Thing #10: TECHNOLOGY!

I just completed a blog entry in which I complained about the functioning of a piece of equipment that was invented long ago (in "technology years," that is), and now I'm being asked to write about technology again! Actually, if anyone had actually read my previous entry, he might jump to the conclusion that I'm a die-hard traditionalist, that I'm opposed to new inventions of any form.

That is far from the truth. One could hardly be a librarian and be resistant to the advent of devices which enhance communication and broaden opportunities to conduct research (it would have been much more difficult to be a reference librarian in the pre-Internet era!). It's just difficult for me to tolerate those times in which the devices on which we are so dependent cease to function (especially when it happens in the middle of a program!).

It's hard to write about one particular trend, as there are so many that we need to monitor. In his column entitled "20 Things to Watch," Stephen Abram noted that mobile devices such as Blackberries are becoming increasingly popular - and this will certainly affect libraries (how soon remains to be seen, since it difficult to envision having a budget large enough to purchase either the gadgets or the software that can be installed on them). Other trends, such as social networking and e-books, seem equally important. In fact, there is almost an overwhelmingly constant stream of new technology that will impact libraries.

What we need to do is to prioritize. We need to recognize that a certain portion of our budget will be used to implement new types of services (while, simultaneously, using funds to maintain those collections and services that we already have; the demand for print copies of books will not diminish at any time in the near future). Furthermore, it is essential that staff members continue to learn the terminology (and in many cases the functions) of those services that have become part of our patrons' lives. The Web 2.0 Challenge is a tremendous help - but the need to learn won't stop after those MP3 players are distributed!