Review of Emerging technologies changing our service delivery models

Kajewski in Emerging technologies changing our service delivery models (2007), describes various free, or inexpensive, technologies which can be simply implemented by libraries to provide access to, and market, library services. Kajewski (2007, p. 428) states libraries need to understand and adopt such technology to create a connection with its community so as to meet existing and future user needs. Similarly, Miller (2005) advocated the adoption of these technologies to serve users and ensure library relevancy.

Primarily, Kajewski provides discussion of the main technologies useful to libraries. A brief explanation is provided of the software and how libraries can use it, along with an example of actual library use. Technologies Kajewski discusses are: blogs, wikis, podcasts, vodcasts, web conferencing and instant messaging (IM).

Kajewski (2007, p. 421) describes blogs as an online diary, where "brief entries are displayed in reverse chronological order". Blogging is described as simple to do with the aid of software such as Blogger, which is an automated publishing system. Kajewski states blogs can be used by libraries in four ways:
- Blogs as an information service - Promote the library by posting library announcements.
- Blogs as a library service - Promote services and resources to attract users.
- Blogs as a feedback tool. Encourage users to post feedback and suggestions as a way to personalise services (Bension and Favini, 2006, p. 18).
- Blogs as a professional awareness tool - Disseminate staff items or knowledge management (Murley, 2008, p. 202).

Wikis also work well for sharing information with users, as it allow users and staff to add, delete or alter a web page (Kajewski, 2007 p. 423). Particularly, wikis are highly suited for knowledge management or other types of information sharing (Murley, 2008, p. 202).

Whilst blogs and wikis can aid libraries in creating a more personalised experience for users (Benson & Favini, 2006, p. 18), Kajewski fails to note that collaborative tools require some moderation by staff to identify inappropriate postings (Murley, 2008, p. 202). Indeed Stvilia (as cited by Anderson, 2007, p. 8) states "systems that allow such a level of openness…[have] suffered from problems of malicious editing and vandalism".

RSS is generally considered to mean Really Simple Syndication and is used for notification of updates to blogs or websites. RSS has application for libraries as it allows users to be kept up-to-date which what is new at the library without the need to visit the library's website (Kajewski, 2007, p. 424).

Podcasts are audio programs located on the internet and gives users the flexibility to listen to items of interest when they want (Kajewski, 2007, p. 424), and can be done easily by libraries (Lliff & Rousseau, 2007, p. 84). Another advantage of podcasting is personalisation, as users hear a human voice presenting the information. Podcasting can be used many ways, such as to provide database training, library tours, or presentations (Kajewski, 2007, p. 425). Vodcasts are similar to podcasts except they are visual instead of audio. Kajewski suggests vodcasts be used to illustrate what the library has done so as to lure new users (2007, p. 426).

Libraries can also use web conferencing, or webinars (web + seminars) for group meetings or live presentations via the internet. Web conferencing provides libraries with a way to reach remote, or indeed mobility challenged, users or staff in real time to communicate on a reciprocal basis (Kajewski, 2007, p. 427).

Finally Kajewski (2007, p. 427) discusses instant messaging (IM) which allows typed communication between people in real time via their computers. IM is sometimes utilised by libraries as a 'reference help' tool due to its instantaneous nature.

Kajewski's article is useful in that it gives libraries an idea of the basic technologies to enhance existing, or to provide new, services. However, a failing of Kajewski's article is that it provides only superficial discussion of each technology. A more useful article would have provided an analysis of the negatives as well as the positives of each technology.

References

Anderson, P. (2007). What is Web 2.0? Ideas, technologies and
implications for education. Retrieved May 22, 2008, from Joint Information Systems Committee website: http://www.jisc.ac.uk/media/document/techwatch/tsw0701b.pdf

Benson, A., & Favini, R. (2006). Evolving web, evolving librarian
[Electronic resource]. Library Hi Tech News, 7, 18-21.

Kajewski, M. A. (2007) Emerging technologies changing our service
delivery models [Electronic resource]. The Electronic Library, 25(4), 420-429.

Lliff, J., & Roussearu, T. (2007). An introduction to podcasting for
librarians. In K. Hanson & H. F. Cervone (Eds.), Using interactive technologies in libraries: A LITA guide (pp. 83-97). New York: Neal-Schuman Publishers.

Miller, P. (2005). Web 2.0: Building the new library. Ariadne, 45.
Retrieved August 25, 2008 from http://www.ariadne.ac.uk/issue45/miller/

Murley, D. (2008). What is all the fuss about Library 2.0? [Electronic
resource]. Law Library Journal, 100(1), 197-204.