Introduction

When it comes to technology I have always been a bit of a cynic. I used to believe that technology was eroding our minds and behaviors, and making us worse. After using technology for information, communication and many other productive purposes in this MLIS program I have changed my tune. I now realize that technology can be a helpful tool, it can edify and enhance my work. The benefits technology brings to humanity abound: we can connect and share information world wide, distance is irrelevant, language barriers and other access barriers crumble with the internet and digitization of so much information. We can communicate more effectively, build systems and organize and share materials more efficiently, with deeper purpose and more innovation than ever (Thompson, 2013). Libraries are a huge part of expanding digital equity with technology offerings (ALA, 2021). Something like a rare one of a kind historic map that was once an item only viewed if visiting a physical location and paying a fee to enter and wearing the right gloves to handle, can now be viewed instantaneously online - often with interactive features to learn more about it! Technology has eroded so many barriers between humans and information, but with that erosion are challenges and the upwelling of new issues. Where technology was once a luxury, it is now (in most first world nations) an essential tool for living that not everyone can afford. The many pay walls, and short life cycles technology mean that hardware and software are quickly outdated. So while technology has broken down many barriers to information, it has created some new challenges that libraries will continue to address. Overall, technology when paired with human effort can create amazing elevated services and products. Look at how the Open+ system for public libraries did not replace librarians, but rather freed them up to do more things and reach new patrons. The self service technology stretched budgets and freed staff to do more meaningful work (Zulkey, 2019). Technology is a beast that I will forever wrestle with, some skills will become outdated or obsolete while others might become so commonplace they cease to be viewed as a skill. Continued learning is a requirement for this competency and I must humbly recognize that I will never know it all, and there will always be something new to learn. My job as a librarian and a human who lives in a first world technology driven nation, will be identifying what tools would help me, using them effectively and evaluating them in relation to my work’s purpose.

Statement of Competency 

As an American living in 2023, technology is no longer a luxury or a fun hobby to be explored; it is now an essential tool to communicate with others, organize information, and create final work products. To do this I must identify current technology that will help me, use that technology, and evaluate if and how it edifies my work product. As libraries are in the business of the information world, it is essential that they stay up to date on technology as it is the most accessible venue for communication world wide. I found that in INFO 240 creating a website from nothing using HTML and CSS showed me some of the inner-workings of technology creation. INFO 282 Project management showed me how to evaluate current software for a given purpose. INFO 287 showed me the big picture of how technology assists humanity in communication and learning, and how utilizing a specific technology in a program can increase participation and outreach. INFO 200 had me evaluating the specific information a community needs and how they would use technology to meet those needs. INFO 210 had me evaluating automation of information communication technologies and the benefits of AI and bot technology. I use so many different online platforms, and have become so accustomed to using shared digital platforms it is only natural that these skills and tools will transfer to wherever I go in my library journey. They are as much a part of me as any other tool I use to go about my day. I use shoes to walk, a car to go long distances, and technology for communication and create effective work products. 

Theory

Identify

No matter where I go in the information profession, there will always be challenges and problems arising, and identifying new technologies and tools that can assist me will be an essential and helpful skill. Often I talk to people about using technology and there is a false assumption that to solve a problem they need a creative innovative new solution, a new piece of technology or software. However, I believe this is consumer misdirection, and that the best way to solve a problem is to first look around at others in my field for examples of how they have faced similar issues, and what tools they used. After this observation of their problem solving methods I can create my own modified solution to fit my needs. I do not believe we need to reinvent the wheel or always purchase new technology, for each new problem. Sometimes it might be as simple as reappropriating a technology we already have for a different purpose. So defining the need first, and then looking at examples of how others have problem-solved is always my first step. 

