Final Essay

Libraries Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow

An average student walks across campus, wondering to herself what topic to choose as the subject of her next paper for an English class at school, called Composition 106. Several ideas come to mind, but she doesn't know enough to choose one. She strolls past the library and considers walking through the doors to explore research ideas there. On second thought, she keeps walking toward the parking lot, deciding to leave instead and search for topic ideas online later that day. Then a question emerges: How has library use changed over time? As more and more students find resources available at the click of a mouse, surely the library feels the influence. Libraries have been around for ages, but with the spread of technology, some worry what will happen to the buildings that provide a home for dusty old volumes and worn and well-loved paperbacks. Fortunately, libraries have been changing ways of making information available to students and the public in order to grow and expand with the changing technology of modern society.

The establishment we would consider a “library” has been around for centuries. In fact, archaeologists have found clay tablets thought to be over 5000 years old and collections of Egyptian papyrus scrolls from as early as 1300 B.C. Aristotle himself might have been the first person to accumulate and organize books, teaching kings of Egypt how to collect their own libraries. From clay tablets to wooden boards to leather or parchment rolls to bound books, libraries have always been around to provide access to printed information (Krasner-Khait).

Most people are familiar with typical libraries of the 20th century: rows of bookshelves, a certain musty, papery smell, quiet readers hunched over a book they just found, novels covered with plastic jackets or printed with numbers, muted colors on chairs and carpeting, and the distant sound of date stamps at the front desk as people wait to borrow books for themselves. Some love the cozy feeling of that library, and many, specifically several college professors, worry that it will all disappear with the advance of technology. Memories from elementary school came to mind as I read online about these concerns. The public library seemed endless to me on class field trips when I was younger, and colorful book covers and little tables decorated with characters from juvenile fiction provided an entertaining break from the monotony of kindergarten. A matronly librarian would have chosen a book, and my classmates and I would cross our legs, sit on the ground, and stare at her as she created voices and expressions for every character and plot twist. After story time, we were allowed to wander among the shelves and pick out a book to check out. If I think closely, I can still hear the laminated covers that crackled as they opened, feel the cool metal bookends, and remember the pleasant tension created by the library's quiet. The thought that computer software and other technology could ever replace elements of the setting so vivid in most minds is alarming.

Indeed, fewer people depend on the library the same way they used to. More people use Google and online searches to find answers to specific questions. Yet some aspects of the library of yesterday have not changed, and probably never will. The library often also takes on the role of community center, a gathering place. Director Linda Arbaugh predicts, “Libraries aren't going to go away. There's always going to be a place for them” (Dremann). Librarians will be more in demand than ever. The traditional librarian will be replaced by the kind who understands networking, websites, and technology. However, librarians' talents will be more sought-after than ever as searches and tools get more expansive. One website presents a petition for the printing of the first postage stamp to feature a librarian. Other professions and notable figures have been featured in this way, and fans of the website feel it only fair to represent libraries' hardworking and sometimes inspirational contributions as well. Many aspects of libraries of yesterday had to change to evolve with society, but so much of what people value will stay the same.

Libraries of today are changing to keep up with the students and public who seek information, places to congregate, and resources. Already the effects can be seen: Mardigian Library at UMD has service available so students can email and even instant message their questions to get answers from the library. Computer stations can be found at most locations. Most libraries have comprehensive websites that include search engines, databases, and resources to make information convenient and accessible. Today, students can research a wide range of topics at all hours of the day or night from their own computers instead of waiting to look up a particular book located on a shelf. Also, books are tracked electronically instead of date stamped each time they're checked out. Often library patrons can access their account from home to check what they've borrowed or when books are due. Another advancement is the connections between libraries. If a resource is desired in one city, but the card owner wants to check it out from their own library, they can use a website to request that material. The connections between libraries have multiplied the resources available. Online books and articles can be accessed by computer, even if that particular library doesn't own a copy. In these ways, libraries have already adapted to the changing technology.

