Top Technologies Every Librarian Needs to Know: A LITA Guide

Citation

Kay Neville (2015), "Top Technologies Every Librarian Needs to Know: A LITA Guide", Library Review, Vol. 64 No. 3, pp. 269-270. https://doi.org/10.1108/LR-12-2014-0141

This book examines the latest knowledge in library innovation to look at the possible emerging technologies and trends in the next three to five years. New technology, if selected carefully and implemented appropriately, can be used to help achieve the strategic goals of a library. A library must look at their budget, staff and the needs of their local library communities to make the best choice for the scope of and commitment to emerging technologies. Future technology predictions, implementation and the impact of new technologies on staff, library services and patrons are topics examined in this ground-breaking book.

Each chapter examines a different technology, its origins and importance, with examples of “early adopters” and methods to implement and integrate the new systems into libraries. Chapter two examines hands-free-augmented realities using mobile technologies via handheld devices from QR codes, such as ShelvAR (an augmented reality [AR] app to find misshelved books), Tagwhat (mobile storytelling app for location-based stories like historical walking tours), WolfWalk app (virtual guide) and the scarlet project (digitised literary manuscripts). Chapter three looks at specific areas where AR can be used in libraries. AR is defined as seeing the real world with virtual objects superimposed on it and can be interactive, three-dimensional and combine the real world with the virtual one. AR includes methods such as geolocation, markers (where predefined objects can be used as a point of reference in an AG application), AR glasses (e.g. Google Glass) and the physical environment (such as motion-detection systems like Leap Motion). The chapter concludes with a list of ten AR implications for the near future; while some of the examples seem like something out of science fiction, the truth is that AR is already available and will be integrated into libraries in the near future.

Chapter 4 examines cloud-based computing in libraries and discusses open architecture systems, merging physical library resources with e-resources creating discovery interfaces and helping libraries develop new services, such as business intelligence applications. Resource discovery in libraries (Chapter 5) examines new services that aim to combine all the usual library content like online journals, catalogue and open-access sites into a single index. Chapter 6 evaluates developments impacting on library websites, while Chapter 7 describes text mining in critical practice and Chapter 8 looks at building the digital library of the future where data are available, easy to use and understand along with emerging trends, such as personalisation, collaboration, preferences and recommendations.

This book is edited by Kenneth J. Varnum who is the Web Systems Manager at the University of Michigan Library, and an experienced author and speaker with special interests in web-scale discovery tools and the Drupal content management system. He has used his expertise to collaborate with the individual chapter authors to bring cohesion to the myriad new technologies described in this book. Many of the concepts and technologies are new and challenging for the reader; however, the use of illustrations, tables, screen shots, further reading and definitions of technology terms (such as Piwik, Drupal) helps to clarify the content for readers who may be unfamiliar with these ideas and technologies. This book would be a useful purchase for library staff, especially managers, who would like to be prepared for the future library trends to help them enhance the library experience and prepare for the brave new world of e-technologies that will impact on libraries in the near future.