LIS 5063 - Fundamentals of Information Technology

The objectives of this course centered on understanding the foundational concepts of information technology and exploring the potential of new technologies in meeting information needs. For my artifact in this class, I opted to present a briefing on StackMap and propose its integration into a library catalog. This assignment was my first experience in crafting a brief and proposal (OU SLO 3 - Professional and Scholarly Communication), and although the process posed some challenges, the final outcome proved immensely rewarding. My paper delves into the essence of StackMap, the rationale behind its relevance to libraries, and benefits for both employees and users, and outlines the integration procedure. Through this brief I also delved into the realm of emerging technologies and gained insights into their diverse applications, catering to various groups of individuals (Personal Goal 3.1 & 3.3) (OU SLO 6 - Diversity).

Analysis

Exploring StackMap and its potential integration into library operations offered firsthand insight into the versatility of new technologies and their ability to cater to diverse user groups within library settings (OU SLO 4 - Technology) (ALA Competency 4 - Technological Knowledge and Skills). Despite StackMap not being considered a "new" technology, obtaining specific information required direct contact with the vendors. While I managed to gather details about the product's features and its suitability for library catalogs, crucial information regarding implementation processes and pricing was not readily available in public sources. Although tempted to leave these gaps unfilled, I felt compelled to ensure the completion of the task at hand. Simply proposing an implementation without providing comprehensive details would have left the assignment incomplete. This experience proved highly beneficial in shaping my research skills. It highlighted the differences between a "regular" research paper and a briefing, not just in terms of their content but also in the research processes involved. I also had the opportunity to work on my communication skills with other professionals in the LIS world to obtain the information needed to provide a complete briefing (OU SLO 3 - Professional and Scholarly Communication). This new perspective on research offers a deeper understanding of the nuances involved in various types of scholarly writing.

Reflection

After researching the product StackMap I realized I actually thought it would be beneficial to the library I work at. I first heard about the product from the vendor at the 2023 OLA Conference. At the time I took the vendor's business card and went on about my day. When I was picking a topic for this paper I instantly thought of StackMap, and I am glad I did. Once I had completed the assignment I decided I wanted to actually propose StackMap to my library director. I set up a meeting with her and the other librarians, gave them all copies of my paper, and presented it. The experience was something I will never forget because I had librarians who had been working in libraries listening and interested in something I (someone who had been a librarian for about 4 months) thought was beneficial. As a group, we decided that StackMap is something that our users could benefit from and we are going to start the implementation process soon.