Improvements on Library Technology

Libraries provide access to books, computers and other materials.

Library technology refers to a wide range of materials and techniques, stretching back to the clay tablets and papyrus scrolls used in ancient libraries and leading to the online catalogs and virtual reference systems used in contemporary libraries. All of these tools have been used to support libraries in providing access to information.

Ancient History

In ancient Mesopotamia, clay tablets were used to record information about business affairs. In Egypt, scribes worked on papyrus scrolls. The Alexandrian Library contained an estimated 500,000 scrolls that were organized by subject. Parchment scrolls and books were collected by politicians and scholars in ancient Rome. These types of materials were also collected in major libraries in the Byzantine Empire and the Islamic world.

Early Europe and the Printing Press

Because books needed to be copied by hand, they remained rare and expensive during the Middle Ages and Renaissance. After the printing press was invented in 1454, the number of books increased, and there were books about a wide range of topics. This development helped support literacy and education for people outside of monasteries and universities. According to Richard Rubin, author of "Foundations of Library and Information Science," "In sum, the invention of the printing press, coupled with the reawakening of secular and scientific interests during the Renaissance, ultimately formed the foundation for the growth in number and size of libraries and consequently for a broader and wider mission for libraries."

Classification and Catalogs

Many card catalogs have been replaced by online catalogs.

As library collections grew larger, it became important to organize the materials in a way that allowed users to find them. Rather than simply maintaining a list of authors' names, libraries and librarians developed systems to group related subjects together. Some examples of classification systems include Dewey Decimal Classification and Library of Congress Classification. Library catalogs help people find where items are located within a library. In the 19th and 20th centuries, many libraries had large cabinets called card catalogs that were filled with small cards that had information about an item and where it was located. Thanks to advances in computers, card catalogs have been replaced by computerized catalogs.

Influence of Computers

In the 1960s, libraries began using computers. This process of "library automation" included the use of Machine Readable Cataloging (MARC). This refers to a computer file that has standardized fields for information about library materials. By having information about library materials available in an electronic format, library patrons can use computers to search for an item using keywords or they can browse using the subject groupings. Electronic catalogs are accessed using Online Public Access Computers (OPACs). Other aspects of library work benefited from computers, including checking items in and out (circulation) and purchasing items (acquisitions). To help manage all of this electronic information, many libraries use integrated library systems (ILS).

Online Resources and New Library Technology

Although libraries still exist as physical spaces that house and organize materials like books, CDs, magazines and other materials, there are also many library resources that exist electronically. For example, libraries purchase access to electronic databases. Library users can access these databases either in the library or from an off-site computer, using their library card number and the library website. According to a report published in 2010 by the American Library Association (ALA), 92 percent of public libraries have websites, and 84 percent provide access to electronic databases. To respond to the needs of patrons who may use a library's electronic resources but not come to the physical library, many institutions also offer virtual reference services. Questions can be asked and answered by email, chat, social networking sites and even text messaging, depending on the library's staff and technology. Ebooks and downloadable audio are also being offered by more public libraries. Innovations and improvements in library technology continue. The ALA's Office of Information Technology Policy showcases libraries that are using new technology to provide library services. One of the projects highlighted in 2010, associated with the Contra Costa County Library in California, is called "Library-a-Go-Go," which refers to touchscreen-operated kiosks where people can borrow and return books in a shopping center and two transit centers. Librarians continue to explore current and future library technology tools at events like the annual Library Technology Conference.

References

• "Foundations of Library and Information Science"; Richard Rubin; 2004
• "Library"; Encyclopædia Britannica Online Library Edition, 2010; accessed from the St. Paul Public Library Online Database Collection (subscription access)
• American Library Association: The State of America's Libraries
• ALA Office for Information Technology Policy: Cutting-Edge Technology in Library Services
• Macalester College: Library Technology Conference

Resources

• Library Journal: Current Library Automation Options
• ALA: Library Technology Fact Sheet
• Library Technology Guides