Results by title

The recent announcement that Google will digitize the holdings of several major libraries sent shock waves through the book industry and academe. Google presented this digital repository as a first step towards a long-dreamed-of universal library, but skeptics were quick to raise a number of concerns about the potential for copyright infringement and unanticipated effects on the business of research and publishing. 

Jean-Noël Jeanneney, president of France’s Bibliothèque Nationale, here takes aim at what he sees as a far more troubling aspect of Google’s Library Project: its potential to misrepresent—and even damage—the world’s cultural heritage. In this impassioned work, Jeanneney argues that Google’s unsystematic digitization of books from a few partner libraries and its reliance on works written mostly in English constitute acts of selection that can only extend the dominance of American culture abroad. This danger is made evident by a Google book search the author discusses here—one run on Hugo, Cervantes, Dante, and Goethe that resulted in just one non-English edition, and a German translation of Hugo at that. An archive that can so easily slight the masters of European literature—and whose development is driven by commercial interests—cannot provide the foundation for a universal library. 

As a leading librarian, Jeanneney remains enthusiastic about the archival potential of the Web. But he argues that the short-term thinking characterized by Google’s digital repository must be countered by long-term planning on the part of cultural and governmental institutions worldwide—a serious effort to create a truly comprehensive library, one based on the politics of inclusion and multiculturalism. 

Carrying over the reorganization that made the fifth edition such a convenient learning resource for students and working professionals alike, the newest edition of this comprehensive library technology primer is timelier and more compelling than ever. Burke's guide should be at the top of the reading list for any current or future library professional looking to stay at the forefront of technological advancement. Updated with new case studies to illuminate key areas, its incisive coverage includes

• complete analysis of the librarian's technological toolbox for teaching, security, databases, and more;
• expert advice on how to compare and evaluate competing technology solutions;
• social media, streaming media, and educating patrons about digital privacy;
• makerspaces and other technology programing, including virtual and augmented reality technologies;
• technology lending programs;
• open source catalog systems, discovery layers, and related library management systems;
• websites, web-based services, and free information resources;
• copyright and licensing as they pertain to the use of digital materials;
• new technology predictions for the future, with tips on how to stay up to date with the latest developments; and
• a refreshed glossary of useful terms.

Informed by a large-scale survey of librarians across the spectrum of institution types, this guide will be a true technology companion to readers at all experience levels.

Foreword by Maurice Coleman

Technology infuses every aspect of every day in every library, and thus basic technology skills are a prerequisite for everyone who works in a library. Providing a one-stop overview of all technologies used in libraries today, this comprehensive primer belongs at the top of the reading list for any current or future library professional looking to stay at the forefront of technological advancement. Representing a complete update of the book under a new author, this seventh edition of the guide is bolstered with fresh insights gleaned from librarians and library staff members sharing how they work with a given technology in their library settings. Readers will learn about

• how technologies have historically impacted libraries;  
• electronic resources including e-books, full-text articles, and streaming media;
• the crucial role of free web information in supporting library research;
• discovery layers and other systems for organizing information to make it easier to find;
• desktops, laptops, tablets, and mobile devices;
• library websites, web services, screencasts, distance learning, and learning management systems;
• social networking and patron participation, with newly crafted guidelines;
• makerspaces and other possibilities for adding creative activities and technologies to libraries such as virtual reality and augmented reality;
• a comprehensive examination of how to build and maintain the library technology environment, with advice on crafting an effective plan, purchasing equipment, putting systems into operation, and preservation issues stemming from dead and dying technologies;
• Universal Design (UX) and adaptive/assistive technologies;
• protecting technology and technology users by securing collections, enhancing computer security, and safeguarding privacy; and
• possible future developments in library technology, with suggested resources for staying informed.