2^nd entry
Developments in Information Technology

According to Burke (2006), there are ten key developments in his effort to trace the history of information technology in libraries. It is important that a librarian or information professional “know something about books and their intellectual history” in order for him/her to appreciate/understand “the full-text digitized version of what they are looking at on-screen” (Storey 2007, 495). The ten key developments, in approximate chronological order, are as follows: “writing and paper”, “printing press and books:, “classification systems”, “card catalog”, “library systems and the MARC record”, “personal computers”, “online searching”, “audiovisuals”, “internet” and the library community itself (Burke 2006, 4-13).

Well, communication of information that began since the beginning of time when man wrote or drew on cave walls to storing information on paper has seen the ingenuity of man in the creation of better information storage over the centuries. However, this form of communication of information has two constraints, which are time and distance (Burke 2006, 5-6).

In 1447, Johannes Gutenberg, a German goldsmith, invented the movable type printing technology (New World Encyclopedia). This invention caused a revolution in the distribution of information, in that more people had access to information since multiple copies of a piece of work could be produced. The invention of printing had a positive impact on libraries. Libraries that used to serve limited user (such as the Babylonians, Romans and Greeks) could now serve a larger community of users as library collections grew and multiple copies of books could be printed and produced (Burke 2006, 6).

When a person has ten books in his personal collection, it is easy to find any of his books. When he has one hundred titles in his collection, he would have to find a way to organize his books so that he can easily locate any titles. So when library collections grew, the librarian had to find a way to organize the books so that an item could easily be located. Before Melvil Dewey invented the Dewey Decimal classification system in 1876, each library used their own method of organizing books. Dewey Decimal system and Library of Congress classification system both use subject matter in its classification, which was instrumental in standardizing classification system for libraries, thus enabling libraries to work together and patrons use multiple libraries with ease.

Next came the invention of the card catalog. Library staff could now identify an item from the card without having to browse and search from the shelves. Card provided bibliographic information. Users could also locate an item from the card catalog. The card was “the first example of an end-user searching tool” (Burke 2006, 8).

The classification system and card catalogs were two methods of managing information, in which the card catalog is obsolete in most libraries today. The use of large mainframe computers in the 1960s to manage large collections and provide access, replacing the card catalog, propelled libraries into the computer age and laying the foundation for digital information (Burke 2006, 8-9).

Personal computers used in libraries greatly enhanced every aspect of library services. PCs have become a technology that the library cannot do without, from within the library use for its work to its availability for patrons to access information resources (Burke 2006, 9-10).

Another technological development that impacted the library was the arrival of online searching of periodical indexes and online access to newspapers, journals and reference sources and in the 1970s, Dialog, BRS and Lexis-Nexis were in the forefront in making available such services to the library. Library experienced a paradigm shift of “ownership” to “access” as far as periodical holdings were concerned (Burke 2006, 10-11). 

Another advancement and development was the format of information which came in the form of, for example, audio and videocassettes, DVDs, and compact discs which affects library collection development and organization besides offering its patrons information resources in a variety of formats (Burke 2006, 11-12).  

The internet permeates almost every aspect of library mechanisms, from providing online access to resources to answering reference questions. The internet revolutionized the way libraries deliver its services (Burke 2006, 12).  

For the tenth development, according to Burke (2006, 13) adoption of new technologies in libraries are influenced and shaped by some patrons’ needs and requests. On the other hand, there are some who are not “techno-savvy” but are required to fulfill some technology dependent tasks, would be disadvantaged in the digital divide. Here, the library can provide the services needed to these non- “techno-savvy” patrons.

Use of Technologies for Libraries (In the Library Where I Work)

a.       Use of Internet in Work:

Modern technology has impacted greatly in how a librarian or information professional carries out his/her daily work. The impact is positive in terms of speed and efficiency as I have experienced and will show as follows:

-          I communicate library notices to students, faculty, staff and other library members by email. It is paperless and an instant communication device (except when the internet is down!).

-          I email book orders, and other related library correspondence instead of sending by post for these activities. Most of the theological books are published in the United States and the United Kingdom. With the Internet, it saves time for me as well as for the time it takes for the information to travel to the recipient as compared to conventional order by mail.

-          I access other theological libraries’ OPAC website for information when I do cataloging (or copy-cataloging). It saves me a lot of time. This facility has also enabled me to teach my student librarians to access other Chinese theological library OPAC to obtain cataloging information and how to enter those information into the database. It’s a good and workable alternative. This online availability of information has greatly speed up and enhanced work.

