The topic of social media and privacy, unlike others that come and go, remains an “ever-important issue for internet users around the world” (Valentine, 2020). Thus, it has significant implications on one of the fundamental roles of information organisations and information specialists – protecting patron privacy. As libraries begin to embrace Web 2.0 technologies and social media to serve and connect with patrons, unique concerns arise regarding protection of patron privacy (Cotter & Sasso, 2016). Social networking adopted by libraries promotes the open sharing of information, which is often personal information. “Thus, embracing Library 2.0 potentially threatens the traditional ethics of librarianship, where protecting patron privacy and intellectual freedom has been held paramount” (Zimmer, 2014). Continue reading
Whilst libraries and librarians are increasingly embracing technological developments and advancements, there remains a struggle in fully implementing these cutting-edge technologies for learning. Nonetheless, the potential for future directions within library services is incredibly vast and until recent years seemed like something out of a science fiction novel!