[sigh] Librarians...
While our professional duties imply the constantly learning servants to the public (in re the dissemination of information), I am sad to say that this is not the case.
After participating the Thinking Ahead Symposium (a conference for library professionals to meet and discuss the future of libraries and library services) last Fall in Salt Lake City, I was sorely disappointed to see the fear and resistance many librarians have towards learning new information resources (which typically are in various formats of technology).
After a meeting with the professional staff of my library system this morning, I was further disappointed that many appear to share this fear or appear disinterested in furthering their skills as information resources upgrade.
Perhaps in fifteen to twenty years I'll find myself stuck in a similar rut or simply be too busy to increase my knowledge in these areas.
What is it about technology that scares us so?
* New formats are introduced before we can become proficient in the old ones.
* Fear of change is a common trait of humans (according to all the self help books I read).
* There are rumors about different tools that scare the general populace.
* Lack of resouces (ex. money) to try the new technology.
Care to add to the list?
While our professional duties imply the constantly learning servants to the public (in re the dissemination of information), I am sad to say that this is not the case.
After participating the Thinking Ahead Symposium (a conference for library professionals to meet and discuss the future of libraries and library services) last Fall in Salt Lake City, I was sorely disappointed to see the fear and resistance many librarians have towards learning new information resources (which typically are in various formats of technology).
After a meeting with the professional staff of my library system this morning, I was further disappointed that many appear to share this fear or appear disinterested in furthering their skills as information resources upgrade.
Perhaps in fifteen to twenty years I'll find myself stuck in a similar rut or simply be too busy to increase my knowledge in these areas.
What is it about technology that scares us so?
* New formats are introduced before we can become proficient in the old ones.
* Fear of change is a common trait of humans (according to all the self help books I read).
* There are rumors about different tools that scare the general populace.
* Lack of resouces (ex. money) to try the new technology.
Care to add to the list?
2 comments:
dmaismith said...
Yes, we've downloaded Mozilla onto our staff computers, although it doesn't interface well with some of our databases (Explorer still has the upperhand in that area).
Vern Waters said...
Those that fear and choose to stay stuck in the past will sadly be left behind. There are certainly skills that will be lost as we race into the future but there is no going back. I am one who is excited by the technology of the future. Change is sometimes (okay always) difficult but it is change and it is exciting. You know you are alive. And we have opportunities to do new things and do old things better.
Thanks for a nice post that took me back over the arch of my last year or so.