‘All that Glisters is not Gold,’ is written by Paul Anderson, a technology writer and the technical editor of JISC Technology and Standards Watch. The article is a brief, yet informative piece of writing based around the affect Web 2.0 is slowly undertaking on librarians and the general running of libraries. Anderson writes this article to inform others of the changes that are beginning to take place due to the rise of Web 2.0. His main analysis is based around the effect Web 2.0 is having on libraries and how libraries must continue to modify themselves in order to keep up with these changes and stay relevant in a constantly changing society.
This article is written as an editorial, taking a brief look at the history of Web 2.0 before moving on to looking at the implications of Web 2.0 services and outlining some of the areas in which ‘librarians are positioned to provide a unique contribution to the further development of these services.’ (Anderson, 2007, p.195)
When studying this article in regards to Web 2.0 (or ‘Library 2.0) the audience can see that it makes a variety of valid points on how these new technologies are influencing the way libraries are run. Anderson takes a brief look at how libraries should be performing today and how Web 2.0 is influencing these performances.
One main area Anderson focuses on in this article is the constraints a library can often place on itself when being compared to the interactive world of Web 2.0. Anderson discusses the fact that some libraries are not embracing this new world of Web 2.0 and are therefore being held back. They are not accessible to a younger generation who only know the interactive world of Web 2.0 and therefore are becoming a thing of a past. The main argument Anderson puts forward is the focus that libraries have to place on becoming relevant to this younger generation, perhaps embracing things such as blogs and interactive websites.
It is often easy to find articles based around ‘Library 2.0’ that are pessimistic on the role librarians may have as we move into this Web 2.0 based world. Anderson takes a lighter look at the growing roles librarians can now enjoy thanks to Web 2.0. ‘As new technologies and services start to show their limitations in terms of respect for privacy and copyright, the librarians’ public sector ethos could be a valuable constituent in building the technologies of the future.’ (Anderson, 2007, p.196) Anderson is able to put a more positive spin on the role of librarians and is therefore able to embrace the growing relationship between Web 2.0 and the librarian.
A new area that Anderson touches on is in how he demonstrates the growing relationship between librarians and Web 2.0 when he looks at the variety of ideas that power Web 2.0 that Tim O’Reilly has produced and how a librarian’s role can influence and match up with these principles. This again provides a positive look, which has rarely been touched, into the role of the librarian and the ever increasing relationship they now have with Web 2.0.
Although this article is a brief editorial, Anderson is able to put forward a variety of note worthy points in regards to the librarian and Web 2.0. Through this article the audience is able to gain a greater understanding of how this relationship is changing and how the librarian’s job is changing. Anderson takes careful note to cover a variety of areas, placing a positive slant on this changing role, which is often over-looked in place for the harder constraints that may be placed on the librarian over the next few years.
Anderson, P. (2007). All that Glisters is Not Gold: Web 2.0 and the Librarian. Journal of Librarianship and Information Science, 39(4), 195-197. Doi: 10.1177/0961000607083210
Monday, April 12, 2010
Review of: Documenting the Global Conversation: Relevancy of Libraries in a Digital World.
‘Documenting the Global Conversation’ is written by Fred Heath for the Journal of Library Administration. Heath is ‘Vice Provost and Director of the University of Texas Libraries, a position he has held since 2003. He has served in similar capacities at Texas A&M University, Texas Christian University and the University of North Alabama during his career of 30+ years in academic librarianship.’ (“Fred Heath,” n.d., para. 1)
The first half of this article looks at how the rise of the digital world has affected a variety of academic areas, including libraries. Heath focuses on a few different subjects to provide the audience with an understanding of the variety of changes that have taken place over the past few years as the digital world has become increasingly more popular. The second half of this article looks at how research libraries can deal with the challenges that arise from the digital world and how by embracing the technologies involved with this rise they can stay relevant and become an important part of the new generation that is continuing to rise.
This article takes a different approach to studying the digital age and its influence on libraries by also taking a look at how it affects other areas in the information sector, including: newspapers, the music industry, book publishing and higher education (mainly universities.) Through this study the audience is able to gain an understanding on how the digital age is having a consequence in many areas throughout the information sector and how it is important for all these areas to make changes before they become irrelevant.
Heath then takes a look at how the digital age is affecting libraries and what they could possibly do to stay relevant; focusing mainly on the University of Texas library he works in. The main problem Heath proposes is that fact that: ‘Libraries no longer set all the rules when it comes to the academic community’s pursuit of information. Students are very self-reliant and increasingly willing to make their own judgements about the utility of information. Very few users would find asking a librarian to be a preferred method of locating information.’ (Heath, 2009, p.527) Through raising this point Heath puts forward a concern that is on many people’s minds from the information sector, how do we stay relevant in a world where information is at everyone’s finger tips?
