Toward a 21st Century Library Catalog

This article was a behind the scene look at North Carolina State University's new information access platform. The article was fairly comprehensive on the methodology that went behind the design of the system and and the improvements it made.

What struck me most about the new system was how it interacted with the user. What and how other's searched mattered, allowing the system learn from the user. Moreover, I never really though about how inefficient searches currently are. The search test results against web searches were fairly drastic, saving time and gaining accuracy.

My question is whether other institutions will choose to adopt the same system, or will it become a race to see who can develop the best system for harvesting information.

K. Antelman, E. Lynema, A. K. Pace (2006). "Toward a Twenty-First Century Library Catalog". Information Technology & Libraries, 25:3. 128-139 (

Mooers' law or why some retrieval systems are used and others are not

This article is an explanation why better retrieval systems are not used. Although this would mean greater access to information, the author suggests that this is actually something that's avoided. This is because information, at times, can be a threat to the status quo.

He claims that information, for some, can be more of a hinderance than a benefit. The author largely blames this on how work is rewarded. Information may cause conflict, indecision and challenge. In the short term being willfully ignorant is convenient and comfortable. It requires evolution.

My question is what is the ultimate consequence for ignoring information?


C. N. Mooers (1960). “Mooers’ Law or, Why Some Retrieval Systems Are Used and Others Are Not. Bulletin of the American Society for Information Science and Technology,  1996 vol:23 iss:1 

Environmental scan: A report on trends and technologies affecting libraries

This article is about how the advancement in technology affects the library's relationship with society. People of this generation enjoy an access to information like no other. Further, this has allowed incredible advancements in the sharing of information. As stated in the article, the general public has access to large amounts of inexpensive storage and processing technologies. Currently most common smart phones carry as much processing power as some of the servers and desktop computers that I used to build and install back in the early 2000s.

The article also states that even with the abundance of available technology, there still remains an information gap. Not everyone, even in the younger demographics, is comfortable with even a basic desktop computer. The rate of computer illiteracy still remains surprisingly high.

I would like to know what can libraries do to close this gap. Also, although technology is available, it doesn't mean that it's being used optimally. I always wonder why, as an IT professional, why technology isn't making us smarter? I feel that most technology is wasted and not used in the most efficient manner. Essentially, I have not seen much improvement in my life, or others, from technological advancements.

Arnold Hirshon (2008). Environmental scan: A report on trends and technologies affecting libraries 

The evolution of LIS and enabling technologies

This assigned reading was about how logistics of library science has evolved over time. Much of the technology used was common to the era, such as punch cards and now personal computers and electronic databases. Further, the article also describes how library science has changed with the introduction of the internet and other information sharing technology, such as portals.

When I read this I had to wonder about what's next. With storage mediums becoming cheaper with higher capacity, I really don't think that they the libraries roll as a storage place of information will be as needed. Essentially, what can libraries do to remain relevant?

Kochtanel and Matthews (2002). Ch.1. The evolution of LIS and enabling technologies. In Library Information Systems, pp. 3- 12