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     Growing up in today’s technologically advanced era has its challenges and benefits. We are now at a time in human history where increasingly advanced technology is becoming a part of everyday human life. In being a forward-thinking profession, librarians must be one step ahead, or at least keep pace with today’s technological advances. Besides thinking ahead, information professionals can help educate their communities by offering services such as related programs, one-on-one assistance with devices, programs, and apps, and the ability to find reliable information to educate the public on this subject.

In “Growing up with Alexa: A child’s relationship with Amazon’s voice assistant”, Samantha Murray Kelley talks about the increased use of technology in a young person’s life and explores how it influences their development. The example that she uses is explaining how one of their first words might be “Alexa” (or other branded device) because it is used in the parents’ home. She says it would be similar to using the word, “mama”, and that more studies need to be done to learn the influence of daily technology in the environment to children (Murray Kelley, 2018).

Above all, Murray Kelley recommends limiting children to the amount of time spent with technology. She also recommends that parents and caregivers use it more as a tool, instead of a replacement for human and social interactions (Murray Kelley, 2018). Information professionals can also assist in providing knowledge and sources, on facts and data, relating to children and how to navigate the technological world with them.

Reference

Kelly, S. (2018). Growing up with Alexa: A child’s relationship with Amazon’s voice assistant

It is difficult not to get a little teary eyed when watching a video of children, who are sensory sensitive, build a relationship with santa clause in the perfect environment of a library. What was most touching in a video, located within a video called The Power of Stories, was the level of engagement that grew as the kids became more comfortable with a new person, in a quieter environment which was more supportive. Parents, santa, and library staff provided the tools and environment for these young people and were very patient with any hesitancy on the part of the children. Without the support of the library staff, these familes would not have been able to successfully attend a Christmastime event, which is so foundational to childhood.

Libraries can also be louder, more collaborative spaces and, in combination with the aforementioned video, they demonstrate the importance of having more dynamic spaces, within a library buiding, at the same time. The trouble lies in hosting sometimes multiple, varied activity and noise leveled spaces, all under the same roof. For example, besides sensory kits, a noise sensitive (or louder) space may have better sound proofing in the walls. Libraries offering dynamic spaces inside their buildings both show a great consideration for their communites, and all around more thriving lives for those who visit.

Reference

Library 2.0. (2020, March 11). The Power of stories [Youtube video]. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dvZlTRTVX10&t=1578s

(created with Flux Image AI using the words, “A student in a library learning about artficial intelligence.”)

Learning about artificial Intelligence (AI), and how it can be used in libraries, has made me want to dig a bit deeper on the subject by reading and reflecting on this topic. Some of the tools I discovered would be more practical for libraries to use, while others would be more for the sake of fun.

ChatGPT is on version GPT-4, which, “shows sparks of general intelligence (ColdFusion, 2023)”. GPT-4  holds a 25,000 word input and output in answering questions asked of it. It can also recognize images which makes it a multimodal and can give descriptions of what is in the picture (ColdFusion, 2023). Libraries could use AI, such as GPT-4, to help answer patron inquires, although I think this technology would work best with information professional involvement, on more complicated reference transactions. Another solution is that it could answer pre-defined or more basic questions, such as library hours and if there is a material in-stock. Then, if the human component was needed, an information professional could somehow be notified of the question. Of course, policies and processes would need to be created for this relationship.

Another topic of hyperlinked environments that is interesting to look at are realistic AI images. The image above was created by typing words into a box, and clicking “Run”, to create a lifelike image that could be mistaken for a real photo. AI images can be a modern form of artistic espression and AI images could open up a number of programs for libraries to offer users. This includes any related subject, including how to create stunning AI images. Or, as a part of online security, libraries could show people how to detect if an AI image is being used in place of a real photograph. In the creation of AI images, libraries could not only discuss what they are, but also facilitate the best language to input, to get the closest to a desired image. Like the ever-evolving AI, libraries must look to the future and anticipate products and services using these technologies.

Reference

ColdFusion. (2023, March 27). AI is Evolving Faster Than You Think [GPT-4 and beyond]. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DIU48QL5Cyk

(Susan Greig, 2018)

There is a chance that if you are reading this post, you are, or have been. somehow been involved with a library. The odds also lean toward that library being in some form of existence today. If this is not the case, perhaps the reason lies with the library not evolving into the 21st century. Even with a finicky economy and winnowing budgets, libraries can be successful in offering great services! Providing superb programs and information services would occur by library staff, and their government entities, anticipating and offering what their patrons need and want. So what is Library 2.0 and how do we get there? A part of providing user-centered services would be to look at the user experience (UX) of a library’s current services and fill in any missing gaps by improving or adding to them. Wikipedia gives a simplified, starting definition of UX, explaining that it is how a person engages and “experiences a product, system, or service”  (2024). By looking at how a user experiences the library, we are more in a position to ask them what they desire of their library.

