Emerging technologies: A primer for librarians

In a field full of books on library technology, is there a need for a basic text surveying the scene? In this case, the answer is positive because the authors have targeted the book’s contents carefully, focussing on what they call “emerging” technologies and then applying a consistent template in each chapter as they evaluate the benefits that might accrue to libraries. Each chapter has a brief and non-technical overview of the technology, followed by a list of advantages and challenges of using these technologies in libraries. In a slightly unusual twist, they add the most common and useful platforms and tools associated with each technology [e.g. in Chapter 4 on Crowdfunding, they include a description (with URLs) of Kickstarter, Indiegogo and GoFundMe]. They then give examples of the technologies in use in libraries around the world. Almost all the examples come from the USA, which is a pity because some good examples have been missed, for example, the National Library of Australia’s crowdsourcing to enable text correction for its digitised newspaper collection (even though it is not fundraising). The intention is to give the reader a model to use when evaluating any new technology, consider its relevance to a particular sector of libraries and think about how it might be used now and in the future.

As the authors are very well aware, the technologies they describe and evaluate are not necessarily new; sometimes they are existing technologies that have morphed or merged with others or simply found new life in a fresh context. So, the chapter titles may not be what you expect in a book with this title: audio and video, self-publishing and the library as publisher, mobile technologies, crowdfunding, wearables, the Internet of Things, privacy and security and keeping up with emerging technologies. OK, you predicted mobile technologies, and perhaps wearables, but the others may take you by surprise. The first four chapters are all well-established technologies that been reinvented or reimagined. The chapter on the Internet of Things is a puzzle because the authors acknowledge “there aren’t any examples of its use in libraries yet” (p. 90). I appreciate seeing a chapter on privacy and security, for this is a very important, yet often overlooked, topic. Finally, the last chapter offers some suggestions for what amounts to environmental scanning of library technology developments.

This book reminds me very much of two fairly recent publications: The Top Technologies Every Librarian Needs to Know edited by Kenneth Varnum (American Library Association, 2015) and Emerging Technologies for Librarians: A Practical Approach to Innovation by Sharon Q Yang and LiLi Li (Chandos, 2015). All three books are useful to librarians who feel they need to learn more about the application of new technology in libraries. The cost is reasonable, and many librarians can afford to purchase a personal copy.