Library Technology Companion: A Basic Guide for Library Staff

Citation

McMenemy, D. (2009), "Library Technology Companion: A Basic Guide for Library Staff", Program: electronic library and information systems, Vol. 43 No. 2, pp. 232-233. https://doi.org/10.1108/00330330910954442

Pitching a book on library technology for library staff is not an easy task. Too low a level and you risk alienating staff who see themselves as technically competent; too a high level and you risk the people who truly need to learn the skills not understanding the content. Clearly John J. Burke has managed to hit the right note, as this is a second edition of the text that is currently being reviewed. It is an ambitious text aimed at not only imparting a skill set but also a way of looking at the utilisation of technology in libraries. It makes for an excellent companion guide for librarians.

The book is divided into five logical sections each with several chapters. Section 1 entitled “Library technology basics” provides an excellent overview of the history of technology in libraries, something not often found in books of this type. This section also offers advice on how to find information on technology in libraries as well as more strategic advice on evaluating, buying and implementing library technology in a service.

Section 2, “Technology tools for libraries”, provides an explanation of the different types of technology that a library can utilise. This discussion includes chapters on specific kinds of hardware, such as handhelds, laptops and desktops, as well as software. This section also covers computer networking, databases, and e‐content such as e‐books and e‐reference collections. Section 3 focuses on how a library can put technology to work for service benefit, and therefore includes discussions on how assistive technologies can aid library users, as well as how it can aid in distance learning and providing virtual reference and web‐based services.

Section 4 deals with the issues of infrastructure and troubleshooting. Chapters focus on spyware and security and the protection of library users, as well as how technology will influence library layout and ergonomics. I would have liked to see more emphasis in this section on the issues related to acceptable use, and perhaps a wider discussion of how the ethics of providing internet access are dealt with would have been informative for the reader. For instance, internet filtering only merits two minor mentions within the entire text. The final section of the book deals with planning for the future, emphasising how a technology plan can be drawn up. The final chapter, subtitled, “From Ranganathan to Googlezon”, is a reflective piece discussing how traditional librarianship and modern technology meet up.

The book is supported by a companion web site, something essential for a text that includes a lot of URLs amongst its references. This clearly makes the book something that does not go out of date quickly, which is always a risk for any title on technology. The piece is rounded off with a useful glossary of technology terms in use.

With all that said it is the extent of the market for the book that is slightly harder to pin down. It operates at both a strategic and a basic instructional level, so may well be an excellent purchase for the seasoned librarian who is perhaps lacking in an understanding of the depth of technological issues in libraries. The student of library and information science should also find the text useful in providing a library‐centric discussion of technologies, and help emphasise to them that it is not about technology per se, but libraries best helping users solve their information problems. It is a book that succeeds well in its goal of providing a broad overview for library staff about an area where still too many continue to have unnecessary and unhelpful mental barriers.