Technology’s Impact on Libraries: Literature Review Research Report
Crystal Mendez
October 30, 2015
UTEP
Abstract
The following paper will discuss the how technology has impacted libraries. This questions will be answered by seven sources of secondary research and two sources of primary research. The primary research includes an interview of Angela Lucero, an instruction librarian at the University of Texas at El Paso. It also includes the results from a survey conducted to 20 students at UTEP between the ages of 18 to 35. Throughout the paper it will demonstrate how much of a change libraries have gone through and how they are adapting to the needs of students. The reader will see the impact the internet has had on how research is done, students and libraries. It will also demonstrate the role search engines and databases, such as Google and Ebsco, have to play in all of this change that is occurring. They will see the benefits and downsides technology has had on libraries and librarians.
Introduction
Technology has had its impact everywhere. There is use of technology in classrooms by teachers to better engage their students and make learning fun or at least adjust to how students today are learning with things like Blackboard. Even teachers do student to teacher communication through the internet. Technology is used in new vehicles that are built with a GPS for good navigation that makes travelling on the road easy. Businesses such as restaurants offer free Wi-Fi to attract customers and keep up with the demands their customers may have. Nowadays even parks have Wi-Fi. Libraries are no exception to this impact.
Today libraries provide computers and access to the internet. They provide credible databases in their websites will all the information and articles students may need for research. Libraries also provide various amount of books online for people’s benefit. Libraries are having to adjust and make changes in order to keep up with all the new technology.
The following are questions that come to mind with these changes on libraries. How has librarians’ role changed? How are libraries adjusting to technology when it comes to providing information? Has technology affected the way students’ research and how effective their research is? What role do databases and search engines play in students’ research? Libraries are adapting to meet the needs of the people and technology has also had it impression on how students work.
How has Librarians’ role changed?
Back in the day libraries and books were the main access to information. If a student needed to know where to find the exact text he/she was searching for in order to accomplish their research he/she would ask the librarian for assistance. Today, that practice is not applied as much. Students will more than likely find their answer themselves by using a search engine via the internet.
When interviewed Angela Lucero, an instruction librarian at the University of Texas at El Paso, answered that librarians went “from providing answers to empowering users with the skills to find answers themselves and to be able to choose, discern what the best answers are” (A. Lucero, personal communication, October 15, 2015). In fact, 19 out the 20 students surveyed answered yes into noticing the role of librarians change (Personal Communication, October 28, 2015). Librarians today guide and help students develop good researching skills for their classes and the future. Often in an English course, teachers will schedule a trip to the library for her/his students where the librarian will explain step by step on how a student can do good quality research using one of the libraries online databases. Teachers organize these trips in order for the students to provide the quality of work they are being asked for and to get them out of the habit of “Googling it” and looking at information on a website like Wikipedia that can’t be trusted.
Librarians have also had to make books available online. Some people prefer having access to a digital copy of any book they want through a tablet or smart phone instead of carrying a hard copy around. This saves them the hassle of having to go to the library, check out a book, read it, and then turn it in back to the library by the due date. People live busy lives and want as much free time as they can possibly have.
There is also the case of audio books that benefit certain readers. Some people want to listen to the story while accomplishing other task than having to make time to read it. Audio books are great when multi-tasking. Libraries make sure that they can provide this type of things in order to meet with the demands and needs of people.
However, as much as students appreciate and value the easy access to information or books on the internet, they still might feel the need for personal communication. As stated by Goodman in the article Library, community campus, learning hub: the community educational development challenge, “We still crave face-to-face engagement, and we need spaces that are free and well resourced, to deliver the quality of life experiences that help equalize access to societal goods that all members of our communities seek” (Goodman, 2015, p.219). Students like having a place to do homework, a place with no distractions. A place with no television, music, or any loud noise. A library is a great example of just that kind of place. Libraries are still very important to students and so are librarians. Overall, “Librarians have always had the responsibility to meet population needs” (Valenza, 2014, p.28). A responsibility they continue to fulfill every day.
How are librarians adjusting to technology when it comes to providing information?
