And the most improved goes to... (Drum beat, please).

RFID technology will most improve libraries for librarians
Although RFID systems are not presently within every library's budget, they would definitely be a great technology to have. A lot of library staff time and effort could be saved by implementing RFID systems since they help streamline tasks like circulation, inventory, and shelving. This would be advantageous to librarians because it would free up their time so that they would be able to focus on the patron service aspect of the profession and develop outreach programs, for example.


OPAC's will most improve libraries for patrons
Even though OPAC's are criticized for their "precoordinated subject headings," they remain the tool that patrons use to search for information no matter how badly designed they are. If future OPAC's could function more like the search engines found on Google.com, Google Scholar, or Amazon.com, for example, they would be an excellent resource for patrons, particularly patrons who are students. Thus, OPAC's need to bridge the gap between natural language and that of subject headings, which is otherwise known as the "Vocabulary Problem" but they have potential.

Online Public Access Catalogs (OPAC's)

A brief description
In a sense, the OPAC of the 21st Century is the Card Catalog of generations before. An OPAC is literally an online public access catalog. In other words, it is an organized list of all the materials housed in a library or group of libraries (as is the case in colleges and universities, for example) that can be accessed "at a computer within the library or from home" (Wikipedia, 2007). Moreover, OPAC's are Web-based interfaces that are an integral part of an integrated library system (Wikipedia, 2007; Unit 5 Part 1b, 2007). More precisely, the OPAC is the "public face on a library's Integrated Library System" (Butterfield, 2003, p. 2270), which controls circulation, cataloging, acquisitions, serials, the OPAC, and Interlibrary loan (Butterfield, 2003).

Typically, OPAC's allow patrons to search for material by keyword, title, author, subject, call number, ISSN/ISBN, and so on. (The search can be a lot more involved depending on the organization. That is, an academic library will have more advanced search features than a school library, for instance). And each item in the catalog is attached to a MAchine Readable Cataloging (MARC) record, which is "a standard for representation and communication of bibliographic information in a machine readable form" (Unit 5 Part 1a, 2007). And "machine readable" means that "a computer can read, interpret, and manipulate the data in the catalog records" (Unit 5 Part 1a, 2007). Essentially, what the patron is doing every time he/she uses the OPAC is searching through a database of MARC records.

How the OPAC is used in libraries

"In its most simple form, a library's OPAC could consist of nothing more than a simple index of the bibliographic data cataloged in the system. More complex OPACs offer a variety of search capabilities on several indexes, integrate rich content (book covers, video clips, etc.), and offer interactive request and renewal functionality" (Wikipedia, 2007). Thus, OPAC's today are designed to meet the searching needs and abilities of patrons. The following screen shots illustrate the difference in sophistication in OPAC's between an elementary school library, a public library, and an academic library.

The Anne Arundel County Public Elementary Schools OPAC is very simple and straightforward. The students are able to search the catalog by using the keyword, author, title, and subject (see red rectangle). The OPAC does have some advanced features for students including "Online Databases" and "Multilingual Pac" (see green rectangle). The "Multilingual Pac" is interesting and unique in that students are able to search the OPAC in Spanish or French as well.

Indisputably, the search features of the Pima County Library's (PCPL's) OPAC are more advanced than those of the elementary public school's OPAC. Patrons are able to search the catalog by keyword, title, author, subject, call number, ISBN/ISSN, or OCLC (see red circle). They also have the option of doing a more advanced search (see teal rectangle) that uses Boolean logic. Moreover, PCPL's OPAC also provides other features such as "In need of a good read?," "Can't find what you're looking for," and "Other resources we offer:" in order to refine the search (see purple rectangles).

But even more sophisticated are the OPAC features of the University of Arizona Libraries. This OPAC not only allows the patron to do a search by keyword, title, author, etc. (see red circle) but also allows him/her to refine the search using Boolean operators (see purple rectangle). The library also offers the patron help by using "Subject guides," "Reference Resources," "Research Assistance," and so on (see green rectangle).

Social impact of the technology

It is interesting to note that in the beginning, OPAC's were not intended to make patrons searches easier, which is now the case. No, the OPAC "was simply seen as a better, faster way to realize desirable system and cost efficiencies" (Butterfield, 2003, p. 2268).

