In my review of this article by Mary Ann Kajewski, the online public access trainer at SLQ, I will discuss how she evaluates various new low-cost technologies, their possible uses and their potential as ways to increase client satisfaction. I will describe some of the low-cost technologies in the course of this review and how they can help libraries come to terms with the demands of Library 2.0.
Kajewski tells of the major changes in libraries today, as they respond to the new online world of Web 2.0. These in turn have created greater expectations in library patrons. They now want immediate access to information in the format of their choice. In order to meet these expectations, libraries are increasingly turning to online resources and are creating their own online communities.
One of the examples of emerging technology that Kajewski uses is that of blogging. Blog is the contracted version of the term web log. It is a website usually maintained by an individual in which anyone can add a comment, as there is no requirement of html skills (Wikipedia, 2006). She explains that there are four benefits to a library in blogging: for disseminating information, library service, to receive feedback and for professional development. This concurs with Clyde’s view in that they are a natural for librarians, but she goes on to make that point that for library blogs to be successful, they need to be well publicised and maintained. She found that some lacked basic components such as links to the library home page or feedback (Clyde, 2004, p. 188).
Kajewski also discussed the possible benefits of using wikis. This term is taken from the Hawaiian for quick and is shared space software that is open for both contribution and editing. These pages are unprotected so anyone can edit or delete material. All that is required for editing is a web browser. Even though they are excellent ways of exchanging information, Maness makes the observation that while wikis may be the new group study room, lack of peer review and editorship can create new challenges to librarians in their monitoring (Maness, 2006, Blogs and wikis, ¶3).
In her discussion of RSS feed, Kajewski cites many advantages in their use in libraries. RSS stands for with really simple syndication or rich site summary. As there is considerable discussion as to what the term really means, Gahran suggest that the term ‘webfeed’ may be more easily understood and accepted (Çelikbaş, 2004, p. 278). This XML format allows users to receive updates from a variety of web pages that regularly update their content. The author states that RSS can be integrated into a library system to inform customers of new books, upcoming events or programs. What the author doesn’t mention are the other advantages over more traditional methods such as email. They included ease of cancellation, no spam, privacy and content management (Çelikbaş, p. 284).
Podcasts and vodcasts are other examples of new technology that Kajewski mentions. The term podcast comes from the amalgamation of the terms ‘iPod’ and ‘broadcast’. A podcast is an audio file made available over the internet and vodcast it’s video equivalent sent as Atom or RSS attachments. Podcasts require only basic equipment such as computers, microphones, earphones, free software such as Audacity or Odeo and something to broadcast (podcatcher) such as iTunes or Juice, which are also free.
While Kajewski goes on to mention other new technologies, she makes the more important overriding comment, that regardless of what you are doing, you must encourage ‘the staff buy-in’, that is staff must be encouraged to participate and trained sufficiently to do so. I feel this to be the most important point of the article and Sampson reinforces this point when she says that marketing must begin internally. If staff does not understand the new technology, how can they be expected to promote it to the clientele (Sampson, 2006, p. 14)?
I have reviewed this article by Kajewski on the impact of low-cost technologies on enhancing library services and have drawn on the author’s thorough description of the resources. I feel that her most important point is of the need to involve staff in the use and promotion of new technologies. One can only agree with the author in the fact that these technologies allow unprecedented opportunity to facilitate and promote collaboration between libraries and their users.
Bibliography
Çelikbaş, Z. What is RSS and how can it serve libraries? In Yalvaç, Mesut and Gülseçen, Sevinç, (Eds.), Proceedings First International Conference on Innovations in Learning for the Future: e-Learning, pp. 277-292, Istanbul. Retrieved from E-Prints in Library Science website: http://eprints.rclis.org/archive/00002531/
Clyde, L. (2004). Library weblogs. Library Management, 25(4/5), 183-189. Retrieved August 28, 2008, from Emerald Group databases.
Maness, J. (2006). Library 2.0 Theory: Web 2.0 and Its Implications for Libraries, Webology, 3(2), 2006. Retrieved August 21, 2008 from http://www.webology.ir/2006/v3n2/a25.html
Sampson, J. (2006). Launching into the Podcast/Vodcast Universe. Computers in Libraries, 26(10) p10-12, 2006
Wikipedia, (2006). Blog. Retrieved August 27, 2008 from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blogging
No comments:
Post a Comment