Kenneth J. Varnum is senior program manager for discovery, delivery, and learning analytics at the University of Michigan Library. In this role, he is responsible for the library’s discovery interfaces (the “MLibrary” single search tool, ArticlesPlus, Search Tools, etc.), link resolution and content delivery interfaces, and the library’s evolving and emerging learning analytics infrastructure. Over his two decades working with public-facing technology in academic, corporate, and special libraries, he has gained a deep appreciation and understanding of the need to tailor systems and interfaces to the local user base. In addition to numerous articles and chapters, he wrote Drupal in Libraries (2012), and edited The Top Technologies Every Librarian Needs to Know: A LITA Guide (2014) and Lorcan Dempsey's The Network Reshapes the Library (2014), among other books. He blogs at rss4lib.com and can be found on Twitter at @varnum.
$70.00
ALA Member:
$ 63.00
Item Number:
978-0-8389-1228-7
Published:
Publishers:
ALA Neal-Schuman
LITA
Pages:
144
Width:
6"
Height:
9"
Format:
Softcover
AP Categories:
A, C, I, X
Samples
- Description
- Table of Contents
- About the Author
- Reviews
While it's inspiring to ponder the libraries of the 22nd century, it's a lot more practical to think ahead to the next five years. That's just what Varnum and his hand-picked team of contributors have done, showing library technology staff and administrators where to invest time and money to receive the greatest benefits. Their ideas will stimulate strategic thinking and help library staff make informed decisions about meeting user expectations and delivering services. Sure conversation starters and informative for any library, chapters include
- “Impetus to Innovate: Convergence and Library Trends,” by A.J. Million and Heather Lea Moulaison
- “Hands-Free Augmented Reality: Impacting the Library Future,” by Brigitte M. Bell and Terry Cottrell
- “Libraries and Archives Augmenting the World,” by William Denton
- “The Future of Cloud-Based Library Systems,” by Steven Bowers and Elliot Jonathan Polak
- “Library Discovery: From Ponds to Streams,” by Varnum
- “Exit As Strategy: Web Services as the New Websites for Many Libraries,” by Anson Parker, VP Nagraj, and David Moody
- “Reading and Non-Reading: Text Mining in Critical Practice,” by Devin Higgins
- “Bigger, Better, Together: Building the Digital Library of the Future,” by Jeremy York
- “The Case for Open Hardware in Libraries,” by Jason Griffey
This compendium offers an expert-level view of the library technology that’s just around the corner.
Contents
Introduction
Impetus to Innovate: Convergence and Library Trends
A. J. Million and Heather Lea Moulaison
Hands-Free Augmented Reality: Impacting the Library Future
Brigitte Bell and Terry Cottrell
Libraries and Archives Augmenting the World
William Denton
The Future of Cloud-Based Library Systems
Steven K. Bowers and Elliot J. Polak
Library Discovery: From Ponds to Streams
Kenneth J. Varnum
Exit as Strategy: Web Services as the New Websites for Many Libraries
Anson Parker, V. P. Nagraj. and David Moody
Reading and Non-Reading: Text Mining in Critical Practive
Devin Higgins
Bigger, Better, Together: Building the Digital Library of the Future
Jeremy York
The Case for Open Hardware in Libraries
Jason Griffey
About the Contributors
Index
"The chapters are well written and give enough information to help librarians brainstorm what could be the next big thing for their libraries … Another important aspect of this book is that it briefly discusses theories and concepts such as technological convergence and augmented reality that influence the adoption of a particular emerging technology. These concepts help stimulate strategic thinking on which technology is suitable for a particular library considering the user needs and availability of technical skills among the librarians."
— ARBA
"Contains excellent advice about defining the library's context, goals, needs, and abilities as a means of discerning which technologies to adopt … This book introduces a panoply of emergent technologies in libraries by providing a fascinating snapshot of where we are now and of where we might be in three to five years."
— Technical Services Quarterly
"Librarians looking to better understand current trends and future directions will find this an excellent starting point. The book is highly recommended for all libraries."
— Reference Reviews
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