Comments on: Top Tech Trends, Wish Fulfillment, or Nightmares?

By: The Monday Muse: Top Tech Trends | Libraries Interact

The Monday Muse: Top Tech Trends | Libraries Interact — Mon, 20 Jul 2009 00:02:04 +0000

[...] about these at Library Journal, David Lee King, Marshall Breeding, LITABlog, Mobile Libraries and Free Range Librarian. You can also watch/listen to the live feed or check out the twitter posts. (don’t you just [...]

By: Batarang

Batarang — Sat, 18 Jul 2009 21:59:29 +0000

Jon, you’re completely right about cellphone/smartphone usage. The major reason I don’t have one is the paltry functionality you get for the exorbitant contract you have to sign.

By: Mike Shell

Mike Shell — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 21:45:08 +0000

You know, all this hi-tech stuff is really great…but Jacksonville Public Library is facing it’s four major budget cut in 8 years, with a hiring freeze and the permanent lost of 19 unfilled vacancies.

As supervisor of our participation in Florida’s Ask a Librarian live chat reference network, I can’t even persuade branch managers to expand the chat service we already offer.

I think the economic realities of libraries are almost wholly at odds right now with the supposed demand for the newest and bestest hi-tech.

(Of course, as a neo-Luddite, I’m content to take it slow.)

Thanks,
Mike

By: Jon Gorman

Jon Gorman — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 16:47:52 +0000

I think there’s been some confusion. I like the idea of having a pile o’ questions and possible starting points. It can keep the conversation rolling and start the brainstorming. The impression given by the poll, particularly with the radio buttons, is that it’ll revolve around only one of those topics.

The writeups are a bit strange for the categories though .

(Silly me, I saw virtual computing and took it too literally. I thought “oh, virtual machines. Right. Those have been taking off the past couple of years. More technical that LITA usually gets for these type of tings).

By: K.G. Schneider

K.G. Schneider — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 12:32:04 +0000

Hey, who you calling “They” ? No, I think this was a sincere attempt to kickstart the process and introduce something new. Not sure it works but can’t hurt for trying.

By: Jon Gorman

Jon Gorman — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 18:59:32 +0000

One more small comment as far as trends…

I’d also gamble mobile devices already outsell laptops and desktop, at least if you consider most newer cell phones a mobile device.

Granted, most cell phones though are insanely locked down and are subject to extreme pricing for what should be more basic services.

If more phones come out with a wireless option and the vendors/networks release their death grips on functionality, we might start seeing some more cool usage of these things. (After all, many of the aspects of Iphone were already available before but just locked out for all but the highest paying customers.)

By: Jeff Scott

Jeff Scott — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 18:58:07 +0000

I think I might be unfamiliar with this process. Do they make such outlandish and ridiculous statements every year? Are they supposed to be icebreakers? The people who created these topics don’t seem understand the current state of libraries or the future for that matter.

By: Jon Gorman

Jon Gorman — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 18:34:00 +0000

“Holy grammar, Batman! Never mind these exotic predictions. In five years librarians still won’t be familiar with Mr. Apostrophe and his twin cousins, the Parentheses. Call the copy editor, STAT!”

I was drinking a can of Coke when I read that. As I result I now have…soda in my nose.

On a somewhat more serious note, those are actually the descriptions that went along with those categories? I somehow missed that completely. It reminds me of some of the tone of library conferences that were always outputting to me. Weird, wild statements and obsessive examination of things like Second Life.

Gee, no one besides librarians that I have talked to knows what Second Life is. However, a great majority of people know WoW. Yet I still keep seeing things about “Second Life.” Why don’t I see anyone talking about creating a reference service for WoW players? “My guild is trapped in the 25th level of the Goblin King’s Labyrinth and he’s kicking our a**. What do we do!” … “Get the artifact “The David Bowie Muter quick as you can. Send a ranger and a healer to the Forest of the Dainty Elves!”

Sorry, I’m in a strange mood today.