The future library



Source: http://exploredia.com/future-library-22nd-century-sci-fi/


What will the future library look like? Will it have a physical location, or will it be only a virtual library which is full of e-Books and databases? Will librarians be there or artificial intelligence robots that know information resources perfectly and understand all questions thoroughly ? Or, no library at all?

No matter what shapes libraries take in the future, it is obvious that our information repositories will exist. Starting from bone notches, pictures, knots, or beads in prehistoric, through shapes of clay tablets, papyrus, codices, and paper (Welsh, 2010, p. 89-94), information has been recently presented in digital and multi-media formats, and information repositories have been also tailored for the evolving formats. Likewise, information repositories never disappear because information must be organized and stored somewhere in order to be retrieved and used. Does the technology like smartphones ruin the role of libraries? No, it has rather strengthened the links between users and libraries. There is another role of libraries we should not overlook. Check out the following YouTube video.

 

The narrator indicates one of the reasons why libraries should exist; to reduce digital divide. While libraries are busy to introduce new technologies, they can't give up traditional services as well for those who can't buy a device nor use it. People with disabilities, seniors, or socio-economic weakers should access information resources without fancy but expensive barriers, and a library is the place they can do. This is the reason why I love a library. Although I have been captivated by new technologies applied to libraries, I love the old  and unchangeable principle of library; it's democratic, fair, and good.


References

Welsh, T. S. (2010). Information repositories: background and historic overview. In M. J. Norton (Ed.), Introductory concepts in information science (pp. 87-99). Medford. N. J.: Information Today, Inc.

 

Further reading:

• http://americanlibrariesmagazine.org/features/03062012/once-and-future-library
• http://americanlibrariesmagazine.org/columns/newsmaker/future-libraries-interview-thomas-frey

Smartphone vs. privacy

It is obvious that a smartphone is a new, convenient, and innovative invention that enables users to access abundant information quickly; users can search for weather, breaking news, stock market, bestsellers, box office movies, and much more. They can also check emails frequently and be connected with friends through social networks. These happen anywhere WiFi or data network is available. Are there only good sides to the use of smartphone? How about the privacy issue?

Source: http://www.techbuzzonline.com/smartphone-privacy-are-you-safe/

A smartphone provides the great number of free apps; social network, games, books, shopping, and more. Are they free, indeed? Why? An author in the student paper (Concordiensis) indicates that these apps are "selling our information" (http://www.concordy.com/article/science-and-technology/february-23-2012/smartphone-privacy-applications-that-sell-your-information/3902/). According to the author, the apps from Angry Birds to Bible apps sell personal information, which was pulled out from Unique Device Identifier (UDID), to ad or other companies.

Anyone who has used a smartphone would experience this at least once; after a user posts something on Facebook via his/her smartphone, a kind of caption is left, "near *** (city name), *** (state name)". Although a user didn't set a location, the weather app finds the exact location of the user and provides weather information. How do they know? "Many apps that are location-based do attempt to determine your location as soon as you launch them" (http://www.computerworld.com/s/article/9218163/Smartphone_apps_Is_your_privacy_protected). GPS tracking system in smartphones allows them to find the users' location.

Nobody can deny that a smartphone is one of the strongest devices that will lead the future technology.  However, the security of privacy should be also discussed with the development of the technology. The agreement with six companies to the privacy policy is an example (http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/02/23/us-privacy-harris-idUSTRE81L2BH20120223).

Further readings:

• http://www.techbuzzonline.com/smartphone-privacy-are-you-safe/
• http://www.informationweek.com/news/security/mobile/232601089
• http://net.educause.edu/ir/library/pdf/ESPNT4b.pdf

Other services by smartphones

Search the catalog




Source: http://www.garfieldlibraries.org/content/new-app-brings-library-you-wherever-you-are

 

Libraries have developed their own apps (BookMyne or Boopsie) that enable users to find and place hold on books, DVDs, music or game CDs, and more. Users can also check their account and renew items. Marin County Free Library has the MARINet mobile service that provides an access to the catalog and account, and information about the library (http://www.marinlibrary.org/using-the-library/library-apps-and-widgets). Dartmouth Public Libraries also has an app that allows users to log in to their accounts and the library catalog; and even better, users can check the availability of books or DVDs in the library by scanning barcodes on them at the store (http://www.dartmouthpubliclibraries.org/?p=2978).

