of options available. In terms of news and current events, Facebook is often their prime source. Many companies use the power of social media to market their products and organisiations because it has become a popular element of society.

It is important for teacher librarians to follow in the footsteps of ‘The Four Horseman’ and utilise the digital sphere. School libraries lack visibility because their presence in the online world isn’t strong. Advertising on school portals and other community pages would help libraries develop their online profile.

In the age of Google, modern students are more likely to visit online forums than physical spaces in search of information and connections. Just like physical bookstores, libraries will be affected if they do not offer a large selection of organised digital resources. Online resources enable students to access information in a timely manner, which is important in a world where information is immediate. The one advantage the school library has over Google is it is able to cater for a specific audience and librarians can limit the amount of information students need to sift through. Knowledge of the curriculum and school programs is essential because it allows teacher librarians to create targetted collections for students.

REFERENCES
Shatzkin, M. (2016). Book publishing lives in an environment shaped by larger forces and always has. The Shatzkin Files. Retrieved from http://www.idealog.com/blog/book-publishing-lives-in-an-environment-shaped-by-larger-forces-and-always-has/