Today, OPAC's are definitely a tool that patrons use to access information. However, in an age where more and more patrons are relying heavily on search engines like Google that use natural language, the OPAC's "precoordinated subject heading system" can be quite complicated (Butterfield, 2003). OPAC's are the "Vocabulary Problem" personified. However, a well designed OPAC can make a searcher's life so much easier!

References

Butterfield, K. (2003). Online Public Access Catalogs. Class reading.

Unit 5 Part 1a. (2007). Class lecture.

Unit 5 Part 1b. (2007). Class lecture.

Wikipedia. (2007). OPAC. Retrieved from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/OPAC

RSS

A brief description
RSS stands for "really simple syndication" (Group 3's website, 2007). However, it has also been said to mean "rich site summary" or "Resource Description Framework (RDF) site summary" (Group 3's website, 2007). In any case, RSS uses Extensible Markup Language (XML) to check a website for updates, such as blog entries, news headlines or podcasts, and then disseminate that new information to users who have subscribed to that particular site (Group 3's website, 2007).

A classic RSS icon, , informs the user that he/she is able to subscribe to that website's RSS feed. An RSS feed, also known as a "news feed," "web feed," "RSS stream," or "RSS channel," is a file that allows users to link to a feed's address or URL (Group 3's website, 2007). In other words, an RSS feed is a page of XML code published on the Internet (Group 3's website, 2007). Please click on the following link to see an example of a feed: RSS 1.0 (Wikipedia, 2007).

The software needed to read an RSS feed is a "feeder reader" or "aggregator" (Wikipedia, 2007). Therefore, to subscribe to a feed, the user enters the feed's link into the reader or clicks on the RSS icon in a browser (Wikipedia, 2007). And then the reader regularly scans the feeds the user has subscribed for any updates (Wikipedia, 2007).


How RSS is used in a library

In some libraries, RSS is being used to disseminate information of interest to patrons including the latest library news, new services, and upcoming events (Courtney, 2005; Group 3's website, 2007). "RSS could even be used for customized literature searches of databases; this might be the most exciting opportunity that RSS gives the library field" (Group 3's website, 2007).


The following is a list of several RSS feeds provided to patrons at different libraries (Group 3's website, 2007):

University of Arizona Libraries: Uses RSS for "News and Events." Look for the RSS link.

Ann Arbor District Library: Provides an extensive list of RSS feeds including "Library News," "Director's blog," and "Teen Read Week."

The Undergraduate Library at the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign: Can subscribe to an RSS feed for library Alerts as well as their Blog.

The University of Michigan Library: Has RSS for "Library News" and "Events & Exhibits."

The College of New Jersey Library: Has RSS feed for "New Books Search."

Johns Hopkins University's Sheridan Libraries: Has podcasts.

In the Spotlight: News from Northwestern University Library

University of North Carolina University Libraries: Has RSS feed for the latest news.

University of Saskatchewan Library List of Electronic Journals: Can browse for journals, publishers, and sources providing RSS feeds.

OCLC RSS Feeds: Provides RSS and podcasts on news, events, product updates, system alerts, and research.

And last but not least, the Library of Congress uses RSS feeds to deliver the latest news.


Social impact of technology

RSS definitely facilitates the information seeking behavior for many. It is particulary ideal for avid Internet users. It provides them with a tool to control, manage, and organize information, while saving time. Most importantly, it allows users to keep up to date on their topics of interests. In other words, "it helps professionals stay current while reducing workloads" (as cited in Group 3's website, 2007).

It is a totally different way of accessing information. Instead of regularly going out in search of information, in a way, the information is out there seeking the user! Additionally, patrons who subscribe to their local library's blog about news, for example, no longer needs to physically go to the library to get that information, which can save them time, gas, etc.

References

Courtney, N. (Ed.). (2005). Technology for the rest of us. Westport: Libraries Unlimited.

Group 3's website. (2007). About RSS. Retrieved from http://www.u.arizona.edu/~tdsavage/aboutrss/

Wikipedia. (2007). RSS. Retrieved from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RSS

Blogs

A brief description
The term blog is a derivative from Weblog. A blog entry is a web page entry that is brief, frequently updated, and in reverse chronological order, meaning that the most recent blog is posted first (Group 6's website, 2007; Unit 5 Part 3, 2007).

