Disclaimer: First let me say that while it has been almost two years since I even posted to my blog (I really probably should start it up again) I want to inform you why I am suddenly posting after so much time. This post is for a class I am taking on information technology for my master’s program. Those of you who actually read my post about three years ago when I posted that I got accepted into the SIRLS Master’s program at U of A will know this. Anyway, read this if you wish but know this is for an assignment I am doing for my class.


So for this assignment I had to choose four technologies and provide a description, how they are used in the library and what the social impact of them might be. The ones I have chosen are Online Public Access Catalog’s or OPAC’s, Web Filters, Blogs and Podcasts.

 

Online Public Access Catalogs (OPAC’s):

I shall start with Online Public Access Catalogs. OPACs are the online databases of materials that are held by a library or even a group of libraries. They list all of the materials that the library may offer for its patrons. Users and patrons can search or browse through this database of materials to locate books or other materials that are available in the library. It provides a detailed bibliographic record of each material in the library.

How this technology is used in a library is that it records all information about every material libraries have to offer their patron and whether it is available to them. If the OPAC consists of materials from a group of libraries users can see which location is may be at and then have it sent to the desired location for them to use. Users can search within the catalog using any keyword, title, author, etc. to search for desired information.

The expected social impact of online public access catalogs I think and this is a long shot if any OPAC integrates social software into their systems is that it will give a whole new experience to the user searching for the desired information. Let’s say I was looking for information on what are the best breeds of dogs to get. While I might find books on breeds and how they are, with this social aspect it includes the community in on the search. I would get to read about people opinions on the best dog to own not just from books and other material found on the shelves but from the community themselves.

Web Filters:

Web filters or content controlled software is just that. It filters or controls the content that is seen on the computer. Mostly what is seen on the internet, it controls what users search so that they cannot view what may be harmful or illegal or even what may be classified to the public. This is most beneficial for children. So that when they are searching the web they are not subjected to harmful results or disturbing propaganda that their parents do not want them to see. It’s kind of like imputing parental controls on the TV so children can only watch age appropriate material. Web filtering only let them view age appropriate results or the results others do not want them to see.

This is used in the library to allow patrons not to search the web for inappropriate content mostly pornography. Most of the time this can back fire because there may be users, especially in academic libraries that will be doing serious research on the subject or ones like it. So mostly librarians have to quietly monitor what patrons are looking at to make sure it is appropriate and that they are nowhere near children. I do know that in some children’s areas of the library if there are computers for them to use they may use filtering on just those computers. And a different kind of filtering altogether is that only library card holders can only use the computers the library offers.

As for the social impact, I do not think there is any really. You can choose to block certain content from patrons but that I think will only cause problems. They will just get angry that you are not allowing them free access to any and all information that is out there with the exception of certain information such as those from government institutions.

Blogs:

Blogs are a way to get information out to anyone. This post I am writing is a part of a blog. Entries can be personal; they can be directed only to certain followers or can reach millions. It depends all on the writer on the blog. They can cover a wide variety of subjects or just one. Any entries can be a lengthy affair or just a short quirk like Twitter and its 140 character limit. They usually are arranged with the most recent first and going back chronologically. Many these days are becoming more social and interactive allowing people to follow and leave comments. People can share the posts or subscribe to the RSS feed if one is available. One growing trend is the video blog. Instead of a wordy post people record a video about whatever they are interesting in or whatever topic they are discussing and upload to the web in a series of videos. A good example is You Tube. Many people have their own “channel” and they can upload their own videos or that of their favorites. And videos and be a few minutes long or up to an hour or more.

Using blogs in a library can be very beneficial for the librarians and the patrons. Librarians or employees of the library can keep patrons and users update on goings on in the library as well as discuss library related topics. Events happening at the library can be discussed and reviewed allowing for people to comment on how they went and what they liked or did not like about it. With video blogs, librarians can put together tutorials for patrons and how to videos.

The social impact of blogs is major. Having a blog a one thing (I have one but have hardly been consistent with it as you read in my disclaimer) but knowing how to reach people and keeping it up to date is another. Obviously you need followers. There are many ways to go about getting them. Depending on who you want to be your audience whether just family or friends or a certain type of group you can email everyone saying you are starting a blog. You can use word of mouth to tell people. Or you can link you blog through social media like Facebook, twitter or other social media sites. I have mine linked through Facebook so my friends know when I post something new to it.


Podcasts:

Podcasts are a little like blogs but mainly dealing in audio or video files. They can be subscribed to or downloads usually to a portable media device like an iPod or iPad. Many podcast are done in a series with episodes. They can be about anything or certain topics but usually are about one particular subject. Unlike webcasting, podcasts can be accessed offline when the listener or viewers desires to access them.

Libraries can use podcasts to get out information to users, create short series with tutorials or just discuss general topics going on in the library. I was also thinking that in public libraries, librarians could use podcasts or video podcast for children’s story time. The story time can be recorded either as audio or video and then uploaded on to the libraries podcast site so that parents who cannot make it can listen with their kids later.

The social implements of podcasting are in the way they reach viewers and listeners. With everyone and every business being a part of social media there are countless ways to reach people now. Podcasts links can be displayed via Facebook pages or in Twitter feeds. They can be uploaded to iTunes which has its own podcast store.


The technology that I think will most or actually has improved libraries for the librarians is the integrated library system. This system lifted the weight of the librarians shoulders because now all they did such as orders, keeping track of books borrowed, cataloging of materials could all be done on the computer. Everything could be kept on computers or created on computers. These systems contained modules that allowed for cataloging materials, acquisitioning of materials, an OPAC system for users to browse the what the library has to offer, and circulation programs so materials can be checked out to patrons. The system can even track each patron's activity through the issuing of an ID number as well as track the activity of each item in the library through the same way. And with technology changing all the time this technology can only get better with time and eventually do much that librarians did by hand. Apparently, due to the rise of "cloud" based technology, many management systems that have that technology have made it possible for cataloging to be completely automated to where librarians would only have to scan the ISBN of an item and the information is uploaded into their systems.

The technology that I think will most improve libraries for the patrons is that of adaptive technologies. These are technologies that everyone will be able to use especially those will a disability of some kind like blindness or the hearing impaired. Sometimes these patrons get over looked or there are not enough adaptive technologies to go around. So if a library were to have several items that helped and aided those with such disabilities then these patrons could get the help they needed. Such items like a screen magnification software or trackball controllers and even teletype writers are good examples of the type of technology that a library should have in order to help those with disabilities. Just even having the right technology software on the library computers will help immensely. Software such as screen magnification, screen reading or even having the computer be touch based will allow those who are visually impaired or hearing impaired or those will limited motor capabilities. Other such technologies that a library can have for its patrons with disabilities is closed captioning on television screens or videos, audiobooks for many to listen if then have trouble reading or seeing the small type, Brielle equipment, or even Kurzwiel readers that scans what is printed on a page then reads it to those who cannot see it.