Unlike the previous article Heath takes a less optimistic view towards the digital world and its effect on librarians and often focuses on the problems that are beginning to rise. He touches on a variety of different departments that can be found in a library and how they are being affected because of the digital world.
Although this article is an informative piece of work it could also gain a great deal from developing the arguments and solutions more. Heath focuses too much on the problems that have come about because of the digital world and does not provide a lot of detail into how these problems may be solved. He does look at a few solutions that have been proposed but often then goes directly to their problems rather than how they may help to solve the issues that have risen. Heath’s article allows the audience to gain an insight into the digital world and how it is not only affecting libraries but many other areas in the information sector, but does not give a well-rounded look at what may be done about these problems, nor on how the digital world is developing many areas in the information sector.
Heath, F. (2009) ‘Documenting the Global Conversation: Relevancy of Libraries in a Digital World’, Journal of Library Administration, 49(5), 519-532. Doi: 10.1080/01930820903090896
Fred Heath, (n.d.) Retrieved from: http://www.lib.utexas.edu/vprovost/heath_f.html
The first half of this article looks at how the rise of the digital world has affected a variety of academic areas, including libraries. Heath focuses on a few different subjects to provide the audience with an understanding of the variety of changes that have taken place over the past few years as the digital world has become increasingly more popular. The second half of this article looks at how research libraries can deal with the challenges that arise from the digital world and how by embracing the technologies involved with this rise they can stay relevant and become an important part of the new generation that is continuing to rise.
This article takes a different approach to studying the digital age and its influence on libraries by also taking a look at how it affects other areas in the information sector, including: newspapers, the music industry, book publishing and higher education (mainly universities.) Through this study the audience is able to gain an understanding on how the digital age is having a consequence in many areas throughout the information sector and how it is important for all these areas to make changes before they become irrelevant.
Heath then takes a look at how the digital age is affecting libraries and what they could possibly do to stay relevant; focusing mainly on the University of Texas library he works in. The main problem Heath proposes is that fact that: ‘Libraries no longer set all the rules when it comes to the academic community’s pursuit of information. Students are very self-reliant and increasingly willing to make their own judgements about the utility of information. Very few users would find asking a librarian to be a preferred method of locating information.’ (Heath, 2009, p.527) Through raising this point Heath puts forward a concern that is on many people’s minds from the information sector, how do we stay relevant in a world where information is at everyone’s finger tips?
Unlike the previous article Heath takes a less optimistic view towards the digital world and its effect on librarians and often focuses on the problems that are beginning to rise. He touches on a variety of different departments that can be found in a library and how they are being affected because of the digital world.
Although this article is an informative piece of work it could also gain a great deal from developing the arguments and solutions more. Heath focuses too much on the problems that have come about because of the digital world and does not provide a lot of detail into how these problems may be solved. He does look at a few solutions that have been proposed but often then goes directly to their problems rather than how they may help to solve the issues that have risen. Heath’s article allows the audience to gain an insight into the digital world and how it is not only affecting libraries but many other areas in the information sector, but does not give a well-rounded look at what may be done about these problems, nor on how the digital world is developing many areas in the information sector.
Heath, F. (2009) ‘Documenting the Global Conversation: Relevancy of Libraries in a Digital World’, Journal of Library Administration, 49(5), 519-532. Doi: 10.1080/01930820903090896
Fred Heath, (n.d.) Retrieved from: http://www.lib.utexas.edu/vprovost/heath_f.html
Review of: WEB 2.0 implications on Knowledge Management
‘Web 2.0, implications on knowledge management,’ is written by Moria Levy the CEO and founder of ROM Knowledgeware a knowledge management firm in Reut, Israel. Levy holds the largest Knowledge Management firm in Israel, consulting and working with many medium and large companies and organisations throughout Israel. (“Company Employees”, n.d., para.4)
In this article Levy aims to look at and provide an understanding of Web 2.0 and the implications it has on knowledge management. Her main aim is to look at whether using Web 2.0 can produce a better integration of knowledge management in organisations and the general public.
Levy has set out a well informed, easy to understand and manage article that allows the audience to follow clearly what she wants to achieve and the findings she has come across due to her studies and research. Through this article Levy not only achieves her goal of studying Web 2.0 and how it has affected knowledge management but also provides a well informed article on what Web 2.0 is and how it came about.
Through providing the reader with a background of Web 2.0 and where it has risen from Levy allows her audience to gain a greater understanding of where Web 2.0 has come from and how it can have such a great impact on knowledge management today. Levy takes great measures to make sure her reader knows exactly how Web 2.0 functions and the many areas that knowledge management and Web 2.0 cross-over.
