Evaluating Emerging Information & Communication Technologies
Demonstrate proficiency in identifying, using, and evaluating current and emerging information and communication technologies.
“Thanks to modern technology, we now can deliver every text in every research library to every citizen in our country & everyone in the world.”
– Robert Darnton (b. 1939 American Historian)
Evidence
INFO 204 – Emerging Technology
During this discussion, I described a specific resource that helps information professionals remain current with emerging technology and trends. I chose the Special Libraries Association (SLA) blog. The SLA blog highlights seminars, annual conferences, InfoTrends presentations, and promotes webinars covering various topics, including technology. Being a part of a professional organization not only provides information, but opportunities to volunteer and meet others in the field. I have found free seminars to be beneficial when exploring new information settings, topics, technology, and skills. I have recently enjoyed attending the Backlog Archivists seminars, run by professionals in the St. Louis, Missouri area. Occasionally, they do demonstrations of websites and digital services that aid with research.
After writing this discussion post, I realized the importance of staying up to date with technology in the information world and succeeded in identifying at least one useful source to do so. While reading and reviewing the posts written by my classmates, I felt inspired to explore different resources. By staying updated on current events, emerging technology, and the issues surrounding them, I will grow as a professional and be better able to fulfill the information needs of the patrons.
INFO 284 – Artificial Intelligence
For this assignment, I pondered what the prevalence of AI means for the film industry, archives, and libraries. At the time of writing this discussion, the U.S. Copyright Office had ruled that art created by AI is not protected by copyright because it lacked human authorship. In my opinion, Chat GPT has encouraged and assisted in the recent explosion of AI creations. As far as copyright goes, it seems that the art world has been deeply affected. On the subreddit r/Art, a Vietnamese artist was accused of creating artwork with AI when he had drawn it himself (Di Lisca, 2023). When he tried to defend himself, he was banned by a Moderator. As someone who creates, I sympathize with these artists. What can we do to protect artists and their artwork? In feature films, actors are “de-aged” without consent, some have added clauses in their contracts to prevent this. AI seems like a good tool for creating ideas and even editing writing, but not to the extent that it replaces a human being. Many educators are wary of tools like ChatGPT, which are being used by students to create papers and even citations.
On a positive note, AI generators can aid in saving retrieval time, providing access to a wide range of information (especially specialized resources), offering 24/7 multilingual support, reliable and relevant information, and collaborative opportunities (Mali & Deshmukuh, 2023). AI possesses the power to enhance library services and aid in user evaluation, however, this should be accompanied by additional research to ensure accuracy and relevance.
AANHPI iSchool Student Group Webmaster & Social Media Coordinator
During my last couple of semesters, I have had the delight of serving as Co-Webmaster and Social Media Coordinator for the newly established Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander iSchool student group. I have been creating a LinkedIn, Linktree, and Instagram presence for the group, as well as assisting with creating, maintaining, and designing the group’s website using WordPress. Learning the protocols for web plugins, brushing up on HTML/CSS coding, and becoming more familiar with editing web pages on WordPress has been challenging. I also utilized my Photoshop skills to create a logo for use on the website and social media pages. Despite the hardships, it has been a rewarding journey.
Website design and social media management are increasingly vital skills for information professionals. Sites like Instagram are great for highlighting a collection using photos or videos and for promoting events. WordPress can be a cost-effective tool for managing collections and circulation digitally (Balkhi, 2022). Providing online access to collections is the key to remaining relevant and reaching as many people as possible. Plugins such as Jotform, Book a Room, WebLibrarin, Library Bookshelves, and Mooberry Book Manager provide all the information services, retrieval, and organization needed to manage and maintain a digital library (Jotform, 2024).
Conclusion
In closing, information professionals who explore, evaluate, and adopt emerging technologies will be able to create more effective and engaging library services. Providing online access to collections through social media and web based content management systems is the key to remaining relevant, reaching a wider audience, and better serving patron’s information needs. Going forward, I will strive to utilize emerging technologies to better serve marginalized communities and amplify their voices.
Introduction
Information professionals must strive to extend their knowledge and skills into the online space, where they can share ideas, collaborate, and reflect (Hirsh, 2022). Connecting and engaging with patrons and future potential users in an online environment will allow information organizations to create more effective library services. The power of social media platforms can be harnessed to showcase an organization’s daily operations, exhibit items from a collection, or promote events. Emerging technologies can also be utilized to better serve marginalized communities and highlight their experiences.
Current & Emerging Trends
Content Management Systems
Web content management systems (WCMS) provide a structure for the public use of a library or archive’s collection. WCMS software is used to store, access, manage, and present information for use online (Shih & Wong-Holmes, 2018). There are open-source systems such as WordPress that allow information organizations to include search boxes for discovery. Other systems specifically designed for libraries include Omeka, Springshare, BiblioCMS, or the institution’s Integrated Library System (ILS) as a content management system (Shih & Wong-Holmes, 2018). These library-centered systems are not as customizable as their web counterparts, however, they provide a less technical approach for those not familiar with website design. WCMS software can offer a more multi-platform-friendly website since 42% of library users in the United States access information on their mobile phones (Fernandes, 2022).
