This paper was created to review the current state and anticipate the future role and functions of public libraries in Victoria, with a focus on collections, resources and programs, service delivery, library buildings and technology. This review will focus on the technology aspects addressed in the paper.
The paper states that “with increasing public access to new technologies
and social media, the role of the public library has changed significantly”. The
high speed of technological change and consumer uptake of technology in various
formats is viewed as an opportunity for Victoria Libraries to assess the need
of the current and future library user. It is also acknowledged that this
library user has high expectations as to the level of library service and
resources available to them. In that context, discussion is encouraged on a
number of technological tools and services used (or should be considered for
use) by the Victoria Library service. Emphasis is placed on free access to
technology, online and digital collections (e-books), and an online collection
management tool (LibraryLink Victoria) as valuable tools and services now and
for the future relevance of Victoria Public Libraries. This technology driven
direction is in keeping with other professional views, that identify the modern
library user as being digitally savvy, and expecting library services to be at
their point of need, whether that means accessing the library online from work,
school, home or through a mobile device (Cahill, 2011, p.261).
This paper identifies community use of technology as a way
that library users can, and will want to, interact with the library service.
The paper highlights mobile smart devices as platform that the library will
need to be present on, most likely in the form of apps, in order to serve
library users at point of need. This commitment to serving library users in
ways that meet their need in a timely and easy way is in synchronicity with
Cahill (2011, p.261), who argues that the offering of online services in a
directed, meaningful and user-friendly way is vital if libraries are to remain
relevant, and ideally, gain new library users through diversified means of
delivery. The paper keeps the library user as the focus of the discussion, and
identifies the technology tools best used to reach them. Smeaton and Davis (2014, p.2)
agree with this approach, identifying social technologies as having the
potential to create and support communities, and reach existing and attract new
library users; however Smeaton and Davis advise libraries to be conscious against making technology
the sole focus.
The paper outlines LibraryLink Victoria as a state wide
library search engine that has been developed to aid the Victoria Public
Library better manage and share resources. However, LibraryLink Victoria still
lacks key features of a search engine that library users have come to expect,
such as the spelling suggestion feature on search engines such as Google and
the product recommendation feature on Amazon.com. Research shows us that users have
the same expectations from a library website or search engine that they do of Google
(Augustine & Greene, 2002, as cited in Barton & Mak, 2012, p.85).
Barton and Mak (2012, p.85) go further to state that library users are so
familiar with the use of commercial search engines, that library search tools
employing different or comparatively outdated conventions are at risk of
obsolescence.
This paper also identifies e-books as a new technology that
has enabled Victoria Libraries to provide library users with increased choices.
The inclusion of e-books into public libraries is an obvious progression, as
they complement and expand the existing collections (O’Connell & Haven,
2013, p.61). This paper contains no other additional information regarding the
specific format or delivery of eBooks in the Victoria Library service is given.
It is assumed that the e-books are available only for download to library users
personal devices, and given that the paper is focused on future directions for
libraries, it appears to be a missed opportunity not to include the possibility
of lending e-reader devices as part of the library service to allow this part
of the collection to be accessed by a wider audience. Moyer and Thiele (2011,
p.268) provide examples from USA libraries that offer an e-reader lending
service in order to provide community wide access.
This paper provides a basic outline of Victoria Libraries
technologies now, and anticipates the future technology needs briefly. There is
not enough information provided in the paper to allow an in-depth review of the
technologies presented. However, this paper does provide some good discussion
points for consideration, such as mobile technology, search engines and digital
collections.
References
Cahill, K. (2011). Going social at Vancouver Public Library: what the virtual branch did next. Program: electronic library and information systems, 45(3), 259-278.
Ministerial Advisory Council on Public Libraries (2012) Tomorrow's Library: Discussion Paper. State Government of Victoria.
Ministerial Advisory Council on Public Libraries (2012) Tomorrow's Library: Discussion Paper. State Government of Victoria.
Moyer,
J., & Thiele, J. (2012). E-books and readers in public libraries:
literature review and case study. New Library World , 113(5/6), 262-269.
- See more at: http://reffor.us/index.php#sthash.lchB7Ys9.dpuf
Moyer, J., & Thiele, J. (2012). E-books and readers in public libraries: literature review and case study. New Library World, 113(5/6), 262-269.
Moyer,
J., & Thiele, J. (2012). E-books and readers in public libraries:
literature review and case study. New Library World , 113(5/6), 262-269.
- See more at: http://reffor.us/index.php#sthash.lchB7Ys9.dpuf
O'Connell, B., & Haven, D. (2013). eBooks As aCollection and a Service: Developing a Public Library Instruction Program toSupport eBook Use. Journal of Library Innovation, 4(1), 53-66.
Smeaton, K., & Davis, K. (2014). Social technologies in public libraries: exploring best practice. Library Management, 35(3), 224-238.
Smeaton, K., & Davis, K. (2014). Social technologies in public libraries: exploring best practice. Library Management, 35(3), 224-238.
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