Review: 3

Emerging technologies changing our service delivery models

Mary Kajewski’s article “Emerging technologies change our service delivery models” 2006, explores free and inexpensive technologies that are readily available on the World Wide Web. This paper demonstrates positive examples of technology such as blogs, wikis, RSS feeds and aggiegets, podcast, vodcasts, web conferencing and instant messaging that can be incorporated into library services and programs along with examples of each. She concludes the article with a key to success: staff training. Kajewski points out that “with the rise of online resource and new technology, libraries interested in enhancing user service and providing unmediated, independent access to library services and collection have began to look at new ways of creating online communities” . Blogging is just one example of such an online community.


Burrows describes blogs (short for web log), as an online diary or journal, usually displayed in reverse chronological order. Blogs are web sites that contain brief entries where readers can leave comments. Kajewski explains that in a library environment, blogs can be used as an information service for clients, as a library service that lists new items added to the collection, as a feedback tool or for professional awareness to keep staff updated.



A wiki is a collaborative community web site where anyone can contribute. Kajewski describes wikis as a shared space for quick collaboration consisting of editing where users can create, add, edit or delete content within its pages. A wiki is software that uses simple markup language, with the software or wiki engine being freely available on the net, media wiki being the most common. Wikipedia, a collaborative encyclopaedia uses media wiki as its search engine. For examples of other wiki’s using media wiki (note they all have the same layout) see:
• Wiki how – a how to do it manual
• Wiki books – a library of educational textbooks
• Military history wiki – a military history of the past two centuries.



RSS (really simple syndication) is explained by Kajewski as a feed used to publish frequently updated digital content. RSS allows users to receive content from sources that frequently publish or update their digital content, by subscribing to podcasts, blogs, wikis or news feed or web pages of interest. Subscribers automatically receive updates through RSS feed without having to visit the website frequently or clogging up their emails.



The term podcast comes from the two words “iPod” and “broadcast”. A podcast is an audio program distributed over the internet to subscribed users. Kajewski mentions the advantages of podcasting; one advantage is that it can be downloaded or streamed at any time and listened to at the user’s convenience. Kajewski then goes on to discuss how a library can create a basic podcast, touching briefly on statistics of who has used podcasts, then she gives examples of how public libraries can incorporate podcasts into their programs giving examples of libraries who podcast. She then suggests ways Podcasts can be used as an educational tool - for example: for book reviews, presentations, lectures and tutorials or even in libraries or museums for tours. An example of library Podcasting in use today is the Ohio University Library which offers a podcasting service guiding patrons through its many departments.
Kajewski touches briefly on

• Vodcasts, on demand video clips that are available online to view or download at a time that is convenient.
• Web conferencing is used to conduct meetings or conferences (webinar) over the Internet. The last technology discussed was
  
• Instant Messaging, a real time, online text communication with one or more users. This is frequently used by teenagers of today; a common instant messenger is MSN (Microsoft Network).
  

This paper gives an excellent overview of new technologies available online and examples and links for libraries that have incorporated these technologies into their services and programs. The writer of this review believes that although the article is dated 2006, it is still relevant today with most links and examples still currently accessible at the time of writing this review.


References:

Kajewski, M. (2007). Emerging technologies changing our service delivery models. [Electronic Version]. The Electronic Library. 25 (4), 420-429. Retrieved July 17, 2008 from www.emeraldinsight.com/10.1108/02640470710779835

Wikipedia, viewed 15 August 2008, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Main_Page