In the future, libraries will not become obsolete. Throughout history, people have felt the need to seek out information, and this will not change. Libraries will continue to be irreplaceable as community centers for gathering or as quiet places to study. More resources will be available online, but likewise librarians will be more in demand in order to make sense of the masses of information just mouse clicks away. Milpitas Public Library is an example of a new library with adaptations for changing needs: over a hundred computers, a conference room with a flat-screen TV, homework and activity centers, automated check-out counters, comfortable furniture, and Internet access. (Dremann). The Public Library of Charlotte and Mecklenburg County in North Carolina has added an interactive blog and space for kids to record music and shoot video (Sutter). More and more information will become digital, especially with the use of eBook readers and Google's book project to digitize books, but the libraries plan to change along with technology. Libraries aren't just about endless bookshelves; they're about connecting and learning. More connections will happen in a virtual setting, but students and the public will always need what libraries have to offer.

A survey of mostly juniors and seniors in college gave me an idea of how other people with circumstances like mine feel about libraries in a modern setting. Everyone who completed the survey had a library card and about 70% reported going to a library “sometimes” or “often,” according to the survey. A closer look at the results show that about 85% of respondents use the library for quiet study or to find research materials, but every single individual has had some experience with Internet databases or search engines connected to the library. This lets me know that what I've read and heard from librarians seems to be true: even if people aren't walking through the doors of their library, they are making use of 21st century technology and resources. One surprise for me was the lack of interest in hand-held reading devices like the Amazon Kindle. Almost half decided they would rather read a book on paper. The unanimous opinion among respondents was that “Technology will minimize [libraries], but they won't disappear.”

Libraries of yesterday might have been cozy, but the days when flipping through pages of old books arranged by the Duey Decimal System was the only way to find the answer to a question are long gone. Today, students and library patrons find themselves surrounded by resources without even stepping through the doors. They can connect to the library in ways never thought possible. Yet, the library of the future will use technology to serve many of the same purposes: helping to make sense of vast supplies of information, providing places to gather or study quietly, and connecting people with the answers to their questions.

Survey Results

A survey of mostly college students revealed a variety of feelings and opinions about the effect of technology on libraries.




The first graph illustrates respondents' answers regarding the frequency of library visits. About one third reported going to the library "Very Often" or "Often." With a college-aged sample, these numbers make sense. However, about a third reported visiting the library "Rarely." These students probably use online resources much more often, and I believe this graph reflects the growing trend of students rarely walking through the doors of their ilbrary; students now are tending to make better use of online resources.



The second chart is a bar graph about HOW people use the library. The majority of respondents reported using the library for "Finding Research," or "Quiet Study." Interestingly enough, these activities represent two ends of the spectrum: what technology improves, and where technology falls short. Online databases make research significantly more accessible and convenient. However, the minimization of square footage for quiet study could be a negative side effect as libraries put more space aside for technology.



The third graph is another pie chart. This really surprised me! The question asked students about their interest in handheld reading devices that use online books. I would have expected a much greater curiosity about the new technology, especially considering the younger average age of the sample. Almost half replied that they would rather "read something on paper." This response seems to reinforce the hypothesis that no amount of technology will ever be able to replace the traditional concept of the bookshelf-filled library.

