A well-known quote, attributed to A.J. Vendeland, states that, “Using the Internet today is like trying to use a library where all the books have been dumped on the floor and the lights turned out." Since the advent of the web and the new social dynamic of information exchange, many people are ready to categorize libraries and librarians as obsolete. What these same people fail to realize is that regardless of the significance, validity, or source, new information is flooding the Internet at an exponential rate. This confused proliferation of information is exacerbated by the fact that digital information is not limited to a physical location and a restrictive selection process. This ever-growing pool of digital resource is being tirelessly contributed to on a global scale.
As I understand it from the three assigned articles, the information retrieval system of databases is using a metadata format to create a resource directory application for the Internet. Anne Gilliland’s “An Introduction to Meta Data: Pathways to Digital Information” is excellent in that it clearly outlines the three components of metadata (content, context, and structure.). However, her categorizations of different metadata types and functions seem to mimic the current tasks and functions inherent in traditional librarianship. Gilliland even admits that, “Cultural heritage and information professionals have been creating metadata for as long as they have been managing collections. Increasingly, such metadata are being incorporated into digital information systems.” And while she contends that “museum, archives and library professionals may be most familiar with the term in association with description or cataloging,” she overlooks that the fact that separate from metadata, librarians have been contextualizing, processing, and preserving a myriad of resources in a wide range of formats.
Often, librarianship is characterized as the struggling recipient of the technological conditions of information sciences but I think that it’s time for the potential contribution of librarians to the new digital dynamic to be recognized. In fact, aren’t most of these digital platforms trying to replicate what librarians do already? I wonder how many librarians, not information scientists but actual librarians, are involved in the development of these pilot projects and if they aren’t…they should be. Conversely, I am beginning to think that a higher level of technological training should be mandatory in library education as the convergence of the two fields seems inevitable.
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3 comments:
While I completely agree with your belief that the fields of 'traditional' librarianship and the use of technological information retrieval systems is inevitable, I don't believe that a mandatory technology class for all library school graduates is the answer. I think that those librarians who, as you hoped, help to created this technology, build a network through which to pass on their knowledge to those interested - I think the potential for a new specialization is strong here. But keep in mind that many librarians will never be very technologically savvy, simply because not everyone can or wants to learn about software and databases on that level (not to mention the amount of time which would need to go into that).
I also believe that it is inevitable that the two fields, librarianship and technological information will be joined. I feel that librarians and libraries are up to date on the technology that is most useful to them. I will admit that small town libaries are not as educated as they should be but most of them do not have the funds to be as technologicaly equiped as say the smithsonain.
I agree with you in that I think higher level technology training should be mandatory for librarians today! When I started this class I didn't have a huge background in this area, but as I am realizing in my current job, I am going to need it! In many positions, librarians are responsible for making information as accessible and complete as possible. Since information is becoming more and more digitized, we really need this technological background.
I am appreciating this class more and more every day!
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