Module 2 OLJ Task 2
The influence of technology
I have to admit, all these fast moving technology changes are a whirlwind of ideas and influences that I find difficult to understand at the best of times. From the moment we wake we are bombarded by a fair share of online productivity and social influences.
A typical morning (well first 2 minutes)
- Wake up to scheduled alarm ensuring I reach my nightly sleep goal
- Do not disturb function turns off as soon as I hit the alarm stop button
Notifications happen
- Google Tasks (reminds me of the Uni reading I skipped last night)
- Skoolbag (reminds me my daughter has canteen lunch today)
- Facebook (someone mentioned me in a post, and it is very important it is answered)
- Library App (loan due reminder, or heaven forbid, overdue notice…)
- Notification
- Notification
- Gumtree (something amazing is going for cheap)
I still haven’t even had my coffee yet!
Let’s take a step back from this lost cause, I mean productive start to the day, and take a quick look at how libraries consider and deliver meaningful services within this changing technological landscape.
Consider a library
The exponential growth of technology in society has created its fair share of unique opportunities and challenges for public and academic libraries. Libraries, which traditionally were known for housing and finding information, have been superceded by the internet. However, according to Lorri Mon (2014) flexible library services have innovated to stay relevant to their diverse audiences on an ongoing basis. This has been achieved by adopting emerging technologies and integrating them within social information spaces, and digital media spaces (Mon, 2014). This approach to flexibile service
is challenging, as in the past technologies changed slowly, while now organisations and their users are confronted by ‘take off’ enterprises which heavily influence online and physical services (Adner & Kappor, 2016). This situation requires both public and academic libraries to continually pivot their service approach to ensure they are meeting community needs.
One platform of influence is the smart phone market. Recent results in the Australian Digital Inclusion Index (2020) show a large number of the Australian population only access the internet through mobile technologies. To meet this part of the community, a library service needs to consider creating and maintaining a dedicated library App which integrates into existing technologies, such as a library management system (Adsner & Kapoor, 2016). Providing a dedicated App is a great way to engage with the mobile only community, however to stay relevant, the library will need to monitor not only the shifting technology, but also the public interest in this form of service (Mon, 2014).
Meeting community needs
I’ve found public interest an important component here, as interests are a significant driving factor in an organisation staying relevant to its users. With the increased influence of the ‘internet of things’ and online everything, libraries are providing alternative means of collections, technology support and creative programs (Mon, 2014). Here are some examples:
Tool Library – The motto at Inner West Public Library in Sydney (2021) is ‘library of things’, and they provide everything from car seats to hydraulic wire cable swagers and even moon boots to support people with injuries.
Tech Savvy Seniors – A large number of public libraries throughout Australia provide group workshops and one on one sessions to support over 50 Australians bridge the digital divide (State Library of New South Wales, 2021).
Makerspace – These creative spaces provide opportunities for everyone to develop digital and creative skills in social environments, whether it be a media lab, sound studio or fabrication tools (State Library of Qeensland, 2021).
References
Adner, Ron, and Rahul Kapoor. (2017). Right Tech, Wrong Time. IEEE Engineering Management Review, 45(4), 81–85. doi:10.1109/EMR.2017.8233298.
Australian Digital Inclusion Index. (2020). Measuring Australia’s Digital Divide. [Research Report] DOI:DOI: https://doi.org/10.25916/5f6eb9949c832
Australian Library and Information Association. (2020). COVID-19 and Australian public libraries: interim report 30 April. https://read.alia.org.au/covid-19-and-australian-public-libraries-interim-report-30-april
Inner West Tool Library Sydney. (2021). Inventory. Inner West Tool Library Sydney. https://innerwesttoollibrary.myturn.com/library/inventory/browse
Mon, Lorri. (2015). Social Media and Library Services. Morgan & Claypool Publishers.
State Library of New South Wales. (2021). Tech Savvy Seniors. https://www.sl.nsw.gov.au/public-library-services/services/information-working-groups/older-peoples-services/tech-savvy-5
State Library of Queensland. (2021). About. The Edge. http://edgeqld.org.au/about/