According to the American Library Association, the concept of Library 2.0 draws from the concept of Web 2.0, and strives to keep pace with technology, by incorporating it into services that the public wants and is looking for (n.d). However, this techology is constantly changing and can be very expensive to own which is a challenge many libraries face, especially publicaly funded ones. The facts of limited information space funds, and employees, with an ever-growing demand for desired taxpayer services, compounds with the problem of attracting users. More importantly how to appeal to non-users of information spaces, known by Casey & Savastinuk as the Long Tail (2007).

Libraries can address the Long Tail of user demands by incorporating the three c’s into library programs and services: collaboration, cooperation, and crowdsourcing. Collaboration and cooperation are closely related. Collaboration involves multiple people working together to create something. Cooperation is more related to a  successful relationship. For example, this can be between the information space and those who are supporting it, mainly the stakeholders. In cooperation, there has to be an even “give and take”. However, collaboration can extend to those who utilize the space and these users can help envision what an updated library looks like by crowdsourcing. This can occur in the form of a makerspace program or an advisory committee, where members of the public are invited to give feedback.

Image by Gerd Altmann from Pixabay

Crowdsoucing is a form of collaboration and is defined as, “practice of obtaining needed services, ideas, or content by soliciting contributions from a large group of people and especially from the online community” rather than more traditional methods by employees (Public Libraries Online, 2015). Crowdsoucing is a way to stretch funds and it also gets the public involved. They can obtain some ownership of their library space and help create and organize the kind of information they want to see. This can include rating materials in an online catalog or tagging. Tagging is a form of structuring or organizing data by users using keywords for description (Casey, 2007). This can also save on library staff and their time where a guessing game doesn’t have to be played as to how the user would label it.

In learning more about tailoring library services toward the user, and the UX, it has been reinforced how important this action is for library staff to support (including management). At least in the case of public libraries, user support is what “makes the library world go round” and it makes logical sense that we would want to give them what they are wanting from their information space. Getting a community involved in the planning, implimentation, and feedback of programs and services could come by providing space for a focus group or online, and paper, surveys during every step of the process. Yes, budgets can be limited, and there can be more convenient ways to get that source, but it is also about the people, the creativity, and the service. All information professionals need to do, is to be creative in how we achieve successful results for our public. If we are supported by our public, we have more of a chance of maintaing relevancy.

References

American Library Association. (n.d.). Library 2.0. https://www.ala.org/tools/atoz/library-20

Casey, M. E. & Savastinuk, L. C. (2007). Library 2.0: A guide to participatory library service. Information Today, Inc. https://web-p-ebscohost-com.libaccess.sjlibrary.org/ehost/ebookviewer/ebook/bmxlYmtfXzE5MDk4OV9fQU41?sid=1921256a-3320-4ba3-abc3-8cbafe3c6afa@redis&vid=0&format=EB&rid=1

Public Libraries Online. (2015). Five reasons to crowdsource the library. https://publiclibrariesonline.org/2015/09/five-reasons-to-crowdsource-the-library/

User experience. (2024, September 14). In Wikipedia.  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/User_experience

I finally found the due date (tonight), in learning to navigate this course, for our first INFO 287 post! Here is a little more about me:

Professional:

I have been working in public library circulation since I was 20 years old and I have about a year left in the MLIS program (I’ve taken the “slow, but steady” approach since Fall’22). What I love most about this type of public service is the different kinds of tasks you can do in any one shift and, of course, helping people get the information and materials they need, or desire! I am also really excited to graduate next fall!!! I am at that close, but not too close point, which can cause some anxiety, lol!

Personal:

When I not working at school, or working at the library, one can find me (not a big surprise) reading or watching the next popular t.v. show or movie, More active pursuits include going to the gym or, recently this summer, getting reacquainted with paddleboarding. Right now, I do different activities, both sedintary and active, with the furry “love of my life”, my pug, Darcy. She is actually the first pug I’ve had (since 8 years old) that doesn’t absolutely hate water. She will play a bit with the waves in the ocean! I also love going to escape rooms and solving mystery boxes.

Looking forward to chatting and learning with you all!

AdriAnne (or “Adri)

Hello INFO 287 instructor and fellow students! This first post is not going to be as polished as many you see, mainly because I haven’t used WordPress, since taking a MLIS core class at the beginning of my degree. I’m both excited and apprehensive about learning about technology, especially library technology, but I wanted to be more skilled with it due to my public library job and the fact that I am not naturally as technologically oriented as others. Even though I am nervous about being able to understand newer library technologies, in a thorough capacity, I do find interest in the ways that libraries use those technologies to provide amazing patron service! I’m looking forward to discussing and leaning with everyone!

Best of learning,

AdriAnne (or “Adri”)