Libraries in the digital Age
“Libraries
have long played an essential role in containing, preserving, and sharing
information.” ([i]) Libraries still do the work, but how they do
it has changed with the advancement with technology. “Two main goals have driven the use of
technology: better serving the needs of the library’s community and
streamlining the workflow of the staff.”[ii] Libraries are publicly funded
establishments. To show the public that
they deserve the funds, they must provide the best service, at the least amount
of cost.
Teens
are the largest group of people that use the library. ([iii])
These are the young adults, age 16-17, that do research for school. These students are used to getting
information fast off of the internet.
The problem is that information from the internet is not always accurate. Libraries provide access to information that
is from academic source, and can be verified.
Helping the student find the most accurate information, the quickest,
provides them with the best service. If
the student is helped quickly, they are most apt to return. This also goes for
adults…the better the service, the more likely to return. They are also more likely to vote for funding
if they find the service was worth it.
To
provide the service that the library patrons desire, its staff need to be
educated on the newest technology, and best way to serve its patrons. With the streamlining of the library staff,
many need to be educated on many aspects of working the library. The library staff needs to be on top of the
most up to date technology. Staff must
be educated on how to store, and access the information using the latest
technology.
My
Friend Chris told me that he thought libraries were boring and slow
moving. I think that they are just the
opposite. They are a place where things
happen quickly, whether they are helping people or keeping up with technology.
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