In the article The Changing Economics of Information, Technological Development, and Copyright Protection: What Are the Consequences for the Public Domain the author states, “Public access to “published” information (regardless of format or delivery mechanism) is the principle upon which our nation’s educational institution and librarians are founded” (Cheverie, 2002, p. 329). It doesn’t matter if a student is finding his/her research online or on books, librarians must still be able to provide the information they seek for them. A survey conducted at the University of Texas at El Paso showed that 16 out of 20 students still find librarians helpful in providing information and 11 out of those 20 students still think the library is of importance when getting research done. (Personal Communication, October 28, 2015). With new technology, librarians are able to keep their records in computers instead of piles and piles of paperwork. This keeps things organized and easier for them and benefits students as well. The location of a book or an article is just one click away.
Author Rapp states, “Academic libraries might consider expanding instruction programs to include how mobile users can best access licensed e-resources for subject research:, or to examine how QR codes and augmented reality can enhance the research process” (Rapp, 2010, p.34). These are examples of news ways librarians can provide information. Technology allows for easy access. If there is a way that just with one scan of a QR code can automatically provide the information needed at anytime and anywhere, research would be easier done. All a student will have to do is bring up an app on their phones to do so and they would save a lot of time. It’s just a question of librarians finding a way to use new technology to their benefit, to see the good in it and not the complications it may bring. Technology will make their job of providing information easier.
Has technology affected the way students’ research and how effective their research is?
When it comes to research and finding information, 20 out of 20 students surveyed answered yes to using the internet as their first step (Personal Communication, October 28, 2015). However, the use of the internet is worldwide, “Anyone with access to the Internet can publish a Website” (Radcliff, 2015). Not everyone who has a published website will have a strong ethos, or credibility, on the topic being searched. There is no 100% guarantee that the information found online is reliable. This affects how good a student’s research and writing is.
As stated by author Bill Henderson in his article Books Without Batteries: The Negative Impacts of Technology, “Because our brains can no longer think beyond a tweet, we can’t write well. And we can’t read well either” (Henderson, 2011). Students today are so used to reading small captions post or a tweet of 140 characters. They don’t want to read a long article even if it does provide all the information they need. They don’t want to do hard research just to find a trusted source, they want easy answers. They want the first site they see on Google to be the correct source. Technology has made students lazy with their research and probably a main reason why many procrastinate.
Nevertheless, technology is easy access for information. Students can find any type of information online and not just information about the United States but worldwide. They don’t even have to leave the comfort of their home to do so. All their school research can be done from bed or even on their phone when they have free time. This is beneficial for students who work and attend school. These students don’t have as much time available as others for research. They don’t have time to go to the library to find the perfect book that will provide all the information they need for their homework. The need something fast and easy and the use of search engines can help with that.
What role do databases and search engines play in a student’s research?
Databases and search engines are typically students’ number one place of information regardless of books and libraries. At UTEP, 20 out of 20 students surveyed answered yes to using search engines as Google for research and 12 out of those 20 students answered yes to using a reliable databases from the school’s library website such as Ebsco (Personal Communication, October 28, 2015). Students have the belief that they can find what they need online, “but more than three-fourths think internet search engines have conditioned students to expect to be able to find information quickly and easily” (School Libraries, 2013). However, that is not always the case.
In fact author Radcliff stated in her article, Library VS Internet - ten good reasons to use the library, “ALA reports that only 8% of all journals and even fewer books are on the Internet” (Radcliff, 2015). Students are being limited on their research. They are not being provided with everything that is available. This problem is usually due to the issue with authors’ publications and copyright use, “allowing content owners to control access through restrictive licensing agreements, expanded legal protection and penalties, and technological measures that ultimately eliminate fair use and gouge the public domain (Cheverie, 2002, p.330). Not all authors want their work to be reused. Even if it is for educational purposes. This where books come in. Books can fill in that gap of missing information. Libraries have various amount of books for various amount of topics. There is a reason why books are considered to be a great source to providing information.