Download e-Books and audiobooks

Source: http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/palm-reading-made-easy-6-e-reader-apps-weekly-smartphone-app-roundup-165131

e-Books are available on smartphones as well as e-Readers or tablets. Marin County Free Library (http://www.marinlibrary.org/using-the-library/library-apps-and-widgets) and Rochester Public Library (http://www.rochesterpubliclibrary.org/downloadable/mobileapps.html) users can download e-Books and audio books on their smartphones using the Over Drive app.

Rare collections

Source: http://www.intomobile.com/2011/01/15/british-library-treasures-app/

British Library launched its apps for smartphones and tablets. Royal Manuscripts shows 58 of the most outstanding illuminated medieval and Renaissance manuscripts from the British Library’s exhibition; Treasures features over 100 highlights, including literary, historical, music-related and scientific documents, alongside illuminated manuscripts and sacred texts; and, 19th Century Historical Collection covers 60,000 historical titles from the British Library's 19th century book collection. The first two apps are fee-based.

 



Further readings:

• http://pressandpolicy.bl.uk/Press-Releases/British-Library-Launches-First-Smartphone-App-483.aspx
• http://www.simonblog.com/2011/06/26/british-library-app-access-to-19th-century-books-collection-for-free/
• http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-13683880

Research tools: databases



Source: http://researchguides.library.syr.edu/mobile

The number of libraries that provide mobile access to databases, such as EbscoHost, JSTOR, or Encyclopedia Britannica, have been increased. University of Michigan library has 16 mobile resources (http://m.lib.umich.edu/mobile-technology/mobile-access), and Syracuse University library provides 17 mobile library apps for University students and faculty (http://researchguides.library.syr.edu/mobile). Public libraries have also introduced this new technology to local communities, even though a relatively small number of apps are adopted; Mobile Alabama Public Library offers 7 mobile databases including EbscoHost (http://www.mplonline.org/apps.htm), and Rockford Public Library has 4 mobile resources (http://www.rockfordpubliclibrary.org/research/databases.asp).

Libraries make efforts to introduce more mobile databases, but there is an obstacle; all mobile databases are not available for all platforms. While EbscoHost and ACS mobile are available for both iPhone and Android, Springerlink, AIP iResearch and iSSRN are only available for iPhone. Research activities can be limited by the obstacle.


Ebsco mobile access
http://www.ebscohost.com/academic/mobile-access

PudMed mobile beta
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/pubs/techbull/ma11/ma11_pm_mobile_beta.html

JSTOR mobile beta
http://about.jstor.org/support-training/help/jstor-mobile-beta

Gale Apps
http://www.gale.cengage.com/apps/

Further readings:

• http://www.carli.illinois.edu/mem-prod/mobile-database-access.html
• http://www.library.leiden.edu/help/useful/librarysmartphone.html
• http://www.nlm.nih.gov/mobile/
• http://musingsaboutlibrarianship.blogspot.com/2009/12/how-to-make-library-users-start-search.html

Convenient customer service: a virtual library card

Source: http://blog.tacomapubliclibrary.org/?attachment_id=792

That's the same smile as my son's when he got his first library card in age 5. But nobody knows where it is now. My current library card is a key chain card. I don't have any complaint about it because the key chain is the item around me all the time. It is much better than a credit-sized card; however, it is getting worn and need to be replaced someday. If there is a library card that would never be worn nor need to be changed? Check out the following YouTube video.