One of the most useful points Levy raises is through her table of a comparison of Web 2.0 and knowledge management tools and attributes. Through this table the audience is able to gain an understanding of how Web 2.0 and knowledge management cross over but also how they can help each other and what needs to be done to fix the gaps that may be found if we let Web 2.0 simply over-run knowledge management as it is known today.
Levy’s main argument throughout this article is that those involved with knowledge management need to embrace what is happening with Web 2.0 and allow the many tools and attributes to influence how knowledge management is being undertaken. Levy outlines how the gradual change can take place and how this change will allow many people to gain a great deal from knowledge management.
Levy provides a positive, yet careful outlook on how Web 2.0 is and will influence knowledge management. Through her well thought out work many people involved in the business will be able to gain a greater understanding on how Web 2.0 can be used to develop their companies and their line of work and how this can allow them to become more widely accessible to the general public. Levy claims that it is time to embrace what is happening through Web 2.0 and to allow it to change knowledge management for the better. Her article provides a large amount of information that is often lacking when studying other articles involving knowledge management and Web 2.0, therefore this article can be used to move forward in the relationship that is continually growing between Web 2.0 and knowledge management.
Levy, M. (2009). Web 2.0 Implications on Knowledge Management. Journal of Knowledge Management, 13(1), 120-134. Doi: 10.1109/13673270931215
Company Employees, (n.d.) Retrieved from: http://www.kmrom.com/Site-En/Members/CompanyEmployees.aspx?MemberID=0&P=278
In this article Levy aims to look at and provide an understanding of Web 2.0 and the implications it has on knowledge management. Her main aim is to look at whether using Web 2.0 can produce a better integration of knowledge management in organisations and the general public.
Levy has set out a well informed, easy to understand and manage article that allows the audience to follow clearly what she wants to achieve and the findings she has come across due to her studies and research. Through this article Levy not only achieves her goal of studying Web 2.0 and how it has affected knowledge management but also provides a well informed article on what Web 2.0 is and how it came about.
Through providing the reader with a background of Web 2.0 and where it has risen from Levy allows her audience to gain a greater understanding of where Web 2.0 has come from and how it can have such a great impact on knowledge management today. Levy takes great measures to make sure her reader knows exactly how Web 2.0 functions and the many areas that knowledge management and Web 2.0 cross-over.
One of the most useful points Levy raises is through her table of a comparison of Web 2.0 and knowledge management tools and attributes. Through this table the audience is able to gain an understanding of how Web 2.0 and knowledge management cross over but also how they can help each other and what needs to be done to fix the gaps that may be found if we let Web 2.0 simply over-run knowledge management as it is known today.
Levy’s main argument throughout this article is that those involved with knowledge management need to embrace what is happening with Web 2.0 and allow the many tools and attributes to influence how knowledge management is being undertaken. Levy outlines how the gradual change can take place and how this change will allow many people to gain a great deal from knowledge management.
Levy provides a positive, yet careful outlook on how Web 2.0 is and will influence knowledge management. Through her well thought out work many people involved in the business will be able to gain a greater understanding on how Web 2.0 can be used to develop their companies and their line of work and how this can allow them to become more widely accessible to the general public. Levy claims that it is time to embrace what is happening through Web 2.0 and to allow it to change knowledge management for the better. Her article provides a large amount of information that is often lacking when studying other articles involving knowledge management and Web 2.0, therefore this article can be used to move forward in the relationship that is continually growing between Web 2.0 and knowledge management.
Levy, M. (2009). Web 2.0 Implications on Knowledge Management. Journal of Knowledge Management, 13(1), 120-134. Doi: 10.1109/13673270931215
Company Employees, (n.d.) Retrieved from: http://www.kmrom.com/Site-En/Members/CompanyEmployees.aspx?MemberID=0&P=278
Review of: Encouraging the Digital Economy and Digital Citizenship
‘Encouraging the digital economy and digital citizenship’ is a manuscript based on a speech given by Roxanne Missingham at the ALIA Public Libraries Summit. Roxanne Missingham is currently President of ALIA and Parliamentary Librarian, Australian Parliamentary Library. She has also worked as Assistant Director, Resource Sharing Services at NLA, at the CSIRO and the Australian Nature Conservation Agency. (Greenhill, n.d.)
This article focuses mainly around the digital economy in Australia and how it is important for everyone to have access to the internet. Missingham focuses on the fact that everyone still does not have equal access to the internet and how this is affecting a variety of rural areas throughout Australia. Missingham’s main argument is the fact that the government and others in the information sector need to focus on providing equal internet access to all people in Australia to allow equal access to learning, government, retail etc.