Librarian Angela Lucero states that when using databases it is important to “start from the problem” (A. Lucero, personal communication, October 15, 2015). She emphasizes the importance to know what the best database to use is. She states that “sophisticated searching tools” contains focused amount of information. (A. Lucero, personal communication, October 15, 2015). It is important for students to know how to use databases. Not all databases are appropriate for every question or problem. It is important to start from the bottom and work your way up.
Conclusion
In conclusion, technology has had its clear impact on libraries. Librarians’ role has changed from providing answers to helping students to finding the most reliable answers themselves. Libraries are adjusting to technology when it comes to providing information by using online resources such as database to their benefit to make things easier for both the librarian and the student. Technology has affected the way students’ research and how effective their research is. It has made them lazier and trusting of websites. Databases and search engines play a great role in students’ research when done right. Technology has affected how a student work and how libraries have had to adapt to meet their needs.
References
Cheverie, J. F., & Dugan, R. E. (2002). The Changing Economics of Information, Technological Development, and Copyright Protection: What Are the Consequences for the Public Domain. Journal Of Academic Librarianship, 28(5), 325.
"Cute Retro Libray Poster". . . <http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-mmaZpWSlXQE/UcDkUsgOeqI/AAAAAAAAeZk/K5bMRazmsvk/s1600/library5.png>. 16 October, 2015.
Goodman, J. (2015). Library, community campus, learning hub: the community educational development challenge. Australian Library Journal, 64(3), 217-223. doi:10.1080/00049670.2015.1041218
Henderson, Bill. (2011). Books Without Batteries: The Negative Impacts of Technology. Publishers Weekly. Retrieved 15 October, 2015.
Radcliff, Joyce. (2015). Library VS Internet - ten good reasons to use the library. Tennessee State University. Retrieved 15 October, 2015.
Rapp, D. (2010). The State of Mobile Technology. Library Journal, 135(17), 34.
"School Libraries." American Library Association. American Library Association, 2013. Web. 18 Sept. 2015.
Valenza, J. K., Boyer, B. L., & Curtis, D. (2014). Chapter 4: Curation in School Libraries. Library Technology Reports, 50(7), 27-35
Crystal Mendez
October 30, 2015
UTEP
Abstract
The following paper will discuss the how technology has impacted libraries. This questions will be answered by seven sources of secondary research and two sources of primary research. The primary research includes an interview of Angela Lucero, an instruction librarian at the University of Texas at El Paso. It also includes the results from a survey conducted to 20 students at UTEP between the ages of 18 to 35. Throughout the paper it will demonstrate how much of a change libraries have gone through and how they are adapting to the needs of students. The reader will see the impact the internet has had on how research is done, students and libraries. It will also demonstrate the role search engines and databases, such as Google and Ebsco, have to play in all of this change that is occurring. They will see the benefits and downsides technology has had on libraries and librarians.
Introduction
Technology has had its impact everywhere. There is use of technology in classrooms by teachers to better engage their students and make learning fun or at least adjust to how students today are learning with things like Blackboard. Even teachers do student to teacher communication through the internet. Technology is used in new vehicles that are built with a GPS for good navigation that makes travelling on the road easy. Businesses such as restaurants offer free Wi-Fi to attract customers and keep up with the demands their customers may have. Nowadays even parks have Wi-Fi. Libraries are no exception to this impact.
Today libraries provide computers and access to the internet. They provide credible databases in their websites will all the information and articles students may need for research. Libraries also provide various amount of books online for people’s benefit. Libraries are having to adjust and make changes in order to keep up with all the new technology.
The following are questions that come to mind with these changes on libraries. How has librarians’ role changed? How are libraries adjusting to technology when it comes to providing information? Has technology affected the way students’ research and how effective their research is? What role do databases and search engines play in students’ research? Libraries are adapting to meet the needs of the people and technology has also had it impression on how students work.
How has Librarians’ role changed?
Back in the day libraries and books were the main access to information. If a student needed to know where to find the exact text he/she was searching for in order to accomplish their research he/she would ask the librarian for assistance. Today, that practice is not applied as much. Students will more than likely find their answer themselves by using a search engine via the internet.