Life cycles on technology are often incredibly short, and so learning technology tools without any end goal in mind is pointless as they could be outdated or reinvented by the time I need to use them. At the same time I am always on the lookout for new innovations that might benefit my work or the people I serve. I am approaching the technology field with a continual learner’s mindset of growth and curiosity. Just because something is flashy and new does not mean it is the best tool for the job, but it might be and I must be willing to continually experiment and learn while utilizing my technology staples. I believe you pick the technology tools that suit the challenges and work you face. Technology is not a game, or an item to bring status, it is a tool to be utilized for a specific goal. One must identify the goal, identify the technology that will achieve that goal in the most efficient way possible utilizing the modalities of those who have come before me.  

Use

As Pew Research Center states, “90% of Americans say the internet has been essential or important to them” since the rise of the pandemic, and most agree tools like Zoom are useful and helpful (McClain et al., 2021). I am no different. I find the internet extremely helpful, I often utilize and access a ton of different technology tools on a regular basis. Everyday I use Google documents and Google Suite and Canva for simple visuals and graphics and promotional materials for ALASC. I run and facilitate Zoom meetings weekly for communication and collaboration with others, and Jamboard to do collaborative whiteboard brainstorming in a visual manner. I have many Excel/Google Sheets to organize lists for many aspects of my work like phone lists and rosters. I use iMovie to process Dr. Loertscher’s recorded zoom interviews for this www.alivelibrary.info project where I record the interviews on Zoom, download them to my computer, edit them with iMovie, and upload them to YouTube, Dr. Loertsher’s website and his social media platforms. As a photographer for the last ten years I regularly use Adobe Photoshop, Lightroom, Bridge and Illustrator to edit and upload finished photography; and love doing graphic design on an ipad with the Procreate app and an Apple pencil. I built my own personal website on a Google site, added my own domain www.rachelfleming.com, and love how easy and user-friendly the site is to edit. I have used Squarespace for my online fine art sales for the last couple years at www.rlynnstudio.com. This platform takes care of processing all forms of electronic payments as a service I can access. I have experimented with Modzilla Hubs Virtual Reality with SJSU and seen the potential for interacting in a digital space. During my National Parks Golden Gate Museum Archive Program I used Microsoft Teams to communicate and edit shared work, and SJSU’s many databases to access information to create finding aids for an oral history project. I have even experimented with platforms that I do not find to be super useful for classes like VoiceThread and Prezi. By the time I have finished this MLIS program I am sure there will be new technology I am using, and even more that I will be learning about.      

Evaluate 

When I evaluate a technology tool I ask: How effective was this tool at achieving the stated goal? How well did it assist me in solving my problem? Was it easy to use? Was the final outcome successful? Did the tool help reach the audience it was meant to reach? Did it make my work easier? Was the work quality and product improved by the technology? Did it allow me to do more in less time, or go deeper into a project, collaborate more, and get beyond past work ruts? If I am looking at a technology service I need to determine if it automates a task that freed up a worker’s time? As of now AI and machine learning can only take us so far, but in the future who knows how much they can learn and what limits they will have. Right now most virtual references do not have the programming or conceptual depth to answer questions that require cross disciplinary answers. AI cannot yet help the user strategize, clarify needs or collaborate across sources of information, but in the future who knows what automation can do for us, and all we can do is evaluate the service against the intended goal (Cassel  & Hiremath, 2018). Thankfully, the American Library Association has an Emerging Technologies Section of RUSA to assist in suggesting tech-savvy solutions in order to improve user experience and this can act as a guide amongst the avalanche of new technologies always upon us (ALA, 2008). 

Conclusion

When it comes to technology, we will never be caught up, the cycle never ends, and continual learning is a given reality. I am so grateful that I live in a world of so many technologies, the use of these tools has improved my life and the lives of all the people I know. It can seem daunting and frustrating at times to see the never ending cascade of new tools being created and marketed, but that also means I can continue to grow and learn and do new things because of technology. This is a new world everyday and technology makes it better. 

Below is a fun infographic I created for INFO 287 for a context book reivew of Thompson's 2013 Smarter Than You Think: How Technolog is Changing our Minds for the Better. 

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