Blogs can cover just about any topic. There are blogs written to share personal experiences or interests, to talk about cooking or traveling, to cover the news, to debate politics, and even to do homework as in my case!

More often than not, blogs are injected with the writer's personality, thus, they can be very subjective. They provide a forum for self-expression and can be directed to different audiences including the self, small groups, and large groups (Unit 5 Part 3, 2007).

The attractiveness of blogs is that they are essentially easy to create and easy to use websites/pages. In other words, bloggers do not need to know HTML to design their entry because there is blogging software that does it for them (Unit 5 Part 3, 2007). Additionally, they do not need to know how to transfer files from their HTML editor to the server (Unit 5 Part 3, 2007). Furthermore, they do not have to know anything about web design because the blogging software provides pretty decent templates (Unit 5 Part 3, 2007).

For free blogging software Web sites, please visit:

http://www.blogger.com/

http://www.livejournal.com/

http://www.ebloggy.com/

Another nice capability of blogs is that they can function as news feeds through a Rich Site Summary (RSS) feed (Courtney, 2005; Group 6's website, 2007; Unit 5 Part 3, 2007). In a nutshell, RSS is a "tool for distributing regularly updated content within a website" (Group 3's website, 2007). Therefore, websites can take advantage of this new technology, "using an RSS Feed to syndicate their new content to users that subscribe to it" (Group 3's website, 2007).

How Blogs are used in a library
Some libraries are beginning to use blogs for various purposes (that often overlap) including the dissemination of news such as library hours, services and upcoming events to patrons. An example of this is the Waterboro Public Library's (Maine) h20boro lib blog of literary and library-related news and resources (Courtney, 2005).

The fact that blogs can be undated frequently is advantageous not only for delivering the latest news but also for the marketing of new services to patrons, for instance.

Blogs are also use to share knowledge and information. There are blogs specifically set up for patrons, while others, particularly intranet blogs, are designed to facilitate communication among library professionals. The Data Library Services at the University of Saskatchewan, for example, utilizes an intranet blog for "sharing reference questions and answers, tips, instructions for downloading files," and other issues centered on patron services (Courtney, 2005, p. 63).

A few libraries are using blogs to provide community service or outreach. While some libraries are creating blogs for book clubs, others like the University of Minnesota Libraries blog project, U-Think, are providing blog software to students and faculty in efforts to support teaching, learning, and communication (Courtney, 2005), for example.

The following provide additional examples of blogs and their use in libraries (Courtney, 2005):

http://www.libdex.com/

http://dmoz.org/Reference/Libaries/Library_and_Information_Science/Weblogs/

http://www.blogwithoutalibrary.net/links/index.php?title=Welcome_to_the_Blogging_Libraries_Wiki

Social impact of the technology
There is no question that blogs provide libraries with a new and easy way of "publishing and distributing information" (Courtney, 2005, p. 69). Moreover, they provide patrons with a new and alternative way of accessing information. In other words, patrons now have the option of checking what is going on at their local library from the comfort of their homes via their computers so it is impacting their information seeking behavior in a positive way.

In some cases, blogs are also influencing the way work is being done in libraries. Intranet blogs, for example, are often used to distribute news to employees, coordinate work processes, and facilitate other organizational knowledge-sharing activities (Courtney, 2005). Thus, it is an excellent example of Computer-Supported Cooperative Work (CSCW) in action.

References

Courtney, N. (Ed.). (2005). Technology for the rest of us. Westport: Libraries unlimited.

Group 3's website. (2007). RSS. Retrieved from http://www.u.arizona.edu/~tdsavage/aboutrss/

Group 6's website. (2007). Blogs. Retrieved from http://www.u.arizona.edu/~nyssad/blogs/

Unit 4 Part 5. (2007). Class lecture.

Unit 5 Part 3. (2007). Class lecture.

Radio Frequency IDentification (RFID) Systems

A brief description

Simply put, RFID systems are a subset of automatic identification or auto ID technologies that use radio waves to help machines identify people, animals or objects (General RFID, 2002-2007). RFID systems consist of a tag or transponder made up by a microchip and an antenna; a reader; and a host computer (Group 5's website, 2007; Unit 5 Part 4, 2007).