When interviewed Angela Lucero, an instruction librarian at the University of Texas at El Paso, answered that librarians went “from providing answers to empowering users with the skills to find answers themselves and to be able to choose, discern what the best answers are” (A. Lucero, personal communication, October 15, 2015). In fact, 19 out the 20 students surveyed answered yes into noticing the role of librarians change (Personal Communication, October 28, 2015). Librarians today guide and help students develop good researching skills for their classes and the future. Often in an English course, teachers will schedule a trip to the library for her/his students where the librarian will explain step by step on how a student can do good quality research using one of the libraries online databases. Teachers organize these trips in order for the students to provide the quality of work they are being asked for and to get them out of the habit of “Googling it” and looking at information on a website like Wikipedia that can’t be trusted.
Librarians have also had to make books available online. Some people prefer having access to a digital copy of any book they want through a tablet or smart phone instead of carrying a hard copy around. This saves them the hassle of having to go to the library, check out a book, read it, and then turn it in back to the library by the due date. People live busy lives and want as much free time as they can possibly have.
There is also the case of audio books that benefit certain readers. Some people want to listen to the story while accomplishing other task than having to make time to read it. Audio books are great when multi-tasking. Libraries make sure that they can provide this type of things in order to meet with the demands and needs of people.
However, as much as students appreciate and value the easy access to information or books on the internet, they still might feel the need for personal communication. As stated by Goodman in the article Library, community campus, learning hub: the community educational development challenge, “We still crave face-to-face engagement, and we need spaces that are free and well resourced, to deliver the quality of life experiences that help equalize access to societal goods that all members of our communities seek” (Goodman, 2015, p.219). Students like having a place to do homework, a place with no distractions. A place with no television, music, or any loud noise. A library is a great example of just that kind of place. Libraries are still very important to students and so are librarians. Overall, “Librarians have always had the responsibility to meet population needs” (Valenza, 2014, p.28). A responsibility they continue to fulfill every day.
How are librarians adjusting to technology when it comes to providing information?
In the article The Changing Economics of Information, Technological Development, and Copyright Protection: What Are the Consequences for the Public Domain the author states, “Public access to “published” information (regardless of format or delivery mechanism) is the principle upon which our nation’s educational institution and librarians are founded” (Cheverie, 2002, p. 329). It doesn’t matter if a student is finding his/her research online or on books, librarians must still be able to provide the information they seek for them. A survey conducted at the University of Texas at El Paso showed that 16 out of 20 students still find librarians helpful in providing information and 11 out of those 20 students still think the library is of importance when getting research done. (Personal Communication, October 28, 2015). With new technology, librarians are able to keep their records in computers instead of piles and piles of paperwork. This keeps things organized and easier for them and benefits students as well. The location of a book or an article is just one click away.
Author Rapp states, “Academic libraries might consider expanding instruction programs to include how mobile users can best access licensed e-resources for subject research:, or to examine how QR codes and augmented reality can enhance the research process” (Rapp, 2010, p.34). These are examples of news ways librarians can provide information. Technology allows for easy access. If there is a way that just with one scan of a QR code can automatically provide the information needed at anytime and anywhere, research would be easier done. All a student will have to do is bring up an app on their phones to do so and they would save a lot of time. It’s just a question of librarians finding a way to use new technology to their benefit, to see the good in it and not the complications it may bring. Technology will make their job of providing information easier.
Has technology affected the way students’ research and how effective their research is?
When it comes to research and finding information, 20 out of 20 students surveyed answered yes to using the internet as their first step (Personal Communication, October 28, 2015). However, the use of the internet is worldwide, “Anyone with access to the Internet can publish a Website” (Radcliff, 2015). Not everyone who has a published website will have a strong ethos, or credibility, on the topic being searched. There is no 100% guarantee that the information found online is reliable. This affects how good a student’s research and writing is.