Web & Social Media
Libraries and archives employ social media to publicize their services and develop communities to support them (Shih & Wong-Holmes, 2018). These tools allow information organizations to connect and engage with their audience while highlighting collection materials. The most commonly used social media tools by libraries and archives are YouTube, Vimeo, Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest (Shih & Wong-Holmes, 2018). YouTube and Vimeo are used to provide access to webinar recordings and conference sessions, Facebook pages can be used for promoting events, new services, and other news, Instagram can be used to highlight collection materials and Pinterest can be used for casual interactions with users. One example of this is the USC Digital Library Pinterest profile, whose curated image board encourages the discovery of their vast digital collections.
Artificial Intelligence
In recent years, there have been more discussions about the impact of artificial intelligence on library services, resources, and the workforce. The most revolutionary and prominent AI has been ChatGPT. Chat GPT (Generative Pre-trained Transformer) is a language model developed by OpenAI, a research organization co-founded by Elon Musk and other entrepreneurs, in 2020 (Mali & Deshmukuh, 2023). Many high school and undergraduate students have attempted to utilize ChatGPT to write papers and other assignments. Unfortunately, this has caused a spike in plagiarism. According to surveys conducted by BestColleges and Intelligent.com, about half of college students agree that using AI tools like ChatGPT on schoolwork is cheating or plagiarism, but 1 in 5 students use them anyway (Henry, 2023). There has been an ongoing debate about whether ChatGPT should be banned in academia. Perhaps students can be taught how to utilize ChatGPT without plagiarism. Instead, they can use it to gather potential resources (which should be double-checked for legitimacy) and generate an outline for an assignment or research paper.
The Hyperlinked Library
This model relies on an information organization building value and thriving, so it can anticipate and quickly respond to new technologies and user expectations (Hirsh, 2022). It perpetuates transparency, openness, and participation. The model was created based on data collected on emerging trends and technologies. Hyperlink libraries are born from the constant, positive, and purposeful adaption to change (Hirsh, 2022). Information professionals should strive to embrace emerging technologies and understand their societal and cultural impact. By providing transparency and inclusivity on social media channels, information organizations will grow their audience. Hyperlinked libraries should promote accessibility anywhere and everywhere…even on the “cloud” (cloud-based services). This model can also be utilized by information professionals to promote the sharing of information within the community, by focusing on highlighting marginalized communities. Organizations such as the independent, non-profit StoryCorps, gather and share stories submitted by people across the country via podcasts, animated shorts, digital platforms, and best-selling books. The Library of Congress has collected and preserved these recordings, which is now the largest single collection of human voices ever gathered (StoryCorps, n.d.).
References
Balkhi, S. (2022, June 27). How to Build a Library Collection and Circulation System in WordPress. WPBeginner. https://www.wpbeginner.com/plugins/how-to-build-a-library-collection-and-circulation-system-in-wordpress/
Di Lisca, V. (2023, January 8). Artist Banned From Subreddit Over Work Resembling AI Art. Hyperallergic. https://hyperallergic.com/791951/artist-banned-from-subreddit-over-work-resembling-ai-art/
Fernandes, T. (2022, July 21). Digital Libraries with Mobile Apps. EBSCO. https://communities.ebsco.com/posts/digital-libraries-with-mobile-apps
Henry, M. (2023, September 25). Nearly a third of college students used ChatGPT last year, according to survey. Ohio Capital Journal. https://ohiocapitaljournal.com/2023/09/25/nearly-a-third-of-college-students-used-chatgpt-last-year-according-to-survey/
Hirsh, S. (Ed.). (2022). Information services today: An introduction. Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, Incorporated. ProQuest Ebook Central, http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/sjsu/detail.action?docID=6891082
Jotform. (2024, March 13). How to Use WordPress: The 5 best WordPress plug-ins for librarians. Jotform Blog. https://www.jotform.com/blog/wordpress-plugins-for-librarians/#Jotform-Online-Forms
Mali, T.S. & Deshmukh, R.K. (2023). Use of ChatGPT in Library Services. International Journal of Creative Research Thoughts (IJCRT). 11(4), 264-266. https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Tanaji-Mali-4/publication/370204419_USE_OF_CHAT_GPT_IN_LIBRARY_SERVICES/links/6444b86c017bc07902d26045/USE-OF-CHAT-GPT-IN-LIBRARY-SERVICES.pdf
Shih, W & Wong-Holmes, D. (2018). Library Information Technology. In K. Haycock & M.J. Romaniuk (Eds.), The portable MLIS: Insights from the experts. Libraries Unlimited.
StoryCorps. (n.d.). About StoryCorps. StoryCorps Inc. https://storycorps.org/about/