Interview Profile Paper

A Library Without Walls

Teague Orblych is a librarian and research education coordinator at Mardigian Library at the University of Michigan – Dearborn. Mr. Orblych earned a degree in history from Wayne State University, and set out for law school. Deciding law was not what he wanted to pursue, Mr. Orblych chose to study Library and Information Science instead. Now he has worked in his field for over ten years. He is approachable and willing to help, which suits his job as a reference librarian well.
The room where the interview takes place is in Mardigian Library, down a hallway beside to the front desk. The room is dimly lit at the time, windows on one wall hinting at the rainy weather outdoors today. The average classroom-sized room is filled mainly by a large, wraparound table and the many padded chairs that circle it. It has the feeling of a room that has seen many years go by, four walls that have surrounded countless groups of students in the process of learning. A blank white piece of material hangs at one end of the room, and one can picture the endless computer images that have been projected upon it. Teague Orblych pulls out a chair, sets down his travel coffee mug, and settles in to answer my questions. When he talks, he speaks his organized thoughts clearly. The librarian cares about his work, and it shows. He gives the impression that he would gladly supply you with information on almost anything you would want to find.
Mr. Orblych sees the influence of technology at the library on a daily basis. Systems have changed and adapted over time. Students can now access catalogs and the 240 databases from any computer. They can also email, call, or instant message the library to get answers for their questions. Staff is currently working on a texting system so that students can even text message the library. Information is more accessible than ever before. There are about 300,000 books in the building, but because of technology today, students can find over 17 million books with the click of a mouse. Mr. Orblych thinks of it as “a library without walls.”
Libraries have certainly changed over time, but Mr. Orblych points out that the change hasn't been sudden. More information has been transferred from printed to electronic form, and more services are available online, but circulation has not dropped off. The library offers what the Internet cannot: face-to-face interactions, helpful librarians, and classes to make sense of it all. Mr. Orblych reminds students that a Google search is not the same as using the library for research. Even Google Scholar connects to the library's materials, so students may use the library even more than they realize. Much more misinformation exists on the Internet because no one controls the accuracy of facts online, and students cannot trust every source they find just by browsing web pages.
Academic libraries like the one at the University of Michigan – Dearborn serve a different purpose than a suburban public library in a community. Mr. Orblych seems surprised at first when asked to compare technology at the school's library with a library like Northville's. He points out that people typically use the two kinds of library for much different reasons. Academic libraries would typically be a place for quiet homework, group project meetings, and research. Students would likely utilize technology in the form of databases and search engines. Public libraries would appeal more to someone looking for fiction, pleasure reading, computer access, and other leisurely activities. The use of e-books is probably more likely to affect a community library.
Technology affects libraries and how people use them on a daily basis. Students can access the school by phone, email, and instant messaging. Databases and networks make searching and finding a broader range of books easier than ever before. Change happens over time, but nothing can replace helpful interactions with a librarian or the information sessions that make sense of the endless knowledge available. As technology advances, libraries will likewise continue to adjust gradually and expand to meet students' needs however possible.

Second Life - Some Thoughts

This is a photo of a character from Second Life, the online virtual reality program. The photo reflects the choices that players can make to their characters, changing the virtual "people" to be anything the Second Life user wants.

Q: Analyze the name Second Life. What does it suggest about the virtual worlds relation to the first life of the physical world?

A: Second Life is a computer program that allows people to create characters and customize almost everything about that character's appearance and surroundings. "Second Life," of course, implies that someone lives in their real life and uses the program to "live" differently, as they might if they had endless possibilities.

Second Life gives you chances to explore ways of living that in your own life might not be possible. You have more choices and fewer constraints. You can have blue hair, for example, without worrying what your boss will think on Monday morning. There are different communities within the game too: you can explore everything from cities to forests to pirate ships to fairy lands. Being able to chat with other users is interesting too. In your "second life," you might say (type) things that you wouldn't in real life.


On a related topic, we read an article in class discussing the use of the word "space" for the Internet. In my opinion, the word space should be used loosely - virtual worlds are created by computers, but there is no location for these "places." If your character goes "somewhere" in Second Life, the images on your screen will change, yes. But there is no literal space to meet other fictional characters, for example. (In other words, laws and guidelines should still apply.)

Also, do games like Second Life emphasize or stifle creativity? I'm still not sure of my opinion.... Seeing a visual representation of a land that doesn't exist provides a vivid picture for the person seeing it. This could spark more thoughts about the virtual world, causing the imagination to take the concept further. On the other hand, seeing images that a program designer first imagined for themselves could stifle the creativity of those playing the game, because players don't need to picture much in their own minds - it's all just there in front of them.

Extra Credit!

I'd almost given up looking around for apostrophe mistakes for extra credit when I noticed this sign on my way into work at Caribou Coffee. Someone had decorated a chalkboard advertising our new tea, but they didn't need that apostrophe to make"teas" plural. Oops.

Topic Photos!

Mardigian Library (Dearborn, MI).

Front entrance. (Although with the help of technology, the library is also accessed in many other ways...).

A search page opened on one of the many computers in the library, displaying databases and helpful tools.

The Library Research Center, where students find face-to-face assistance with their research. Also where the office of Teague Orblych, reference librarian at UMD, is located.

Revisions

Forgot to mention what I revised!
My article summary essay was very long, and some of the articles I used weren't officially academic journals. But after a bit of frustration, I found better articles and cut out what I wrote about the original articles. This version is slightly more streamlined in terms of paragraph structure, and I tried to keep the summaries more concise and informative this time. Also, in order to use the journals I found, I had to broaden my topic a little to include other driving distractions instead of strictly text message usage.
Overall, I think the revised version is more to-the-point, organized, and follows the guidelines of the assignment much better.