As stated by author Bill Henderson in his article Books Without Batteries: The Negative Impacts of Technology, “Because our brains can no longer think beyond a tweet, we can’t write well. And we can’t read well either” (Henderson, 2011). Students today are so used to reading small captions post or a tweet of 140 characters. They don’t want to read a long article even if it does provide all the information they need. They don’t want to do hard research just to find a trusted source, they want easy answers. They want the first site they see on Google to be the correct source. Technology has made students lazy with their research and probably a main reason why many procrastinate.
Nevertheless, technology is easy access for information. Students can find any type of information online and not just information about the United States but worldwide. They don’t even have to leave the comfort of their home to do so. All their school research can be done from bed or even on their phone when they have free time. This is beneficial for students who work and attend school. These students don’t have as much time available as others for research. They don’t have time to go to the library to find the perfect book that will provide all the information they need for their homework. The need something fast and easy and the use of search engines can help with that.
What role do databases and search engines play in a student’s research?
Databases and search engines are typically students’ number one place of information regardless of books and libraries. At UTEP, 20 out of 20 students surveyed answered yes to using search engines as Google for research and 12 out of those 20 students answered yes to using a reliable databases from the school’s library website such as Ebsco (Personal Communication, October 28, 2015). Students have the belief that they can find what they need online, “but more than three-fourths think internet search engines have conditioned students to expect to be able to find information quickly and easily” (School Libraries, 2013). However, that is not always the case.
In fact author Radcliff stated in her article, Library VS Internet - ten good reasons to use the library, “ALA reports that only 8% of all journals and even fewer books are on the Internet” (Radcliff, 2015). Students are being limited on their research. They are not being provided with everything that is available. This problem is usually due to the issue with authors’ publications and copyright use, “allowing content owners to control access through restrictive licensing agreements, expanded legal protection and penalties, and technological measures that ultimately eliminate fair use and gouge the public domain (Cheverie, 2002, p.330). Not all authors want their work to be reused. Even if it is for educational purposes. This where books come in. Books can fill in that gap of missing information. Libraries have various amount of books for various amount of topics. There is a reason why books are considered to be a great source to providing information.
Librarian Angela Lucero states that when using databases it is important to “start from the problem” (A. Lucero, personal communication, October 15, 2015). She emphasizes the importance to know what the best database to use is. She states that “sophisticated searching tools” contains focused amount of information. (A. Lucero, personal communication, October 15, 2015). It is important for students to know how to use databases. Not all databases are appropriate for every question or problem. It is important to start from the bottom and work your way up.
Conclusion
In conclusion, technology has had its clear impact on libraries. Librarians’ role has changed from providing answers to helping students to finding the most reliable answers themselves. Libraries are adjusting to technology when it comes to providing information by using online resources such as database to their benefit to make things easier for both the librarian and the student. Technology has affected the way students’ research and how effective their research is. It has made them lazier and trusting of websites. Databases and search engines play a great role in students’ research when done right. Technology has affected how a student work and how libraries have had to adapt to meet their needs.
References
Cheverie, J. F., & Dugan, R. E. (2002). The Changing Economics of Information, Technological Development, and Copyright Protection: What Are the Consequences for the Public Domain. Journal Of Academic Librarianship, 28(5), 325.
"Cute Retro Libray Poster". . . <http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-mmaZpWSlXQE/UcDkUsgOeqI/AAAAAAAAeZk/K5bMRazmsvk/s1600/library5.png>. 16 October, 2015.
Goodman, J. (2015). Library, community campus, learning hub: the community educational development challenge. Australian Library Journal, 64(3), 217-223. doi:10.1080/00049670.2015.1041218
Henderson, Bill. (2011). Books Without Batteries: The Negative Impacts of Technology. Publishers Weekly. Retrieved 15 October, 2015.
Radcliff, Joyce. (2015). Library VS Internet - ten good reasons to use the library. Tennessee State University. Retrieved 15 October, 2015.
Rapp, D. (2010). The State of Mobile Technology. Library Journal, 135(17), 34.
"School Libraries." American Library Association. American Library Association, 2013. Web. 18 Sept. 2015.
Valenza, J. K., Boyer, B. L., & Curtis, D. (2014). Chapter 4: Curation in School Libraries. Library Technology Reports, 50(7), 27-35