News Report #1

News Report #1




“Innovation Symposium: The Future is Mobile”

Michael Greenlee, Edited by Josh Hardo

June 21, 2010

http://www.libraryjournal.com/lj/technology/technews/885462-294/infotech.html.csp





In order for libraries to stay in business and keep a growing consumer market they must keep up with the ever growing advances in technology. No longer do people need to travel to their local library to rent a book or research information for school or leisure. The internet has made all of this information readily available with the click of a button from your computer at home. Granted public libraries have been battling this fight for some time now by universally connecting with internet search engines such as Google to offer digital access to their books and information via the internet. The problem arising for libraries now is the 4G network. It has been discovered that most of the people who do use library domains are actually 55 and over. The market for 54 and younger is progressively resorting to the 4G network. Rather than looking up websites and search engines on a computer at home or school information is now being accessed and exchanged through cell phones. Organizations such as Copia, Blio, and the OCLC are now proposing the creation of applications to be downloaded on smart phones giving the owner immediate access to libraries resources. This is believed to revive the life span of libraries by reaching out to a much younger and diverse audience.



I think this is a very unique idea. Often these days people of my generation don’t ever step foot in a library unless a class requires them to meet there. More often than not we just use some type of search engine or use the suggested web sites recommended to us from the professor. If there were an application on our phone that sent information straight from a library, rather than having to Google the subject we are looking for, I believe my generation would be more inclined to venture to the library or at least their website to gain information. This could actually bring a realization that libraries are not obsolete due to the internet but can actually bring a more centered focus to your search with nothing but credible sources and information.