Libraries Introducing Public to New Technology
October 20th, 2005Another report library researchers might want to get their hands on. Agian, a small sample of subjects, but I’m just the messenger. From the article:
“A recent study has been released by Research and Markets on library best practices. The report is based on interviews with information technology directors and other critical staff involved in IT decision-making from the Princeton Public Library, Minneapolis Public Library, Evansville Public Library, Santa Monica Public Library, Boston Public Library, Columbus Metropolitan Public Library, San Francisco Public Library, Seattle Public Library, and the Denver Public Library.”
Some key findings (there are more listed in the article) include:
“+ The libraries in the small sample seemed quite interested in expanding in-house telecommunications capacities, enabling librarians to communicate with one another, and with patrons, while they walked around the library. Vocera, a voice over IP application for libraries, was a coveted product.
+ Increasingly, public libraries are viewing themselves as places to introduce new technologies to the public. Centers that introduce new software and hardware have increasingly become part of the public library mission and are major selling points in raising new funds for libraries.”
A very timely research report as we gear up for Internet Librarian in two days…