As the field of library and information studies has evolved, it has become increasingly inseparable from technology. While this is an exciting prospect, it also requires that those who dream of working exclusively among books and card catalogs adjust their expectations and paradigms accordingly.
This course, in conjunction with my position as a Systems library associate at the Met, has been an interesting experience in that it has exposed me to the intersections (and really the inseparability) of technology and the information needs of library employers and users. I have learned and applied technological knowledge a great deal in both this class and at my job, for which I am fortunate. I feel there’s no more important area in the future of library and information studies/science than technology.
With that said, I have never considered myself a “techie” or technological enthusiast. Truthfully, I oftentimes find a difficult coding challenge to be more frustrating than fun. While the demands of this course have been manageable and appropriately aligned to my skills, I admit that trainings in my workplace on RESTless APIs have been rather more intimidating, if invaluable. In situations where I feel in over my head, however, I find it useful to remember that technology doesn’t have to be some inaccessible foreign language. It’s something that we all participate in everyday, and when I’m confused…well, as in all fields, there’s always opportunities to learn.
So I suppose the question that I’m grappling with now is how I want to work with technology as an information professional. As my employers well-know and respect, I certainly may not want to be a Systems librarian all my life, but whether I work in instruction, technical services, or reference, my experiences of late will always be valuable to me. Thomas L. Friedman, in It’s a Flat World, After All, and Arnold Brown, in Relationships, Community, and Identity in the New Virtual Society, examine the social and economic implications of technological advancement in what sometimes verges on utopian terms, while Neil Postman, in Five Things We Need to Know About Technological Change, cautions again the idealization of technology, which he suggests has the potential to deprive us of spirituality, culture, and humanity. Regardless, the future is coming, and information professionals need to be prepared to face it.
In closing, I can’t resist sharing this SNL video about two employees who struggle with a technology application. I share this because, at least for me, the humor of the skit derives not at the expense of the characters’ difficulties but out of an identification with them. We’ve all been there! So let’s remember that as library and information professionals, let’s make technology accessible. Let’s bring people together and use these tools not to eradicate but to strengthen humanity.
I suppose it’s about time I started a blog. I’m a little late to the game, but as I develop in the field of library and information studies, I want to create an online space to share my accomplishments and experiences, both past and present. I hope that you’ll find that my blog is interesting and that I have something of value to share with you.
Scott Carlton 