Free apps such as CardStar and KeyRing allow users to load all plastic reward cards (including the library card) from a key chain on the phone smartphone. Indian Prairie Public Library (http://ippl.info/blog/2012/03/28/we-can-scan-your-barcode-from-your-smartphone/), Boulder Library (http://boulderlibrary.org/card/cardstar.html), and Morristown & Morris Township Library (http://www.jfpl.org/polNews.cfm?Year=2011&Month=12) have introduced the virtual card. There are some resistance to the new technology and purchase of a new scanner, a charge-coupled device (CCD) scanner, but according to CardStar, library cards are the 7th most popular card stored in their system (http://www.libraryjournal.com/lj/home/889495-264/library_cards_on_smartphones_the.html.csp).

Further reading:

• http://www.govtech.com/education/Smartphones-Replacing-Library-Cards.html
• http://www.jfpl.org/polimage.cfm?doc_Id=1027&size_code=Doc

Source: http://oedb.org/blogs/ilibrarian/2011/scanning-library-cards-on-smartphones/

Quick access to libraries: QR codes

What are QR codes? 

 



Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Wikipedia_mobile_en.svg

  

This is a Quick Response (QR) code. It is a kind of barcode, especially a two-dimensional one. It looks like an alien signal from outer space, but is found everywhere recently; in weekly grocery ads, on a jar of spaghetti, in a billboard, and even on a train ticket in China (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/QR_code). If a user scans this code with his/her smartphone, the user can draw information about sale items, recipes, or the new products. Check out the following resources to find out the area that QR codes are used.

• http://searchengineland.com/what-is-a-qr-code-and-why-do-you-need-one-27588
• http://www.qr-code.cc/QR-Code-Resources/50-Creative-Ways-to-Use-a-QR-C/50-creative-ways-to-use-a-qr-code.html

Use of QR codes in libraries

So, can this cool feature be applied to libraries? Which area? Check out this YouTube video and SlideShare presentation.


QR Codes in Libraries (SlideShare)
http://www.slideshare.net/cawa/qr-codes-5812505

By scanning QR codes, users can contact reference librarians without knowing their email addresses and phone numbers; browse the new book or DVD lists through their smartphone screen; and don't need to write down or memorize shelfmarks when they are looking for specific items. A blogger presents that information in traditional barcodes was limited and accessed by only librarians with a scanner, but QR codes provides further information for anyone with a smartphone (http://www.lexrigby.com/2009/03/26/qr-codes-in-libraries-and-higher-education/).

How are QR codes are generated? There are many free QR code generators in the Web (Top 10 free online QR code generators, http://freenuts.com/top-10-free-online-qr-code-generators/). Library Success also shows a number of examples of QR code uses in libraries (http://www.libsuccess.org/index.php?title=QR_Codes).

Further reading:

• http://oceanviewlibrary.wordpress.com/2011/10/23/qr-codes/
• http://qrinlibs.blogspot.com/
• http://crln.acrl.org/content/71/10/526.full



Technology that interests me the most lately... Library on smartphone!!




Source: http://library.rit.edu/news-events/library-news.html

About three month ago, I got my first smartphone... Actually, the phone GOT me. Before I used my smartphone, I was never interested in it. My husband just wanted to get it as our new camera, and that's it. But on the first day of use, I spent almost three hours; took some pictures, posted them on Facebook, received a comment, wrote a comment, and kept commenting. It was really fun as if I had talked with my friends in a physical world. Now my smartphone is always with me even though I'm sitting in front of my desktop.

One more, I found that a smartphone is very useful to renew library items. I can log on the library Web site, view my lists, and renew some or all. I don't think they have developed a mobile app, but anyway, I can be connected with the library via my smartphone.



So I decided to blog about 'library on smartphone', which was my topic of the PowerPoint presentation assignment. I found interesting articles and resources, and will post them here. This is my blog assignment as a graduate student in LIS program. It will be fun to read all my old postings after becoming a 'real' librarian. I hope I be the librarian who is NOT falling behind in new technologies!!

Further reading:

• http://www.thedigitalshift.com/2012/02/mobile/the-state-of-mobile-in-libraries-2012/
• http://heidicohen.com/why-you-need-mobile-marketing-now-research/