Author: ALA
Publisher: ALA
ABSTRACT
The American Libraries Association (ALA) report presented the
status of public libraries in the USA , in the year 2011. It reported
how the existence of computers in libraries help a community better the lives of its
citizens. Public libraries are still considered an institution of great
importance as they help in the entrepreneurial interests of the people through
the availability of computer workstations for the public. The libraries have
proven themselves of great value to the people. However, these same new and
advanced technologies and other new processes of library and information may
endanger the role of librarians in the said valued-service provision of
libraries to the information needs of the public.
What I learned
It’s great news that US public libraries have found means of
helping communities during the recession. Despite the budget cut of these
non-profit social institutions, they still have proved useful. Computer workstations are made available by public libraries, helping the community conduct job searches and providing them with internet connectivity. These computers have been great helps to the role of librarians as information professionals.
In the advent of the digital age and the information revolution, these computers which help information professionals and libraries deliver their work with efficiency, has also put some pressure on. Computerized vending machines for books, outsourced library services, sophisticated computerized information systems and more technological advancements are being developed to further the information infrastructure; computer programs that tends to 'mimic' the function of information professionals. The role of the computer has become a double-edged sword, providing help and at the same time, a threat to the slowly overshadowed role and function of librarians and libraries.
Librarians should not be threatened despite the fact the machines can cover most of the technical work a librarian or an information professional does. The said work processes do not include the core of a librarians work: understanding user needs and providing service that is based on experience and expertise in handling queries and providing the users not just any type of information, but the information that they’ll be able to use. Yes, computers do serve their purpose but the information literacy that an information professional has and the information professional’s skill in imparting that knowledge and technique is something most machines cannot do.
Librarians should not be threatened despite the fact the machines can cover most of the technical work a librarian or an information professional does. The said work processes do not include the core of a librarians work: understanding user needs and providing service that is based on experience and expertise in handling queries and providing the users not just any type of information, but the information that they’ll be able to use. Yes, computers do serve their purpose but the information literacy that an information professional has and the information professional’s skill in imparting that knowledge and technique is something most machines cannot do.
Reflections
Amidst this day and age of buttons and touch screen gadgets,
librarians should step-up and continually upgrade their skills to render them
adaptable and up-to-date with the latest processes. The mixture of the technology
of the times and the expertise of information professionals make a very strong
mixture of skill that would better address users’ needs, in the shortest period
of time, exerting the least amount of effort, with accuracy and timeliness.
Sources
Articles
American Library Association. (2002). A key resource for the jobless, entrepreneurs – and the community.
State of America’s Libraries Report 2011, American Libraries, Special Issue. Retrieved Retrieved June 20, 2012, from http://www.ala.org/news/mediapresscenter/americaslibraries/publiclibrariesArticles
American Library Association. (2002). Computer use increases even (or especially) during recession. State of America’s Libraries Report 2011, American Libraries, Special Issue. Retrieved June 20, 2012, from http://www.ala.org/news/mediapresscenter/americaslibraries/publiclibraries
American Library Association. (2002). No-librarian libraries: An idea whose time has (not) come. State of America’s Libraries Report 2011, American Libraries, Special Issue. Retrieved June 20, 2012, from http://www.ala.org/news/mediapresscenter/americaslibraries/publiclibraries
American Library Association. (2002). Outsourcing of library services seen as another bad idea. State of America’s Libraries Report 2011, American Libraries, Special Issue. Retrieved June 20, 2012, from http://www.ala.org/news/mediapresscenter/americaslibraries/publiclibraries
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