Week15 Reading Note

About the "Cloud Computing", the video clip is easier to understand the concept of clouding computing than Galen Gruman's various introduction to many definition of it. At the beginning of the digital era, an individual computer was independent  to utilize and store information, but this trend had changed due to the Internet. "Cluding Computing" is a technology which is more affordable and efficient for a general user. A user just needs a computer having an Internet connection to utilize an application to utilize certain without installing and storing software in an individual computer. Users are  connected to the service server through their  Internet,do their work with their work, and save their work at an application service provider's server. This technology could be realized thanks to the development of Web 2.0.

Thomas Frey's article about The Future of Libraries is very interesting to me. I deeply agree with him that libraries should be changed to survive in the digital technology but I do not agree with some of his suggestions. However, I post his 10 trends about the future library and add  my opinion at the end of a trend.

Trend #1 – Communication systems are continually changing the way people access information.

Books are a technology, and writing is also a technology, and every technology has a limited lifespan.

I agree with it but we should remember that system is a mere tool, not a goal.

Trend #2 – All technology ends. All technologies commonly used today will be replaced by something new.

That something else will be faster, smarter, cheaper, more capable, and more durable, work better, and look cooler than anything we have today. This is clear but we should seriously deliberate what kind of technology should be adopted into the library system.  

Trend #3 – We haven’t yet reached the ultimate small particle for storage. But soon.

The most critical component of stabilizing information storage will surround the issues of findability.

This is important fact because many libraries are spending tremendous fund for resource digitizing projects.

Trend #4 – Search Technology will become increasingly more complicated

As we achieve the ability to conduct more and more complicated searches, the role of the librarian to assist in finding this kind of information also becomes more and more important. People will not have the time and skills necessary to keep up on each new innovation in the search world, and they will need a competent professional to turn to.

Librarian should change their role from information keeper to information finder or seeker.

Trend #5 – Time compression is changing the lifestyle of library patrons

The spectrum of human need is continually expanding. The paradigm of “need” is changing, evolving, and most importantly, speeding up.

Trend #6 – Over time we will be transitioning to a verbal society

He also predicts that by 2050 literacy will be dead

I do not agree. I think that literacy continues with many reasons.

Trend #7 – The demand for global information is growing exponentially

Many secrets in tomorrow’s business world lie in the writings of people who did not speak English or any of the other prominent global languages.

Trend #8 – The Stage is being set for a new era of Global Systems

Trend #9 – We are transitioning from a product-based economy to an experience based economy

Books themselves will transition from a product to an experience. As books change in form from simple “words on a page” to various digital manifestations of the information, future books will be reviewed and evaluated by the experience they create

Because information is very accessible so patrons judge a library with their experience from its services, not quality of collection that it offers.

Trend #10 – Libraries will transition from a center of information to a center of culture