Technologies and the information profession are intertwined. As a professional, we rely on a wide array of technologies to get our job done. As a user, technologies are there in the library to help with information needs. As two groups, we have come to be reliant on the use of technologies. As information professionals, we also have to able to identify, use, and evaluate current and emerging technologies so that we can teach our users how to use such technologies and stay up-to-date on the everchanging state of modern technologies (Breeding, 2018). Through my personal experience, I have come to learn a great deal about websites, Integrated Library Systems (ILSs), and assistive technologies. I would say that since working in a library setting, my knowledge and experience with different types of technologies has increased tenfold, and will only keep increasing as I continue on in my career.
A library's website is one of the most frequently used communication tool. Before venturing to the library in-person, users will typically check out the library's website to gather more information on the organization. In my experience, I have come to learn that a library's website must be constantly maintained and updated for two reasons; first, to update users on change in polices/procedures and general changes that may affect users' usage of the library, and second, to adjust and adapt for accessibility issues. As such, a library's website presence shouldn't remain static, but change and adapt on a regular basis.
Information professionals involved with technology need to have the basic knowledge and understanding of writing for the web including web standards and protocols (Breeding, 2018). This includes being familiar with the web standards overseen by W3C including knowledge of the fundamental building block tools of the web; HTML, CSS, and programming languages such as JavaScript and PHP (Breeding, 2018). I became very familiar with these tools while taking Info-240, Information Technology Tools and Applications. In that course, I learned how to apply HTML and CSS to create web pages. An important distinction between the tools of web design is that HTML is used for structure and meaning (i.e., communicating if something in the code is a paragraph, image, link, video, etc.), CSS is used for styling a page (i.e., changing the way a web page looks), and programming languages such as JavaScript is used for the behavior of a webpage (i.e., making content have interactive capabilities) (Dean, n.d.a). As time went on in the class using the building block tools of web design got more complicated, but understanding these foundational tools helped me understand writing for the web and the proper overall structure for web design; a skill that is invaluable for the information professional involved with technology.
Towards the end of Info-240, we turned our focus to the area of considering design issues in regards to writing for the web. Design issues include accessibility, readability, usability, cultural issues, and information architecture (Dean, n.d.b). Consideration and knowledge of these issues is extremely important in the information organization as we use our communication technologies to reach out to all members of our communities. In considering accessibility issues on the web, it's important to keep a few things in mind including typography (i.e., be consistent and professional with font choices), arrangement (i.e., appropriate spacing should be used to improve readability), consistency and uniformity (in both structure and design), and cultural issues (i.e., avoiding puns/metaphors, avoiding big or complicated words, and using website analytic software to get a sense of your users' locations in the world) (Dean, n.d.b). These merely skim the surface of design issues when writing for the web. An information professional should mindful of design issues to be able to accommodate all users.
As technologies continue to evolve, the information professional has to develop the skills to identify and evaluate emerging technologies. When I received my promotion to library technician just over a year ago, I was required to take a six-week course on technologies in libraries where we discussed emerging technologies in detail. Some of the emerging technologies discussed included:
Artificial Intelligence (AI) - AI is the ability for machines and computers to use data to learn and utilize algorithms to perform tasks. AI can be used in libraries in several ways including the use of voice assistants, use of chatbots on websites, and used to aid with improved research and search abilities. While in the technology in libraries course, I advocated for the use of AI in my library in the form of a chatbot for our website that would assist users with common directional questions. There are of course pitfalls with AI including bad algorithms that can lead to discrimination and other bias. Further research on AI will be able to give more insight into avoiding such pitfalls.
Virtual and Augmented Realities (XR) - while these are two different technologies, they are typically grouped together for ease of discussion. Virtual reality refers to a closed, 360 degree environment where you can "visit" a different world or reality (e.g., Oculus, Vive, Playstation). Augmented reality (AR) refers to a virtual layer that is placed over your current environment (e.g., Ikea Place, Pokemon Go). Libraries are getting more into the VR game with using these technologies to help users explore collections, learn new skills, and meet and interact for programs and reference interactions.
Robotics - robotics are already commonly used in the real world at warehouses, cleaning stores, and other industries. In libraries, robotics can be (and already are) used to retrieve items from remote storage, finding misplaced books, shelf reading, and greeting users and answering simple questions. Building robotics is also a common practice used in STEM library programs. Libraries with STEM programs are already employing programs and classes where children and adults both get hands-on with robotics by learning to build, code, and collaborate on robotics. Learning more about robotics will make it so humans and robots can coexist and work together (Silveira, n.d.).
This first piece of evidence demonstrates my knowledge and use of current and emerging information and communications technologies. For this final project, we were tasked with having to create a five-page website from scratch. As per the instructions, we had to include: five working webpages, a navigation menu, a table, a fillable form, embedded images, an embedded video, the use of JavaScript, and correct use of HTML and CSS web standards. In the end, I made a five-page website that was all about my love for hiking and the outdoors. Completing this project helped me get more comfortable with working with websites, coding, and understanding web standards. The piece of evidence that I'm tying to this artifact is an unnarrated screencast I took of my website before it was taken off the server at the end of semester.
This next piece of evidence demonstrates my knowledge of emerging technologies, technological issues, and trends. Part of the information community research project for Info-200 had us investigate emerging technology and trends as it related to our information community. For this blog post, I created an infographic that highlighted some popular online resources for my information community, the transgender community. I also highlight a study that specifically looked at technology for transgender individuals and the type of technology that is desired by that population. The study I mention noted four different types of technologies desired by transgender participants. Completing this assignment helped enhance my knowledge of emerging technologies and those technologies specific to information communities.
This last piece of evidence for this competency, demonstrates my knowledge of current and emerging technologies, and the impact those technologies may have on the information profession and environment. When I got promoted to the library technician position in the spring of 2021, I was required to complete a six-week Infopeople course, "Technology in Libraries." The online course had us learn and discuss current and emerging library technologies. For assignments and discussion posts, we had to complete several tasks including evaluating other library websites, evaluate our own library's current technologies, and write-up a proposal for the inclusion of an emerging technology at our own library. The course was very impactful as I began my new position because it helped get a sense of emerging technologies in libraries, how to evaluate current technologies including websites, and how to assist users with technology issues.
For the information professional, knowledge about current and emerging trends in technologies is critical to be able to adapt and keep up with the ever evolving technology landscape. For the information professional involved with technologies, in-depth understanding and knowledge about current and emerging technology issues should be acquired. As I plan to get more involved with technologies in libraries moving forward in my career, I need to stay up-to-date on the latest trends in technology and further develop my knowledge of information architecture, programming languages, coding standards, and content management systems as these skills are highly desired for technology library employees (Breeding, 2018). What helps is that I have a personal interest in learning more about technologies and the trends that will help lead us into the future.
Breeding, M. (2018). Managing technology. In Hirsh, S. (Ed.), Information services today: An introduction. (pp. 298-313). Rowman & Littlefield.
Dean, R. (n.d.a). Lecture 2: Basic HTML5, web standards [PDF file]. San Jose State University School of Information.
Dean, R. (n.d.b). Lecture 13: Design issues: Info architecture, cultural issues, accessibility/usability, SEO [PDF file]. San Jose State University School of Information.
Silveira, D. (n.d.) Lecture 5: Keeping up with technology and emerging trends [PDF file]. Infopeople.
Photo credit: San Onofre State Beach, CA by: Michael Van Aken