Read the following paper - Kajewski, M. (2007) 'Emerging technologies changing our service delivery models', The Electronic Library vol.25 no.4 pp.420-429. Available in the Emerald Management Xtra database at http://www.csu.edu.au/division/library/find-info/databases/The article explores how low-cost (even free!) technologies can be implemented by libraries to enhance services. In a posting of about 600 words can you briefly describe some of these emerging technologies (try to provide some examples)? 
Kajewski’s article describes many of the low cost, or more commonly, free technologies which have begun to emerge over recent years. These technologies can be used to increase the service libraries provide to customers to the point of being able to provide these services 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Some of the technologies which Kajewski (2007) describes are blogs, RSS feeds, IM (instant messaging), wikis, podcasts, vodcasts and web conferencing. Blogs in particular are very useful and free tools for libraries to utilise. A blog, short for web log, is a special type of website where content is displayed in sequence of date order, almost like an online diary. The most recent entry is always at the top of the page, enabling quick and easy checking for updated content. Creating a blog requires no special web building knowledge meaning any computer literate individual could create one. Libraries can use blogs as a means of getting information to library users of any upcoming events, news, new item arrivals, or even as a means of obtaining feedback from users or potential users. Sutherland Library in Sydney has a blog which is a good example of the usefulness of this tool. This blog contains literary news, book reviews, an audio file of an author seminar held in the library, and a vast amount of other interesting information.
RSS feeds are a service which allows users to receive updates of websites into their newsreaders as these websites are updated. A newsreader can also be known as an aggregator. This alleviates the necessity for users to constantly check multiple websites of interest to ascertain if there have been any updates. Newsreader software is freely available on the internet, and a lot of email software includes a newsreader. The RSS feed usually contains such information as a headline, a brief description of the update and a link to the new updated website. Websites which allow users to subscribe to an RSS feed of their site will have a small orange symbol on the site indicating this.
Podcasts are web based audio programmes which are accessed via subscription, and downloaded automatically onto a subscriber’s computer. This enables the user to access this audio programme at any time convenient to them. These programmes can be played back either on a portable device such as an IPod or via a computer. A podcast is different from other audio files due to the fact that it can be subscribed to and automatically downloaded. The University of Adelaide has an interesting podcast library which covers public lectures, various talks which have been held at the library and talks on pressing topical issues. These talks can be downloaded directly, or they can be subscribed to through RSS feeds which will download direct to the subscribers’ computer.
Instant messaging is “real time chat” between two persons, using text based words rather than vocal. Users have to download specific chat software and from there are able to initiate communication at any time. An excellent example of this in use in libraries is the “Ask a Librarian service”. This service enables users to chat to a librarian, via text, in real time and receive an answer almost immediately.
As Kajewski states in her article, all these technologies, and more, are available, many of them free. It is important for libraries to get staff trained and enthusiastic in the use of these technologies and get them working for the benefit of libraries and their communities. This is the way of the future.
Ask a Librarian: http://www.sl.nsw.gov.au/services/ask/
Kajewski, M. (2007). Emerging technologies changing our service delivery models.The Electronic Library, 25(4), 420-429.Retrieved August 20, 2008, from the Emerald Management Xtra database
Sutherland Library Blog: http://blog.sutherlandlibrary.com/
University of Adelaide Library: http://www.adelaide.edu.au/podcasts/
Kajewski’s article describes many of the low cost, or more commonly, free technologies which have begun to emerge over recent years. These technologies can be used to increase the service libraries provide to customers to the point of being able to provide these services 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Some of the technologies which Kajewski (2007) describes are blogs, RSS feeds, IM (instant messaging), wikis, podcasts, vodcasts and web conferencing. Blogs in particular are very useful and free tools for libraries to utilise. A blog, short for web log, is a special type of website where content is displayed in sequence of date order, almost like an online diary. The most recent entry is always at the top of the page, enabling quick and easy checking for updated content. Creating a blog requires no special web building knowledge meaning any computer literate individual could create one. Libraries can use blogs as a means of getting information to library users of any upcoming events, news, new item arrivals, or even as a means of obtaining feedback from users or potential users. Sutherland Library in Sydney has a blog which is a good example of the usefulness of this tool. This blog contains literary news, book reviews, an audio file of an author seminar held in the library, and a vast amount of other interesting information.
RSS feeds are a service which allows users to receive updates of websites into their newsreaders as these websites are updated. A newsreader can also be known as an aggregator. This alleviates the necessity for users to constantly check multiple websites of interest to ascertain if there have been any updates. Newsreader software is freely available on the internet, and a lot of email software includes a newsreader. The RSS feed usually contains such information as a headline, a brief description of the update and a link to the new updated website. Websites which allow users to subscribe to an RSS feed of their site will have a small orange symbol on the site indicating this.
Podcasts are web based audio programmes which are accessed via subscription, and downloaded automatically onto a subscriber’s computer. This enables the user to access this audio programme at any time convenient to them. These programmes can be played back either on a portable device such as an IPod or via a computer. A podcast is different from other audio files due to the fact that it can be subscribed to and automatically downloaded. The University of Adelaide has an interesting podcast library which covers public lectures, various talks which have been held at the library and talks on pressing topical issues. These talks can be downloaded directly, or they can be subscribed to through RSS feeds which will download direct to the subscribers’ computer.
Instant messaging is “real time chat” between two persons, using text based words rather than vocal. Users have to download specific chat software and from there are able to initiate communication at any time. An excellent example of this in use in libraries is the “Ask a Librarian service”. This service enables users to chat to a librarian, via text, in real time and receive an answer almost immediately.
As Kajewski states in her article, all these technologies, and more, are available, many of them free. It is important for libraries to get staff trained and enthusiastic in the use of these technologies and get them working for the benefit of libraries and their communities. This is the way of the future.
Ask a Librarian: http://www.sl.nsw.gov.au/services/ask/
Kajewski, M. (2007). Emerging technologies changing our service delivery models.The Electronic Library, 25(4), 420-429.Retrieved August 20, 2008, from the Emerald Management Xtra database
Sutherland Library Blog: http://blog.sutherlandlibrary.com/
University of Adelaide Library: http://www.adelaide.edu.au/podcasts/
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