Adaptive Technologies

Adaptive Technologies, simply, remove barriers for those who would not otherwise have access to certain information or participation in certain activities. Because these technologies enable segments of the population to become library users, they are overall the technologies bearing the most value to users. From assistive devices such as alternative mousing devices, braille printers and CCTVs, to software applications such as word predictors, and other tools that assist in cognition expression, to combinations of hardware and software such as verbalized output and speech recognition, the technologies available are increasing in number and sophistication. To be considered, certainly, is the expense of such devices and software, the installation know-how, and the ability to train and assist the users themselves. Yet there is no debating the impact such technologies could have on a huge number of potential users, if only they could be made available. Moreover, it is often mistakenly thought that such technologies would be used only by a very small number of users (and therefore, not included as any type of priority items on a budget); in fact, many assistive and adaptive technologies would be useful to the majority of patrons. For example, voice recognition software is becoming more and more interesting to people and corporations, for their time-saving and labor-saving benefits. Therefore, not only are adaptive technologies the most valuable overall, but they would truly bring value to users everywhere, with and without disabilities, as well as to the libraries.

RFID

RFID, or Radio Frequency Identification, is a technology capable of identifying material for check-out purposes without barcodes or contact. It involves two components: a tag containing a computer chip and built-in antenna is attached to an item to be scanned; and a scanner (really a radio transmitter) that can send out a signal to any nearby tags. The tag sends back a response, received and read by the scanner. This technology allows for speedier check-out and check-in of materials because multiple tags may be read at once, and from any orientation. Book-return units equipped with an RFID scanner can automatically check in materials as they are dropped off, self-checkout stations are much more doable, and there's a built-in theft-deterrence system as a result of this technology. With the automation of processes that once took a lot of manual labor, such as circulation, inventory, and re-shelving to some extent, libraries will benefit: either less staff will be required, or the staff will have time to spend with other necessary activities such as assisting patrons, collection development, strategic planning, marketing, fundraising and team-building. The one drawback is the cost of installing such a system, which would need to be weighted against the benefits of efficiency and accuracy RFID can offer. But does the library user benefit much from this new technology? While librarians and other staff members may rejoice about their improved workflow, the library user may wonder what's in it for them. Indeed, there is some controversy surrounding RFID and users' privacy rights: the concern is that the new technology has the capability of tracking the users' interests and habits in the library, or storing their information on the tags. Therefore, this technology would appear to provide the most benefit to libraries, but not the users.

Open URL resolvers

An Open URL resolver works together with a library's database and a knowledge base, which serves as the Open URL's metadata, to provide more full-text or print retrieval options in information searches. This technology enables one to pull records from many different sources, as opposed to the library's own limited set of holdings, or the journal articles found in any one database. It literally pulls out relevant records from any source connected with any database or library making their information available: both full-text and local print holdings options, as well as ILL service options, may be returned, if the knowledge base is configured to do so. This type of search-ability will greatly enhance both libraries' and users' quests for information due to the increasing breadth of output derived from a single search. Whereas in a typical database search on a given topic, the results would likely be all coming from the same academic field of journals, if not the same journal, an Open URL search will likely yield several different fields' perspectives, and many different sources. In addition, Open URL makes it easy to find and print an article in one step, request an ILL, and browse related articles. For these reasons, I would argue that Open URL resolvers will be the technology most beneficial to MANY users; however, it is not the MOST beneficial overall -- see "Adaptive Technologies" to find out why not.

RSS

RSS, an XML-based syndication feed technology, has emerged as an exciting new way to distribute news. It simplified greatly the process of gathering and organizing headlines, and allows those who are interested to receive automatic updates whenever something new has been added to a news story, website, or blog. This technology is being used by libraries as well. By aggregating several news feeds with RSS, a library can offer a variety of news sources to their users, either on their website or via a blog. On the flip side, they can offer to their users to receive updates whenever the library's site or blog has been revised: the user simply needs to subscribe to this service using RSS. Either way, we can benefit from RSS technology as library users.