In the introduction of our
textbook, it mentions that the book will delve further into the reason why reference
librarians will still be needed in the digital age where information is
everywhere and usually easy to access. It states that, “ease of use does not
always equal ease of understanding. And too much information can cause some of the
same problems as too little information.” (Smith and Wong 3). This quote really
resonated with me and exemplifies what I tell people when they tell me all the
time that I chose the wrong profession. It is the wrong profession because my
job will become obsolete because books are transforming into electronic forms. As
a result, libraries and librarians will cease to exist. I reply that librarians
will always be needed for a variety of reasons.
One reason is that just because something
is easy to use, it does not mean that everybody knows how to use it. There are
many patrons of all ages who do not know how to use technology, at all. It
blows my mind when it’s younger children who do not know how to use simple
technology. My nieces are in the beginning of their teenaged years and make fun
of me for not always knowing the jargon they use, yet they don’t know how to use
a flash drive, or Microsoft products. They go to the same school I went to, so
I know their education training is not the issue. Patrons often need help with
simple things such as: signing up for email, help with Microsoft Word, or
closing out of a browser window. Ease of use doesn’t mean that everybody will
know how to do something; that’s what a reference librarian is for, to help
teach them.
On the Internet, there is sometimes
still too little information on a topic. With all the knowledge I have as a
librarian-in-training and my research skills as a historian, I still sometimes have
to ask a reference librarian for help in finding something. I believe it’s
pretty bad if I can’t find it. It’s even worse when that librarian can’t find
it either, and that has happened a couple of times.
Too much information is another
problem that patrons constantly face. Many patrons are not trained to sort
through all of the information they are exposed to, but reference librarians
are trained professionals who can help them and guide them to the perfect
source materials.
These scenarios demonstrate the complexities
of the information that is out there in the world. What are people going to do
if we no longer have reference librarians? Furthermore, another one of my
replies is this: do you want to pay upwards of $100 to have access to this one
website or database, especially if you are only going to access it once, and
never again? The answer is a resounding “NO!” Hence, libraries will still be
around to pay for access for patrons, and reference librarians will be needed
to help them navigate through and understand the information. Also, even though
books may not exist in the future, libraries are turning into computer labs.
They also serve as places for meetings and community gatherings. So libraries
and reference librarians are not going anywhere. They may transform from what
they first started out as, but their initial purpose will always be the same:
to provide service and information to others.
I always encounter these library naysayers too, who tell me the rise of personal laptops and ebooks will make my job obsolete. But I'm so glad you pointed out that patrons still need instruction on how to use these new technologies. Addressing the digital divide, where people with the most resources are able to use technology skillfully and people with fewer resources struggle to adapt, is a critical issue in the library and something that librarians will need to help out with for years and years to come.
ReplyDelete