-          I access and download free theological journal articles and saved them in CDs to be used as another format of information resource as and when needed by users.

-          Networking with other librarians and to keep abreast with developments in library and information science profession.

b.      Use of Computer for Information Storage and Retrieval:

Computers are used in storing and manage information of library patrons, their transaction records and details, bibliographic database, for printing barcode and for information retrieval as well in the form of online catalog, just to name a few. Gone were the days of card catalog although there are some remnants of cards, pockets, for keepsake (but not for long since these too will turn yellow and brittle).

Computer workstations are provided for students:

-          To do their assignments and submission of their papers through emails, especially to lecturers from abroad, or even as a requirement from some faculty.

-          To download lecture notes and for printing.

-          For the library to install electronic/digital learning resources for students’ use.

-          To do search on online catalog.

-          To use freely for their personal matters besides studies.

References:

Burke, John J. 2006. Library technology companion:  A basic guide for library
         staff.  2^nd ed. New York: Neal-Schuman Publishers, Inc.

New World Encyclopedia. 2008. Gutenberg, Johannes
         http://www.newworldencyclopedia.org/entry/Johannes_Gutenberg
         (accessed January 29, 2011).

Storey, Colin. 2007. Treasuring our traditions and our people: Riding the wave and
         making a difference over the next 25 years. Library Management 28(8/9):
         488-500.

1^st entry

Discuss the role of libraries and librarians in managing digital information.

Librarians in traditional libraries collect, organize, disseminate and preserve information. That role has not changed with the usage of computers in libraries to store, organize, disseminate and preserve information but instead has evolved in tandem with the technological developments.

According to Burke (2001), the role of librarians in the digital library includes “to provide intellectual access to information in any format”, “to evaluate available sources of information”, “to organise and structure information”, “to ensure the preservation of information” and “to provide specialized staff to offer instruction and assistance in interpreting resources and access to resources”.

1. Ensuring Continued Access to Information

In the digital environment, librarians will have to ensure patrons have uninterrupted access to information. The role of librarian will not be confined to acquiring the printed material and made available to patrons within the framework of library policies but instead librarians negotiate “access rights through contracts and licenses” (Burke, 2001) with publishers. A good example of continued access instead of ownership to information is the scholarly electronic journals provided by academic libraries.  

2. Organizing and Structuring Information

Librarians manage and organize information (for printed books or journals) using classification schemes such as Library of Congress Classification scheme or the Dewey Decimal classification scheme, which has not changed. For digital information, librarians need to know the Dublin Core. The Dublin Core metadata standard “is a simple yet effective element set for describing a wide range of networked resources” (Dublin Core Metadata Initiative). Metadata is defined as “data about data or information about information”, and is a “structured information that describes, explains, locates, or otherwise makes it easier to retrieve, use, or manage an information resource” (Understanding metadata). Librarians need to know how to use metadata to describe and organize digital information resource so that patrons can access needed information in the most effective manner.

Libraries’ role is to ensure patrons can access digital information resources “through a single interface, usually the library’s catalogue” (Burke, 2001).

3. Preserving Digital Information

Preservation of digital information proves to be challenging to libraries and librarians alike. The computer technology changes so fast that the computer of today will be obsolete in ten or twenty years from now, therefore, it is vitally important that the “software and the mediating technology is also preserved” (Burke, 2001). Besides preserving digital information, internet resources need to be findable by users, because internet resources sometimes change locations. In this, librarians have an important role in the initiative to find ways to provide persistent and comprehensive resource discovery on the internet.

PADI (Preserving Access to Digital Information) is one such example of initiative by the National Library of Australia in the preservation of digital information.   

4. Providing Instruction on Accessing Resources.             

Librarians provide guidance to users on information retrieval. Librarians are able to “teach the difference between intellectual access and electronic access” (Burke, 2001).

References:

Burke, Liz. 2001. The future role of librarians in the virtual library environment. The
         Australian Library Journal 51(1).  
         http://www.alia.org.au/publishing/alj/51.1/full.text/future.role.html
         (accessed January 15, 2011).

Dublin Core Metadata Initiative. 2011. Using Dublin Core.
         http://dublincore.org/documents/usageguide/ (accessed January 21, 2011).

Understanding metadata. 2004. Bethesda, MD: NISO Press.