Peer Review

Applying library values to emerging technology

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Reviewed:: Feb 19, 2024 by Library and Information Services

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Ratings

Overall Rating:

Content Quality:

Effectiveness:

Ease of Use:

Overview:

This resource is an eBook published online in pdf format. The content is divided into two parts: Contemplating Library Values and Applying Library Values; there are a total of 24 chapters, mainly in essay format, each written by a different author(s). The book is focused on decision-making in regard to emerging technologies in current and ever- changing libraries.

Type of Material:

eBook available as a PDF that is a collection of essays

Recommended Uses:

This ebook could be used for MLIS curriculum and for professional development for current librarians. It could be useful for homework by individual learners or learners in teams.

Technical Requirements:

Adobe or other pdf reader and a standard internet browser

Identify Major Learning Goals:

To become familiar with library values and how they apply to emerging technologies, including digital resources and issues of copyright.
To learn about specific technologies and the challenges of applying library values to them
To understand how library values may need to change and adjust to respond to emerging technologies

Target Student Population:

Librarians, library managers/administrators, and graduate students in library science programs.

Prerequisite Knowledge or Skills:

Some understanding of librarian work and issues related to librarianship

Content Quality

Rating:

Strengths:

The resource provides a good overview of the challenges involved with librarians deciding which technologies to use, promote, and support while also maintaining the values that are core to our discipline.
It provides a variety of contexts and technologies, thereby allowing students to get a good understanding of the issues.
The division of the book into two sections, the first being more theoretical and the second focused on real-world examples and implementation is very useful.
The chapters are clearly labeled and organized.

Concerns:

Some essays are dense and are not as accessible as others.
There is no guidance on how to use this source in designing assignments.
The content was published in 2018 so it will rapidly become out of date as new, more sophisticated technologies continue to emerge.

Potential Effectiveness as a Teaching Tool

Rating:
Strengths:: The essays help the reader understand the complexities of adopting new technologies and and then trying to apply traditional library values, or how librarians may choose new technologies that are not as commonly used, but better support their values.
Concerns:: The resource provides no lessons or learning objectives or progressive laddering of concepts. The instructor will have to contemplate and carefully plan assignments--in-class discussions, papers, etc.--based on one or more of these essays.

Ease of Use for Both Students and Faculty

Rating:

Strengths:

Chapters and chapter headings are clearly marked.
The content is divided into two sections dividing theories/frameworks from implementation.
Pdf navigation is generally simple and can be searched.
The resource includes a lengthy index that can help direct users to specific content.

Concerns:

Simple text-based essays. No design considerations to inspire or engage.

Other Issues and Comments:

Most of the essays included in this text seem to have been written so that the text can "speak for itself," and they address thought-provoking and relevant topics. Not including images or other figures can make the text dense and may deter some readers. However, publishing an openly accessible e-book with images can be challenging and can raise accessibility issues. Therefore, the text-based format may have been chosen for these reasons.

The quality of the content is generally high. An instructor seeking to use the material with students would have both the freedom and the challenge of planning and implementing effective accompanying activities.

Creative Commons: