Group+Discussions+Week+6

**Jamia Alexander- technology & the internet; Melissa, Bruce, Lisa**
Libraries, technology and the internet are now things that go hand in hand. In the last decade or so more and more materials have become available online and some think this has adversely affected the library as a physical building or institution. These articles discuss these different viewpoints and what the consequences of an increasingly digital world could be for libraries.

Article 1: Kolowich, Stephen. "Bookless Libraries?" //Inside Higher Ed//., 2009. [] This article highlights the discussion between professional librarians at the 2009 Higher Ed Education Conference. The discussion surrounded whether the “bricks and mortar” of a library actually made the library or does the shared learning and social interaction still bring people to the library when print materials are becoming more and more obsolete.

Question 1: Do you think the increasing digitization of print materials and those that are born digital mark the beginning of the end for the “physical” library? Why or why not?

Question 2: Identify two advantages and two disadvantages to the increased number of online resources available to students, explain your reasoning.

Article 2: Lippincott, Joan K. "Mobile Technologies, Mobile Users: Implications for Academic Libraries." //ARL//. 261, 2008.[| http://www.arl.org/bm~doc/arl-br-261-mobile.pdf] This article discusses the needs of Net Gen users and the services their academic libraries can offer them to meet those unique needs. It also focuses on the implications of the changing needs of library users and how libraries can adjust to those needs without compromising the integrity of the traditional library.

Question 1: Do you think that the digital divide in an academic setting puts those students with little to no access to mobile technologies at a disadvantage? Why or why not?

Question 2: Do you think it is appropriate for a library to offer checkout of expensive devices such as Kindles or iPads even though they have the propensity to be stolen or broken? If so, should there be restrictions on who can check them out, i.e. a certain age or proof of legitimate research needs?

[|Article 1, Questions 1 and 2] Alisa Rochelle Wynn (arwynn) (Jun 17, 2011 6:50 PM) - Read by: 1 [|Edit] | [|Delete] __**Article 1**__
 * Kolowich, Stephen. "Bookless Libraries?" //Inside Higher Ed//. 6 Nov. 2009. Web. 17 Jun. 2011. <** **http://www.insidehighered.com/news/2009/11/06/library** **>**


 * Question 1: Do you think the increasing digitization of print materials and those that are born digital mark the beginning of the end for the “physical” library? Why or why not?**

First, I want to recognize that while this article focuses on academic/university libraries, many of the issues raised could affect any type of library.

For some libraries that specialize in very narrow subject matter (like medical libraries, some special corporate libraries, or research libraries) I can see how the physical library could basically become a virtual library or a place where there are no books, but only computer stations for accessing databases. For instance, the two local medical/hospital libraries in the South Bend area are almost book-free. For the SLIS reference course, I job shadowed the sole-librarian who runs one of these libraries, and she said that they were moving toward all-digital services. Her services to medical professionals and patients largely consisted of retrieving articles through databases and ILL services (also often resulting in the borrowing of digital copies of articles).

The debate of whether the physical library is becoming obsolete, whether due to the internet and digital technology or for other reasons, is not a recent development. For instance, I came across an annotation for a 1979 article by J. William Baker entitled, "Will Public Libraries Be Obsolete in the 1980's?," which apparently explores the impact of technology on the relevance of the physical library. I suspect that if I dug around for a while, I'd find some even earlier articles on this subject, and there are many, many subsequent articles, blog entries, videos, etc. that explore this issue as it has evolved over time.

