Competency H
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Demonstrate proficiency in identifying, using, and evaluating current and emerging information and communication technologies.
Introduction
In an era marked by rapid technological advancements, information professionals must remain agile and informed to effectively serve their communities. Information professionals need to continuously scan environmental conditions and adopt strategies like trust, recovery, and alignment to navigate the shifts in the technological landscape, ensuring relationships with patrons, fostering safe services, and promoting community needs (Abram, 2022). This involves not only understanding emerging trends but also actively engaging in professional development and collaboration with peers, thereby enhancing their ability to identify relevant technologies, select appropriate tools, use them effectively, and evaluate their impact on library service delivery and community reach.
Identifying and Selecting Technology
Identifying technology trends in libraries is a crucial component to anticipate arising information needs. The Center for the Future of Libraries (American Library Association, n.d.) serves as a valuable resource for identifying technology trends in libraries by systematically categorizing and updating trends relevant to librarianship. This collection helps library professionals understand the development and significance of various trends, organized into seven categories: Society, Technology, Education, Environment, Politics, Economics, and Demographics (STEEPED). Each trend is color-coded for easy reference, facilitating a broad and nuanced understanding of the trends impacting libraries today.
When selecting technology solutions, information professionals should differentiate between proprietary and open-source software, as proprietary software offers vendor support, upfront costs, and updates, while open-source applications enable participation and support from multiple vendors (Breeding, 2022). The analysis of library technology trends is essential for understanding the relevance to the library’s goals and specific staff and patron needs, as well as specific use cases for both trend identification and making informed, resilient selections. This requires staying abreast of emerging technologies and industry reports that highlight current developments and best practices.
Understanding vendor, product, and library-specific trends, therefore, is crucial for effective decision-making. When identifying key performance indicators, a comprehensive overview of various reports and visualizations related to library technology trends is essential, focusing on analytics for vendors, products, and library performance (Breeding, 2022). Library Technology Guides provides detailed insights into mergers and acquisitions within the industry, surveys on library satisfaction with automation products, and market share reports for integrated library systems (ILS), library services platforms (LSP), product migration trends, turnover reports, and sales impact statistics, offering a multi-year perspective on library technology transitions (Breeding, n.d.). The guides also include open-source ILS trends, installation statistics by country and library type, and procurement volume trends, alongside academic and public library statistics. These library technology guides present a wealth of knowledge for identifying trends and selecting technology because they enable libraries to make informed decisions that align with their strategic objectives.
Using Technology
Both library collections and services have become more virtual. Stephens (2022) describes the networked nature of libraries as the concept of the hyperlinked library, in which the library is not beholden to just physical or virtual space but is “everywhere (pp. 230). In some ways, librarians in the 21st century have to become experts in the general use of technology. Library reference, especially since the onset of COVID-19, has required that librarians adapt quickly to the changing needs of their communities, such as supporting patrons in both using and gaining skills in new technology (Tunon, 2022). This transformation underscores the importance of continuous professional development for librarians in order to stay current with emerging technologies.
It can also prove beneficial to find communities of professionals with interests that center around libraries and technology. Code4Lib (n.d.) is a global, volunteer-driven collective of diverse professionals who collaborate on technology-related initiatives for libraries, archives, and museums. The community includes an IRC (Internet Relay Chat) channel, annual conferences, and local meetups, as well as an online journal that shares relevant articles. Engaging with specialized communities not only fosters professional development but also encourages the sharing of innovative ideas and best practices that can enhance library services and technology integration.
Evaluating Technology
In evaluating the impact of technology on library services, sustainability, and reach, it is essential to analyze usage data and performance metrics as an ongoing process that incorporates feedback from both staff and patrons. Morgan (2017) notes that to effectively track progress towards any goal, it's essential to establish a way to specifically assess achievement, using metrics such as implementation timelines, user feedback, target milestones, usage statistics, and the impact on resource allocation and accessibility. By adopting a flexible and adaptive evaluation approach, libraries can ensure that their assessment methods remain relevant and adapt to shifts and innovation in the technological and information climate. However, evaluation methods are highly dependent on the library, its goals, and the specific technology plan (Morgan, 2017). This dependence on individual library contexts means that a one-size-fits-all approach to evaluation is not feasible, and instead, libraries must tailor their evaluation strategies to align with their unique objectives and technology initiatives.
Competency Development
Professionally, in the role as Information Services Assistant with a technology emphasis at a public library branch, I have a plethora of experience using and troubleshooting library technology, instructing technology programming, and conducting tech reference questions. My position requires that I be a liaison between branch staff and the IT department, which involves navigating the line between the nuances of the many systems at the branch and gauging patron tech literacy. From this, I am able to learn how different systems and applications of technology work, both from deployment and also—and most importantly—from a user's standpoint.
With the coursework of this MLIS being 100% online, there have been many opportunities to identify, use, and evaluate technology. This is especially true, given that I chose elective courses that were in the Data Science Pathway. I also am on track to receive the Advanced Certificate in Strategic Management of Digital Assets and Services with an emphasis in Data Analytics and Data-Driven Decision Making, which requires taking 6 units of technology, specifically data-focused electives. Elective courses included two sections of INFO 246 Information Technology Tools & Applications, one focusing on big data analytics and the other focusing on web/text/data mining. Also INFO 220 Data Services in Libraries, as well as a seminar in library management on using social media for competitive research.
Evidence
Practicum 2 was a 10-minute persuasive video presentation to a hypothetical audience of public library administrators, proposing to evaluate and expand privacy policies to account for how the digital services the library purchases potentially collect patron data. The ethical discussion centered on the risks to patron-library trust that personal data collection by third-party digital services can pose.