The system works as follows. First, the reader, comprised of an antenna and a transceiver with a decoder, sends out an electromagnetic signal that activates the tag placed on the object. Then, the tag emits a signal back with identification information to the reader. Subsequently, the reader converts the radio waves into digital data transmitted to the computer or management system for processing (General RFID, 2002-2007; Group 5's website, 2007; Unit 5 Part 4, 2007).

In order for RFID tags and readers to communicate, they must be on the same frequency. Three of the most common types of RFID systems include low (around 125 KHz), high (13.56 MHz), and ultra-high or UHF (860-960 MHz) frequencies (General RFID, 2002-2007). And each frequency has its own read range - 1.5ft, 3ft, and 9ft, respectively (Group 5's website, 2007). Consequently, low-frequency tags are ideal for scanning fruits, while high-frequency tags work best on metal objects and goods with high water content (General RFID, 2002-2007). With a better read range and faster data processing, UHF systems are great for pallet tracking (General RFID, 2002-2007; Group 5's website, 2007).

To learn more about RFID systems, check out these YouTube videos (in addition to the references at the end of the blog):

How RFID is used in a library

RFID technology has come a long way since its application for the identification of friend or foe (IFF) aircraft during World War II (Group 5's website, 2007; Unit 5 Part 4). Today, RFID systems have a wide range of applications including the tracking of cows and pets and the triggering of equipment down oil wells, for example (General RFID, 2002-2007). They are most often used for payment systems, access control, and asset tracking (General RFID, 2002-2007). Additionally, thousands of companies are beginning to use RFID tags to keep track of goods on the supply chain (General RFID, 2002-2007).

Some organizations, such as libraries, are beginning to use RFID technology. Although not all libraries can afford RFID systems, a few libraries are using RFID tags instead of bar codes on library materials because (Unit 5 Part 4, 2007)

• They don't have to be on the outside of the book. Radio waves penetrate most library materials with ease.
• Orientation is not important to an RFID reader; scan the books at any angle as fast as you can pass them under the scanner (or a "gun" style scanner over the book).
• Multiple tags can be read simultaneously. Checking out 25 books? No problem, scan them all at once.
• The tag can double as a security device. No more "tattle tape".
• There are even vendors now who produce RFID "smart shelves," library shelving that knows the books that should be on it. Annual inventory is as simple as asking each shelf to transmit a "missing" report to the main server. With this setup, libraries can finally get an accurate handle on the elusive "internal use" circulation statistic--the shelf will keep track of every time someone removes a book, even if they put it back in the same place. No more shelf reading either, the system can alert you if the books are out of LC or Dewey order.

RFID Journal provides access to several articles about RFID technology in libraries, which can be retrieved here.

Social impact of the technology

A major controversy surrounding RFID in libraries is the issue of privacy. Some are skeptical of its implementation because they are afraid that private patron information could be attained from RFID tags since they can be read at a distance (Group 5's website, 2007; Unit 5 Part 4, 2007). Although this is a potential threat, many consider that it is not greater than that already posed by using optical bar codes (Courtney, 2005; Group 5's website, 2007; Unit 5 Part 4, 2007). Nevertheless, there will be patrons who feel very strongly that this technology is a serious threat to their privacy. Consequently, they may choose to use the library but not checkout any materials or they may decide to stop visiting their local library altogether and seek information elsewhere, on the Internet, for instance.

In addition to altering information seeking behavior and the way patrons access information, RFID technology in libraries can result in disintermediation or "doing away with the middleman" (Unit 5 Part 4, 2007), which has its advantages and disadvantages. Undoubtedly, RFID technology helps processes like circulation, inventory, and security of library materials run more efficiently. Although this would also mean that less people would be needed to carry out these responsibilities. Moreover, patrons become self-sufficient as they are able to checkout and checkin their own materials. It has been contended that some patrons visit the library not just to checkout materials but also to socialize (Unit 5 Part 4, 2007 [Self-checkout technology website]). Therefore, the self-checkout facilitated by RFID would negatively affect their experience. There is no question that before investing in RFID systems, libraries must weigh all the costs and benefits.

References

Courtney, N. (Ed.). (2005). Technology for the rest of us. Westport: Libraries Unlimited.

General RFID information. (2002-2007). Retrieved June 22, 2007, from http://rfidjournal.com/faq/16

Group 5's website. (2007). RFID Systems. Retrieved from

Unit 5 Part 4. (2007). Class lecture.