Regarding the more recent trend, I found the following observation by blogger, Brenda Wong, from April 2010, quite revealing regarding an important underlying problem with the public's perception of libraries:


 * Personally, I think the library field is the best job in the world, but it suffers from a severe lack of marketing. Librarians don’t just check out books or buy the latest best seller; we make critical choices based on what our clients need. We’re on the leading edge of technology, because we’re the first ones to see how valuable it is. Library circulation departments were one of the first to be automated – instead of fearing it would take jobs, librarians saw how it would allow them to do more of the critical-thinking type of work, as well as eliminate the mindless drudgery of manually counting how many times a particular book was checked out.**

In my opinion, if a __**specific**__ physical library becomes obsolete, it has less to do with libraries as a whole and more to do with__**that library**__ allowing itself to become obsolete and irrelevant. Even with a lack of funding, communities are known to stand up for their libraries if the library is important to them. However, it is not the community's responsibility to seek out and really "get" why the library is relevant to their lives--rather, it is the library that must find ways to make itself known as an important, vibrant part of the community--a part that cannot be replaced by online resources.

The concept of re-framing the library as a "place" and an emphasis on library services has been explored by numerous information professionals, including in Freeman et al's paper//Library As Place: Rethinking Roles, Rethinking Space// which provides a "distinctive perspective to thinking about the use and services, and the roles and future, of the library; [and] underscores the central, growing importance of the library as place—or base—for teaching, learning, and research in the digital age" (Id., Preface). I've yet to read this entire paper, but Freeman's comments on page 3 has a wealth of advice regarding the choices library professionals have when thinking about the future of libraries {I've included some side-notes in fuchsia brackets} :


 * ...[W]e must first ask an obvious question: If faculty, scholars, and students {and public library patrons} can now obtain information in any format and access it anywhere on campus {or at home or school}, then why does the library, as a physical place, play such an important role in the renewal and advancement of an institution’s intellectual life {or in the needs and wants of the community} ? The answer is straightforward: The library is the only centralized location where new and emerging information technologies can be combined with traditional knowledge resources in a user-focused, service-rich environment that supports today’s social and educational patterns of learning, teaching, and research. Whereas the Internet has tended to isolate people, the library, as a physical place, has done just the opposite. Within the institution, as a reinvigorated, dynamic learning resource, the library can once again become the centerpiece for establishing the intellectual community and scholarly enterprise {as well as the providing unique, relevant programming and outreach} .**


 * Question 2: Identify two advantages and two disadvantages to the increased number of online resources available to students, explain your reasoning.**

As a student (and comparing my perceived access to scholarly materials when I was in high school 18 years ago), I love that through my SLIS coursework and my own independent readings I've been able to develop my information literacy skills and can research topics via online databases and online resources independent of anyone assisting me. __**It is empowering**__.

Still, not every person is able to learn these skills on their own, so for the student that is struggling to learn these skills it is important for her to know where (and why) to turn for help--with the irony being that knowing where/why to ask for help is an information literacy skill in and of itself. So, just because the information is "out there" does not mean that every student is equally capable of access it to the same degree.

Even with information accessible via the search-able web, using search engines is not as easy as typing in a few words.

It takes practice, development of skills, some basic knowledge of how the search engine works and of the advanced search function options, and some creative and critical thinking to be able to find information on certain topics. For instance, with website that don't have an internal search box (or that have one, but it is not very effective), I have used Google's advanced search features that let you search with a domain for phrases and for specific file types countless times. Sometimes, I find it interesting to search a website for .pdf files just to see what comes up since there are often documents saved on the domain that are not hyper-linked within the web pages, which can be accessed by this simple advanced Google search.

__**Sources**__ Baker, J W. "Will Public Libraries Be Obsolete in the 1980's?"//Canadian Library Journal//. 36.5 (1979): 262-66.

Freeman, Geoffrey T., et al. //Library As Place: Rethinking Roles, Rethinking Space//. Washington, D.C: Council on Library and Information Resources, 2005. Web. 17. Jun. 2011. < @http://www.clir.org/pubs/reports/pub129/pub129.pdf >

Wong, Brenda. "Are Libraries Becoming Obsolete?" //Library Technician Dialog (Blog)//. 7 Apr. 2010. Web. 17 Jun. 2011. < @http://brendawoa.wordpress.com/2010/04/07/are-libraries-becoming-obsolete/ >

[|Article 2 - Questions 1 and 2] Alisa Rochelle Wynn (arwynn) (Jun 18, 2011 11:02 AM) - Read by: 1 [|Reply] [|Edit] | [|Delete]

__**The Article**__
 * Lippincott, Joan K. "Mobile Technologies, Mobile Users: Implications for Academic Libraries." //ARL// 261 (2008). Web. 17 Jun. 2011. **


 * Question 1: Do you think that the digital divide in an academic setting puts those students with little to no access to mobile technologies at a disadvantage? Why or why not?**

Perhaps.

