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August 22, 2006

Technology is Business

Part of my job is to scan various sources and spot new trends and figure out how they might impact libraries. One of the non-traditional (at least for libraries) sources is a host of free newsletters and briefs from Forrester Research. One such article came to my computer this morning.

The piece argues that technology is no longer the “seperate” entitiy it used to be but, helps to drive and shape the business using it. Information technology (IT) should be rechristened business technology (BT) to reflect this change of status and importance. I agree with the premise that IT should not be viewed as a seperate rarified department but should be viewed as an integral part of the daily functioning of any business or library and is crucial to customer satisfacation. However, I was really disappointed by the following paragraph:

“If you are the head of IT, you are no better than a glorified librarian, dispensing information. In contrast, if you are the head of BT, you are shoulder-to-shoulder with fellow executives who are running the operation. You’re focused on improving process and finding new sources of revenue. You apply technology for business results, not as a way to create information of questionable value.”

EXCUSE ME!!! The I in IT is just as important, if not more so, than the T. If we live in an information economy than it seems to me that librarians should be the superstars. Librarians are expert at collecting, organizing, and dissiminating information. Maybe it is time we go a step further and do more in the way of anticipating the information needs of our library, business, community and patrons.

I suggest that we better utilize our library’s resources and create specialized online newletters and blogs that provide people with the information they need before they even know they need it. When I worked in law firm libraries, anticipating the information needs of the lawyers was a big part of my job. WE would get a request for a specific piece of information but then we would have to determine what additional information would be beneficial.

I think public libraries can dramatically increase their standing in the community by creating special newsletters for local buisness, gardeners, investors, genealogists, fans of graphic novels, readers of certain types of genre, various ethnic groups, etc.,etc., etc., Basically, what I am suggesting is to examine all of the resources we have, determine what might be of interest to some self selected groups, and create a “package of information.” We could describe our resources, why we selected them and think they are good , and how the patron can use them effectively.

When our profession is faced with people like the author of this article, it is time for librarians to step up to the plate and prove that we do not just warehouse information but, are capable of getting of getting the right information into the right hands when they most need it. We must move to a more proactive role to make sure librarian’s are not left out of the information economy.

posted by Anna at 8:16 am |

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