LIBR 204 – Organization and Management
Unit 9 Assignment_Thomson_Library Collection “Technologies”
In 10 years time, I believe technological advancement will be applied two-fold to libraries. The first in terms of making information more convenient, useful, and accessible to patrons, whatever format or container it may come in. Second, technology will be used to make work more efficient, faster, and easier for the library staff.
I believe the “Universal Library” project led by Carnegie Mellon University will have completed uploading all books on their database. The collection will contain and provide access to books written in all languages and have the capacity to translate them into any other language.
As you mentioned in the lecture, NASA recorded information on a Main Frame computer in the 1950’s, but it is no longer accessible because the software is obsolete. Along the same vein, I wonder what the best solution is to preserve information. Gathering, sorting, and preserving information has been a part of librarianship throughout history. However, just as the container of recorded music has changed over time from LP’s, 8-tracks, cassette tapes, CD’s, and currently MP3’s and iPod’s, what happens if the technological format becomes obsolete? Is the information we want to preserve absolutely safe if it is backed-up and then backed-up again?
I agree renting is the primary way creators and publishers of books and audio-visual material will make the most money and remain relevant. Presently, downloadable books from Amazon.com can only be used on Kindle. I presume Amazon.com set it up that way to maximize profit. Also since downloadable books are online, I assumed any number of library patrons can read it simultaneously. However just like physical books, downloadable books can only be borrowed one patron at a time.
In the past, licensing and copyright laws have been waived or discounted to libraries in the name of educational purposes. Nonetheless, libraries may no longer have a large enough profit margin for publishers to continue to make exceptions or provide discounts.
I believe books are technological inventions in it of itself, and at least one of each should be preserved as a paper-based document. A book does not need energy or a technological gadget to pick up and read. On the other hand, enormous space is necessary to preserve all physical books. Can we continue to add books to the physical collection at the Library of Congress? I believe it is impossible to preserve every book written in any one place. The next question becomes which books are deemed worthy and what will be the preservation criteria for future generations? The future provides much fodder for thought regarding the relevance of libraries.
I agree that the amount of information will increase (accurate or not) with rapidly-advancing technology and librarians will go from gatherers to sorters of legitimate information. Therefore, it is my vision that in order for librarians and libraries to remain viable we should become authorities of information, in the same way appraisers validate or appraise jewelry and works of art. In the tidal wave of information on the Internet, librarians can become “power of attorneys” (so-to-speak) to authorize information. For instance, the American Library Association can have a list of updated, accurate, and latest information, and librarians can become licensed to authenticate and approve research papers submitted to higher education institutions, as well as documents to law and medical publications.
[Definition:] power of attorney —
- legal authority to act for another person in certain specified matters
- the document conferring such authority