As Hannah et al. (2019) illustrated, documentations that used in VR and augmented reality (AR) are very helpful in improving students’ engagement and interaction of their learning activities (p. 277-278).  For example, the traditional academic library would only present a map or a video recording to show what the physical place looks like. With the VR technology, the learning experience will be immersive and impressive. There will be no requirement on time, physical condition and expenses, because students do not really need to travel to that place to do their research. Students will find it more interests in a VR tour than reading it a book.  As a result, they will have a better understanding with the heritage and culture.

However, the disadvantage is also obvious. Although the price of the VR equipment has dropped so that more information institution could afford, it is still very expensive (Hannah et al, 2019, p. 278). The budget restriction is one of the main obstacles in providing the VR devices in an academic library.  The management need to consider and compare the usage with the cost. Although it is fun and incentive to improve learning experiences, is it really necessary to pay such amount of expenses for the VR equipment and softwares? That could be the key reason why many academic libraries do not include VR in their collections. Academic libraries need to evaluate the learning outcome with the investment they spend on VR devices, because they have their objectives to support the teaching, learning and researching outcome of their parent institutions. Thus, they need to balance the usage with the cost.

To sum up, using VR in academic libraries is beneficial to students in improving their understanding. However, in comparison with its usage and effectiveness, one disadvantage of the VR devices is its cost. It is still very high. So it is expected that the VR will be innovated to include more learning functions and reduce their purchase price, so that more and more academic institutions will accept it as a common collection.

Reference:

Consider the services discussed by Laura Cole in the video in relation to a library or information agency that you know (as an employee or user). Select four key points made by the speaker, and consider how these may be applied to a library or an organisation you are familiar with to help it embrace a Library 2.0 ethos. Write 300 – 400 words.

What do you think of the future of our libraries?

YouTube URL: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PnYDl66YfQ0

This video presentation is from Laura Cole (2016), who dedicates to promote the digitisation of the future libraries. There are four key points that are provoking.

• People’s reluctance to change

Emotionally, we do not want to see the disappearance of the paper books. People love to hold a book on their hand, reading the book with a sense of nice smell in a quiet library building. Although the physical books and the beautiful environment have created us with comfortable feelings and good memories, they cannot stop our steps moving forward. The innovation of new technology has driven us to explore more functions to serve the readers. Therefore, we cannot ignore the benefits of digitising our library, simply because we emotionally love the physical books and the library’s site. We need to take the advantages of the technologies and provide services to a broader community.

• Freedom of patron’s physical presentation

The digital library will have no restriction on its patron’s physical presentation. It is one of the most obvious advantages that a digital library could have in assisting a broader community. With internet connection, people could access the library anywhere around world. It provides great convenience for disables or for people who work full-time. In fact, the Covid-19 pandemic which has forced many libraries to shut down, has no impact on digital libraries or less influence to the libraries with digital collection. Thus, it is important to develop the digital session of all kinds of information agencies.

• Change of librarians’ role

As Core suggests in this video, the librarian’s role is changing. Librarians are no longer just working as “preservers” of physical collections, but as “cultivators” and “navigators” in delivering information to their patrons.

• Usage of the library’s site

Some people may have concern about the usage of the library’s building after the revolution of digitisation. Actually, because of the digital divide in both literacy and finance, the library can still be used in providing facilities and education. The library’s building can still be functioned as community centre for local residences to acquire knowledge and information.

In summary, it is understandable that we love the beautiful environment that the libraries have created in our life. Emotionally, we do not want the electronic devices to replace the paper books. However, we also cannot stop the progress of moving towards a digital world. As an information professional, we need to always think of the future trend so that we can provide better service to a broader community.

References:

Cole, L. (2016, April 16). BiblioTech as the Re-Imagined Public Library: Where Will it Find You? [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PnYDl66YfQ0

Based on your exploration, try to summarise in 400 words what you know and think about the influence of technology on society in general and specifically on organisations. What are some of the main points organisations have to consider that they may not have had to consider in the past?

This world is turning into a digital world. We can now only use the digit wallet in our mobile phone to carry our credit card, driver’s licences, and many other membership cards. It is very convenient that we can use a small mobile device to record all of this useful information. In fact, the outbreaks of the Covid-19 pandemic has accelerated the procedure of digitisation. People need to scan the QR code to record all the venues they have attended, so that all the casual and close contacts can be chased. The innovation of technology helps the society moving towards a digital world.

If an organisation has not paid much attention to the impact of the advanced technology, it could be left behind in the near future. For example, a live-chat conversation is much more efficient than the way of using email communication. Some questions can be solved by Artificial Intelligence system, which will save budget on human salaries. Just as Cox (2020) argues that the AI may take the academic librarian’s role in data analysing and literacy training et al. (p. 9). There is no “working hour” for an AI, so the clients could contact them at anytime. Therefore, the technology will help the organisations to provide better services.

In addition, as the world is moving towards digitisation, information organisations need to consider the changing roles of their employees. When the organisations start to apply new technologies to replace some jobs, they need to educate their users. Take the AI system as an example, although AI system could make recommendations based on our searching result, it may not be able to provide the exact result. Therefore, there is still a need for human involved activities. Just as Anna and Mannan suggest (2020) that librarians should transform their roles from from the traditional data manager to the knowledge provider. Information professionals need to teach their clients how to use these new technologies more proficiently. Therefore, the employees must keep the same pace with the development of the organisation and always be acknowledged with the innovation of the new technologies.

The world is moving towards digitisation with the inevitable usage of the new technologies. Organisations need to apply the advanced technology to improve their competence in the society. Meanwhile, they should also pay attention to the changing role of their staff.

References:

Anna, N.E.V. and Mannan, E.F. (2020). Big data adoption in academic libraries: A literature review. Library Hi Tech News, 37(4), 1-5. https://doi-org.ezproxy.csu.edu.au/10.1108/LHTN-11-2019-0079

Cox, J. (2020). The higher education environment driving academic library strategy: A political, economic, social and technological (PEST) analysis. The Journal of Academic Librarianship. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.acalib.2020.102219