A co-worker and I are working on something called "A Dozen Ways to Two Step" from the Texas State Library. Here's the link about it:
http://www.tsl.state.tx.us/ld/12things/
We're learning about all kinds of emerging computer technologies, and getting hands-practice with tools such as Google docs and readers, facebook, youtube, podcasts, etc. I am really enjoying this training. I have a lot of thoughts, which I will now be transferring from my google doc account to here.
Here are my thoughts from Step 2:
Change for me has always been scary. I am learning to view change as more exciting and sometimes just a little scary.
The landscape is changing so fast; keeping up with the dynamic environment is a challenge. I've never been very interested in being a leader and I still don't consider myself leader material. But I find the prospect of librarians being at or at least near the forefront of this technological revolution fascinating and thrilling. I have always been worried in everything that I do that I won't be able to "keep up with" everyone else. i still worry about that. But I'm also excited to try. I don't have a scientific mind; I don't understand how things work in a mechanical sense. But I don't think I have to know that kind of information. I just need to know what's out there and the basics of how to use it. The challenge is and will continue to be the ability to stay abreast and informed of constantly evolving technology, updated versions, and new systems. In a way it feels a little disappointing, because when I find something new I like to use it and enjoy it for awhile. But in this environment, I think many items and systems will become outdated, out of fashion, or possibly even obsolete in a short amount of time.
Take "MySpace" for example. It was "the big thing" not too long ago, and now most people have moved on to Facebook, LinkedIn, and other social networking sites. Its not really "cool" to be on MySpace anymore.
Another example could be the cell phone industry. The more you can do with a cell phone these days, the more attractive it is in today's mobile, impatient, active society. We need information, we need it fast, and we want it all in one gadget if possible. For some, one type of phone fulfills those needs. For others, another type fits the bill. I would use brand names, but that would prove my point. A few months after I mention them, people who read this might say, "Oh, those aren't the most popular phones anymore." In today's society, people desire the "it" product, the item that everyone is talking about. If you have the best cell phone, the computer with the biggest hard drive, the newest car, the awesome new "toy," then you have status; people are interested in you.
This also plays into the problem of the digital divide; the "haves" vs the "have nots." I think this problem could potentially deepen over time. Even though efforts are being made to ensure that children have access to computers and technology in schools, they will not be provided items as adults. Luckily the prices for computers are much lower than they used to be, and many applications are available for free. But popular gadgets aren't usually low in price. Those who cannot afford technology usually, thought not always, are the least likely to be informed about technology. So the divide widens if you can't afford what's out there, you don't even know it exists, you don't know how it works, and you won't know when it gets upgraded or is replaced by something else. This is a much bigger problem than simply a question of social status and mobility, although those ideals are important too. I'm also thinking about access to information, which can be critical. More and more in my work, I'm noticing that organizations don't provide phone numbers for the public. If you need to contact a company or a non-profit, you have to send an email, or fill out a form on their website. Which is difficult to do if you don't have a computer. Yes, you could go to a public library and use the computer there. But you probably don't have an email address for them to contact you. Or a cell phone. Or the time or transportation to get to a public library, if you work two jobs and take the bus. For many in our society, the digital divide has potentially serious consequences.
As librarians, I think there is at least some work we can do to bridge the digital divide. Look at what we've done in our library. Seniors and people with disabilities are learning to download books from the Internet, sync the books to mobile devices, and burn them to disks. They are learning to use digital audiobook players, many of which are portable and offer additional features such as notetaking, file storage, and access to music. They are also becoming informed about assistive technology and sources for funding. All of which is making this segment of the population knowledgeable, employable, empowered, and in many cases more independent and mobile than they otherwise would be.
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