Missingham focuses on both negative and positive achievements that have happened over the past few years in regards to the internet throughout Australia and therefore provides a fairly well-rounded piece of information that allows her audience to gain an understanding of how the Australian digital environment is running. However because she is speaking with a specific agenda she is always going to be pushing for the fact that more needs to be done in regards to rural areas and their access to the internet, and therefore much of her information is focused in on this area.
This article can be taken as a well informed look into the rural areas of Australia and the internet’s influence on these areas, or lack of influence. Through this article the audience is able to gain a greater understanding of an area that has often been left untouched and are able to gain greater knowledge into the effects of the digital divide throughout Australia. Missingham puts a personal focus into her information, focusing on her home town, therefore providing the audience with a real town to relate to, and allowing them to understand the effects of the digital divide on a personal level.
Through this article the audience is able to gain an understanding on what the government is doing in regards to the digital divide and what still needs to be done to continue to fix these problems. Missingham provides concise information on how the government runs and what has been said in regards to the problem. However she also places a large emphasis on the fact that there is still a lot that needs to be done.
As this article was originally a speech presented at an ALIA summit it provides a lot more personal opinions and information then an article written simply to inform. The audience needs to take care when reading this article to make sure they distinguish between what is fact and what is Missingham’s opinion. Despite this fact Missingham’s article can still be read with confidence in regards to Web 2.0 and the affect it is having on the knowledge sector and digital citizenship. Missingham focuses a great deal on the fact that the digital world is playing a large role on the knowledge sector and it is for this very reason that something needs to be done about the digital divide between rural and urban areas.
Overall Missingham provides a great deal of information in regards to these areas, but still leaves the topic open, showing that there is still a great deal to be done before this area will be concluded.
Missingham, R. (2009) Encouraging the Digital Economy and Digital Citizenship. Australian Library Journal, 58(4), 386-399.
Greenhill, K. (n.d.) LINTerview with Roxanne Missingham: Parliamentary Librarian. In Libraries Interact. Retrieved from: http://librariesinteract.info/2007/05/24/linterview-with-roxanne-missingham-parliamentary-librarian/
This article focuses mainly around the digital economy in Australia and how it is important for everyone to have access to the internet. Missingham focuses on the fact that everyone still does not have equal access to the internet and how this is affecting a variety of rural areas throughout Australia. Missingham’s main argument is the fact that the government and others in the information sector need to focus on providing equal internet access to all people in Australia to allow equal access to learning, government, retail etc.
Missingham focuses on both negative and positive achievements that have happened over the past few years in regards to the internet throughout Australia and therefore provides a fairly well-rounded piece of information that allows her audience to gain an understanding of how the Australian digital environment is running. However because she is speaking with a specific agenda she is always going to be pushing for the fact that more needs to be done in regards to rural areas and their access to the internet, and therefore much of her information is focused in on this area.
This article can be taken as a well informed look into the rural areas of Australia and the internet’s influence on these areas, or lack of influence. Through this article the audience is able to gain a greater understanding of an area that has often been left untouched and are able to gain greater knowledge into the effects of the digital divide throughout Australia. Missingham puts a personal focus into her information, focusing on her home town, therefore providing the audience with a real town to relate to, and allowing them to understand the effects of the digital divide on a personal level.
Through this article the audience is able to gain an understanding on what the government is doing in regards to the digital divide and what still needs to be done to continue to fix these problems. Missingham provides concise information on how the government runs and what has been said in regards to the problem. However she also places a large emphasis on the fact that there is still a lot that needs to be done.
As this article was originally a speech presented at an ALIA summit it provides a lot more personal opinions and information then an article written simply to inform. The audience needs to take care when reading this article to make sure they distinguish between what is fact and what is Missingham’s opinion. Despite this fact Missingham’s article can still be read with confidence in regards to Web 2.0 and the affect it is having on the knowledge sector and digital citizenship. Missingham focuses a great deal on the fact that the digital world is playing a large role on the knowledge sector and it is for this very reason that something needs to be done about the digital divide between rural and urban areas.
Overall Missingham provides a great deal of information in regards to these areas, but still leaves the topic open, showing that there is still a great deal to be done before this area will be concluded.
Missingham, R. (2009) Encouraging the Digital Economy and Digital Citizenship. Australian Library Journal, 58(4), 386-399.
Greenhill, K. (n.d.) LINTerview with Roxanne Missingham: Parliamentary Librarian. In Libraries Interact. Retrieved from: http://librariesinteract.info/2007/05/24/linterview-with-roxanne-missingham-parliamentary-librarian/
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