Emerging Technologies for Academic Libraries in the Digital Age

Citation

Winzenried, A. (2009), "Emerging Technologies for Academic Libraries in the Digital Age", Library Review, Vol. 58 No. 6, pp. 461-462. https://doi.org/10.1108/00242530910969811

The purpose of this work is to promote strategic management and envision future library innovations in a digital age. Given the speed at which this digital age is moving, this is quite an undertaking, perhaps too large an undertaking. Nevertheless, the author does a remarkable job of compiling a comprehensive list of new technologies and highlighting their importance for the academic library.

From artificial intelligence to wearable computing systems, there are enough emerging technologies here to keep the average library professional occupied long after the next ones appear on the scene.

From the 1970s when most academic libraries began to leave their card catalogues behind, the information landscape in which they operate has been one continuous saga of change. New technologies, most frequently a product of commercial and non‐library development, have dramatically altered the information ecology – the whole environment in which information provision functions. Long‐established practices and beliefs have been challenged, and often wiped out. Coming to terms with the new technologies is one issue, dealing with the pace of these changes is quite another.

In the context of this seemingly limitless and sometimes threatening environment the library is seen by the author of Emerging Technologies for Academic Libraries in the Digital Age as essentially client focused; and its operation based on “give them what they need”. The basic problem is that emerging technologies have changed both the way information is made available to the client as well as the way the user wishes to access and use it. These new technologies thus provide a challenge for library operations and library staff as they continue to provide essential services. New solutions have to be found to providing a service in the form that the current and future client finds the most effective and efficient.

Digital technologies have indeed changed the expectations of our clients, and this, coupled with a rapidly changing suite of technologies has changed the practice of librarians. Following a discussion on what constitutes “cutting‐edge” technology the author proceeds to review a considerable range of new technologies. Nanotechnology, networking, artificial intelligence, computing generally, Web 2.0 – the list is considerable. Sadly, many of the technologies mentioned in the case studies particularly, are now more established than emerging. The discussion of the impact of these technologies in section 3 perhaps deserves to be treated in more detail. This could be a book in itself.

There is no doubt that it can be argued that rapid and constantly changing technology necessitates a major rethink in terms of how libraries do their work as well as where they do it and what they do it with. Emerging Technologies for Academic Libraries in the Digital Age includes wide ranging discussion on these critical aspects of current information provision though this discussion is not always clearly focused on the academic library.

Complicating the picture is the way in which staffs need to adapt to the emerging technologies. The range of responses is considerable – from the technophobic to the technophilic (those avidly embracing every new technology). Li focuses on the impact of emerging technologies upon library administrators and executives in particular. It is the decision makers who are often most likely to confront the major challenges as they try to put in place strategic plans for future directions. How can we plan for the future in such a fast changing context? This work has some significant insights and supporting case studies. Library roles past present and even future are discussed as part of the impact of the new technologies.

Emerging Technologies for Academic Libraries in the Digital Age is laid out in a format most suitable to the training of information professionals. Each of the ten sections of the book, include not only a wide range of technologies grouped under logical headings and broken into small, easily managed portions, but also subsections with case studies, exercises and further readings. Major content sections begin with a chapter outline and appropriate learning objectives. In this way, there is considerable potential for the book to be used as a key text in information schools across the globe.

While there is no doubt there will be future editions of this work as Web 3.0 and other developments continue to appear, Emerging Technologies for Academic Libraries in the Digital Age represents an invaluable guide to the teaching of information professionals for the academic library as well as being a considerable reference for current staff as they establish strategic directions for the future. Naturally with a work of this size, some technologies get little or no mention but given the plethora available, this is hardly surprising. More could certainly be said on the way library practice is changing as a result of these new technologies, but that too, would take the work well beyond its physical limitations. The topic is unending. With virtually all of the material in the book drawn from the past five years or less, this is an outstanding work of very real value to all those operating in the area of academic library as well as many beyond that in the information profession generally.