During the video presentation, I describe the process of how data brokers harvest user data and what implications that has for public library patron internet access and digital services. To demonstrate how ubiquitous and often unnoticed user data harvesting is, I used a web tracker scanner against several common third-party library vendor products and services, including both discovery layers and digital content apps. The results of the scans included proprietary software and services compared to open source and promoted, highlighting the difference in the amount and prevalence of third-party trackers. I suggested opting for open-source technologies when possible in order to help ensure greater transparency and values of access that more closely align with library principles, as well as potentially editing the technology in order to remove privacy-violating features.
The presentation also delves into the potential impact of the rapid evolution of AI technology and why thinking critically about third parties is important for upholding ethical library practices. I also suggest methods of evaluating third-party digital services while providing an example of a resource that is based on guidebooks for vendor selection based on ALA principles and values of confidentiality and privacy.
Evidence 2
INFO 210 - Assignment 4 - Designing and Launching Custom Library Search Goggles on Brave Search \ Project Description and Reflection
Assignment 4 focused on creating custom search filters, known as Brave Search Goggles, to enhance the search experience for both public and academic library reference. My goal was to explore the potential of these emerging technologies as reference tools while evaluating their effectiveness in promoting information literacy and outreach. By designing and submitting two distinct Goggles, I aimed to improve my reference skills and knowledge of search engine functionality for expansive searches for materials. Throughout the process, I engaged in extensive research and hands-on experimentation with Brave's domain-specific language, allowing me to develop a deeper understanding of how to manipulate search results for greater relevance.
Assignment 4 qualifies as evidence for Competency H through all three criteria. This project not only served as a practical application of my skills using emerging information technology but also involved identifying tech solutions as well as evaluating their efficacy for libraries. By making the Goggles publicly accessible and hosted in a GitHub repository, I hope to encourage others to improve and build upon these tools, fostering a culture of innovation in reference and information services
This e-portfolio page that you are currently accessing is a choice I made to use and evaluate emerging technology. It is built with a static site generator called MkDocs, with the Material theme, which allows one to build a documentation webpage from a collection of markdown files. The use of markdown files provides flexibility and ease of editing, and this allows me to draft each page as a markdown file and configure the theme through a .yml file. The files are hosted on a private GitHub repository connected to my account on Cloudflare Pages.
The successful integration of these technologies to create a cohesive and user-friendly e-portfolio page serves as evidence of my proficiency in competency H, highlighting my capacity to stay up-to-date with current and emerging information and communication technologies and apply them in a practical context. By utilizing a static site generator like MkDocs and hosting the files on a private GitHub repository connected to Cloudflare pages, I have effectively identified and applied current technologies to build a functional and accessible web page technology. This was also somewhat of a feasibility evaluation, as I wanted to test out an open-source, low-code environment that subject librarians could use to build vendor-independent research guides with relative ease.
This learning activity involved reviewing various instructional tools and materials options to enhance my instructional design plan. I begin by evaluating the Matrix.org server, which supports both synchronous and asynchronous text-based communication, making it suitable for my course's interactive discussions and one-on-one sessions. I assess my ability to utilize the Matrix server effectively, noting that I may require technical support for self-hosting. Next, I explore the Jekyll template for a workshop webpage hosted on GitHub.io, which I considered to serve as a centralized platform for course content and organization.
This assignment serves as evidence for Competency H, as it showcases my ability to identify and evaluate both current technologies within the context of instructional design. By analyzing the Matrix.org server, I demonstrate proficiency in recognizing a versatile communication tool that supports various modes of interaction, including text and audio, which are essential for effective learning environments. My exploration of the Jekyll template for a workshop webpage illustrates my capability to leverage modern web technologies to host accessible and cost-effective course content. Through this process, I not only assess the functionalities of these tools but also consider their practical applications within my instructional design plan, reflecting a critical evaluation of how these technologies can enhance learning outcomes.
Conclusion
Staying abreast of new technology is essential for information professionals in libraries, as it empowers them to refine and discover resilient technology solutions that meet the ever-changing needs of their communities while navigating narrow budget restrictions. By actively engaging in professional development and collaborating with peers, library staff can harness the latest advancements to enhance service delivery and foster meaningful connections with patrons that foster a spirit of continued learning. My passion for library technology drives me to continuously seek innovative tools and strategies that not only improve operational efficiency but also enrich the user experience and accessibility, ensuring that libraries remain well embedded in the emerging digital world.
References
Abram, S. (2022). The transformative information landscape. In S. Hirsh (Ed.), Information Services Today (3rd ed., pp. 27-37). Rowman & Littlefield.
American Library Association. (n.d.). Trends | center for the future of libraries. Retrieved March 2, 2025, from https://www.ala.org/future/trends
Breeding, M. (2022). Managing technology. In S. Hirsh (Ed.), Information Services Today (3rd ed., pp. 342-357). Rowman & Littlefield.
Breeding, M. (n.d.). Library technology guides: An international directory of libraries. Retrieved March 4, 2025, from https://librarytechnology.org/guides/
Code4Lib. (n.d.). About. Code4Lib. Retrieved March 5, 2025, from http://code4lib.org/about/
Morgan , Kendra. (2017, February 21). Technology planning evaluation. WebJunction. https://www.webjunction.org/documents/webjunction/Technology_Planning_Evaluation.html
Stephens, M. (2022). Hyperlinked libraries. In S. Hirsh (Ed.), Information services today: An introduction (3rd ed., pp. 229-239). Rowman & Littlefield Publishers.
Tunon, J. (2022). Information intermediation and reference services. In S. Hirsh (Ed.), Information Services Today (3rd ed., pp. 153-164). Rowman & Littlefield.