Librarians Today
Books. How often do we see a student carrying a book or using one for research? Today students are more than likely to use technology and the internet for any research they must do for a class assignment. But how are libraries being impacted by all of this? What are libraries doing to keep up with what students need?
The job of a librarian has always been to meet the needs of people. They have to ensure “Public access to “published” information (regardless of format or delivery mechanism) is the principle upon which our nation’s educational institutions and libraries are founded” (Cheverie, 2002). So how are libraries providing information for people now that technology use is greater than ever?
The answer is online databases. Online databases can be accessed any day at any time. Students can find the information they need from home without leaving the comfort of their bed. Online databases is a fast way of research. All the information is organized and anyone can find an article about the topic they need with just typing a few key words. This is convenient for students who live busy schedules and don’t have time to go to the library. Also, online databases are trusted information. With online databases you can make sure you select an article that is peer reviewed. Online databases make homework a less stressful experience.
Some students still need a book every now and then. In that case all the student has to do is go up to the librarian’s desk and ask him or her to find it for them. Librarians can easily find the location of books on the computer. This saves us students time from looking through isles of bookshelves.
However, one may argue that technology is having a terrible impact on people today. That it is getting in the way of our education. One can say “our brains can no longer think beyond a tweet” (Henderson, 2011). That technology is making us lazy and that we expect our problems to be solved by just googling it and clicking the first link or that it makes it easy for students to procrastinate and wait last minute to get things done. But that’s not the case.
Students just need to make sure they are smart with their researching skills. Librarians are there to help them with that. They introduce online databases to students. They teach students the skills they need for they can find the answer themselves. Librarians can help by “offering expert tips on how to optimize the use of cell phones, smartphones, and ereaders within the library, and beyond” (Rapp, 2010). Might as well take advantage of the fact that students always have these type of technology items at hands reach. They teach students to avoid websites that end with “.com” and using Wikipedia as a trusted source. Librarians also make sure that students are provided with enough computers and have a peaceful environment so they can work. Therefore, technology has a positive impact on libraries and librarians.
References
camarshall, . "Ask a Librarian". The Gargoyle Collection. October 25, 2013. <>. 30 November, 2015.
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.
Dexter, John. "Library Technology Solutions That your IT Support Team Will Love ". October 03, 2013. <>. 30 November, 2015.
Henderson, Bill. (2011). Books Without Batteries: The Negative Impacts of Technology. Publishers Weekly. Retrieved 15 October, 2015.
Rapp, D. (2010). The State of Mobile Technology. Library Journal, 135(17), 34.
Books. How often do we see a student carrying a book or using one for research? Today students are more than likely to use technology and the internet for any research they must do for a class assignment. But how are libraries being impacted by all of this? What are libraries doing to keep up with what students need?
The job of a librarian has always been to meet the needs of people. They have to ensure “Public access to “published” information (regardless of format or delivery mechanism) is the principle upon which our nation’s educational institutions and libraries are founded” (Cheverie, 2002). So how are libraries providing information for people now that technology use is greater than ever?
The answer is online databases. Online databases can be accessed any day at any time. Students can find the information they need from home without leaving the comfort of their bed. Online databases is a fast way of research. All the information is organized and anyone can find an article about the topic they need with just typing a few key words. This is convenient for students who live busy schedules and don’t have time to go to the library. Also, online databases are trusted information. With online databases you can make sure you select an article that is peer reviewed. Online databases make homework a less stressful experience.
Some students still need a book every now and then. In that case all the student has to do is go up to the librarian’s desk and ask him or her to find it for them. Librarians can easily find the location of books on the computer. This saves us students time from looking through isles of bookshelves.
However, one may argue that technology is having a terrible impact on people today. That it is getting in the way of our education. One can say “our brains can no longer think beyond a tweet” (Henderson, 2011). That technology is making us lazy and that we expect our problems to be solved by just googling it and clicking the first link or that it makes it easy for students to procrastinate and wait last minute to get things done. But that’s not the case.
Students just need to make sure they are smart with their researching skills. Librarians are there to help them with that. They introduce online databases to students. They teach students the skills they need for they can find the answer themselves. Librarians can help by “offering expert tips on how to optimize the use of cell phones, smartphones, and ereaders within the library, and beyond” (Rapp, 2010). Might as well take advantage of the fact that students always have these type of technology items at hands reach. They teach students to avoid websites that end with “.com” and using Wikipedia as a trusted source. Librarians also make sure that students are provided with enough computers and have a peaceful environment so they can work. Therefore, technology has a positive impact on libraries and librarians.
References
camarshall, . "Ask a Librarian". The Gargoyle Collection. October 25, 2013. <>. 30 November, 2015.
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.
Dexter, John. "Library Technology Solutions That your IT Support Team Will Love ". October 03, 2013. <>. 30 November, 2015.
Henderson, Bill. (2011). Books Without Batteries: The Negative Impacts of Technology. Publishers Weekly. Retrieved 15 October, 2015.
Rapp, D. (2010). The State of Mobile Technology. Library Journal, 135(17), 34.