Depending on the circumstances, students who don't own a mobile device (smartphone, etc) may be able to borrow one from a friend or from the library. For mobile content that is based on QR bar-codes for smartphones ("QR Code"), there are ways to be able to read this with a pc or laptop (Lang) (or again, with the help of a friend with a smartphone). Some schools have been able to provide mobile devices to every student (through grants, etc.) (Hu).

Finally, I think it would be irresponsible for a library to provide content that is __**only**__ available on mobile devices. Mobile content should also be available through pcs and laptops and should be more like an "added feature/service". To provide content that is only accessible through mobile devices puts the library at risk of adding to the digital divide on a local level.

On the other hand, to ignore that there is a market for mobile content could be detrimental to schools that are trying to recruit customers (I mean, students) and meet the needs/desires of those mobile-device wielding individuals. ;By providing the content through the library's main website and by providing complementary mobile content, this provides options, which I think is what students want more of.


 * Question 2: Do you think it is appropriate for a library to offer checkout of expensive devices such as Kindles or iPads even though they have the propensity to be stolen or broken? If so, should there be restrictions on who can check them out, i.e. a certain age or proof of legitimate research needs?**

I feel that if a library decides to lend these devices, it needs to first consider the benefits versus the potential problems.

For instance, if the library wants to launch a test program with a limited number of devices, then it might have a valid argument for limiting access by age or by requiring parental permission (for elementary/secondary schools) or by research needs.

However, once the program goes "live", the limiting of access due to potential financial loss to the library may be interpreted as a form of censorship, but this concern could be addressed by having a policy for recovering losses (such as is the case with lost or damaged books, DVD's, CD's, etc.). Borrowers of library items assume a responsibility for those items, so if the borrowers are too young to understand these responsibilities, parental permission may be the way to go for that particular library. Some libraries may choose to subsidize a lost or damaged mobile device given the savings it may achieve from providing e-books over hard copies, whether the e-book is borrowed from the "home library" or via interlibrary loan ("Kansas Library Doing iPOD for Lending"). Some libraries opt for requiring a security deposit (Id.)

Success of lending mobile devices depends on the library's approach to the unique culture of its patrons. This is not a new issue (a quick Google search reveals discussions on this topic for at least the last 10 years or so), and there are plenty of forums, articles, fellow-library-professionals, etc. that can be consulted for the library that is just now considering offering this service to its patrons.

A trial run may reveal that certain things need to be re-thought, and multiple failures may indicate that the library and/or the community of users is not ready for this service at the current time (but perhaps a bit later). To begin this program with the mindset that it will fail will likely result in a failed program.

__**Sources**__ Hu, Winnie. "Math That Moves: Schools Embrace the iPad." //New York Times//. 4 Jan. 2011. Web. 18 Jun. 2011. <@http://www.nytimes.com/2011/01/05/education/05tablets.html>

"Kansas Library Doing iPOD for Lending." //MacResource Forums//. 5-6 Jun. 2006. Web. 18 Jun. 2011. <@http://forums.macresource.com/read.php?1,112956,113025>

Lang, John R. "Librarians – How to Read QR Codes on Your PC." //The Proverbial Lone Wolf Librarian (Blog)//. 5 Oct. 2010. Web. 18 Jun. 2011. <@http://lonewolflibrarian.wordpress.com/2010/10/05/how-to-read-qr-codes-on-your-pc-10-05-10/>

"QR Code." //Wikipedia//. Wikimedia Foundation, Inc.. Web. 18 Jun. 2011. <@http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/QR_code>