How Emerging Trends and Technologies Will Affect the Library

John BurkeALAO SSIG Spring WorkshopMay 8-9, 2003

Coping and keeping up

Where’s the wind blowing?

What’s new? How do I prepare? Will I be working in a library in 10 years? 5?

Contrasting examples; stories that teach

A list of lessons learned and steps to follow

Library technology truths

Dual technology needs: streamline our workflow and serve the public

Add popular technologies both by demand and proactively

We create our own systems on occasion Budget pressures often slow changes New items both replace and complement Both products and processes Computers are a key technology today, but not the

only crucial one

Truth #1:Not all technology works as expected

Failure – the Rudolph Indexer

View 175 catalog cards at once

12,000+ cards in single indexer

Too expensive; never caught on

Success – Shared cataloging

MARC records

OCLC

Cooperation continues

Technologies on the rise

Handhelds – Palm Pilots, Pocket PCs, Cell phones, Tablet PCs

Wireless networking Open source software MP3s DVDs E-books Full-text reference books and periodicals

What can we learn?

Three possibilities for each new technology: Essential technologies that last (DDC, OPAC, etc.) “Flashes in the pan” that never materialize (Rudolph

Indexer, bubble memory, etc.) Transitional technologies that have shorter lifespans

(8-track tapes, records, etc.)

We hope to choose 1 early, accept 3 before it’s too late, and avoid 2 altogether

Truth #2: It’s hard to know what patrons will want or need

Trends in society

66% of Americans use computers at home or work (over 54% use the Internet)

Reading habits: more “scanning” 90% of children and teens use computers 50% of homes have DVD players

42% of U.S. adults are not Internet users (Pew Internet Study)

“Thumb tribe” Technology Society Biology (?) oyayubizoku – Japanese (or “clan of the

thumb”)

How do we adjust to the trends?

Mixed bag

Stress customer service

Patrons want self-suffiency

Patrons need guides and helpers

We need to be flexible – alter workflow, policies

Truth #3: Libraries face many concerns and choices

Trends in libraries

Nearly universal Internet access in public libraries Graying of profession (63% of librarians are > 45) Less spending on books, but higher circulation Budget cutbacks More and bigger electronic resources to buy Audiovisual spending is growing 24/7/365 access and assistance Buildings – need flexible, tech-friendly spaces Digital reference – chat, email Focus on adaptive devices and web design

Major issues to solve Copyright Confidentiality – USA Patriot Act, etc. Access – “digital divide” Library budgets Archiving of digital resources (& long-term access) One-stop access to resources – easy interfaces More fee, less free resources Spam, cyberterrorism, and the regulated Internet Marketing the library, finding niches Cooperation among libraries

Where to turn?

It’s always been this way to some degree

Libraries must have a voice in solutions

Stay in communication

Stay a little behind, but still see who’s up front

Be informed (Technology Awareness Resources handout at www.users.muohio.edu/burkejj/)

Truth #4: Not every library needs the same technologies

A tale of two libraries

Cerritos Library, Cerritos, CA (cml.ci.cerritos.ca.us/static.htm)

Oscar Johnson Memorial Library, Silverhill, AL (www.gulftel.com/bclc/bclibraries/silverhill.html)

Different on the outside . . .

. . . And on the inside

Both have computers . . .

. . . But only one has a dinosaur.

What does our library need?

Know thy community

Consider the budget

Don’t fear change

Remember Truth #1

Take a few leaps of faith

Truth #5: All visions are imperfect,

but we need them

Visions of the Future:Yesterday Charles Ammi Cutter (1883) The Buffalo Public Library in 1983 Guessed wrong:

Sprawling, many floored library An army of uniformed pages Scrupulously clean and dust free Multiple “reading rooms”

Guessed right: Fax machines, interlibrary loan, photocopying Mass electric power

Based his thoughts on what he could see

Visions of the future:Today Raymond Kurzweil (2000) The “Terminator” future

2009 – wearable computers 2019 – books are rarely used 2029 – implants connect us to the Internet

Libraries fade away Unabated development of technology We’ll have to wait and see

Vision #1: “It’s Alive!”

Primary access to information is electronic Most users access materials remotely Private companies offer content and access equal to

and beyond that of libraries – competition and outsourcing

Our interaction with the Internet and networked information sources becomes a single interface, perhaps voice responsive

Library cannot compete as a public space – home becomes central

Vision #2: Ozymandias

Things fall apart: current tech cannot be sustained

Bleeding edge stops bleeding Archival issues end e-resource use Declining funds push libraries to print only Terrorism makes networks unworkable Libraries survive as they always have, and grow

as centers of information and learning A step back, or a step ahead?

Vision #3: Today & tomorrow

Public, academic, school, & special libraries Near-universal Internet access (thanks to us) Many electronic resources Declining periodical collections Growth of e-books and other publications on

handheld devices Remote access to resources is available, and

growing in use Library is still a vital spot for the community

The future for support staff

Jobs increasing (66% of library workers now) Workload shift continues (more formerly MLS-

only duties) Entry requirements increasing (in places) “Graying” & retention issues Opportunities to seek MLS (if desired) Pay may rise, but slowly

Lessons Learned

1. Not all technology works as expected2. It’s hard to know what patrons will want or need3. Libraries face many concerns and choices4. Not every library needs the same technologies5. All visions are imperfect, but we need them

Consider the essentials of our work as you innovate

Five New Laws of Library Science

1. Libraries serve humanity.2. Respect all forms by which knowledge is

communicated.3. Use technology intelligently to enhance service.4. Protect free access to knowledge.5. Honor the past and create the future.  Revised: Walt Crawford and Michael Gorman

Further reading

Gorman, Michael. Our Enduring Values. Chicago: American Library Association, 2000.

Wisconsin Library Services. New Tech News. (www.wils.wisc.edu/pubs/ntn/)

Burke, John. Neal-Schuman Library Technology Primer. New York: Neal-Schuman Publishers, Inc., 2000.

Questions or Comments?

John J. Burke, MSLSAssistant Library DirectorGardner-Harvey LibraryMiami University Middletown(513) 727-3293burkejj@muohio.eduhttp://www.users.muohio.edu/burkejj/