Role changing for librarians in the new information technology era

Abstract

Purpose -This paper aims to show how implementing new information technology has expanded the role of librarians as educators and how this role has matched the evolution of new technology. Design/methodology/approach -The paper looks at librarians' approaches to their role as educators and explores ways of most effectively implementing changes. By reviewing the literature and taking the old discourse around library education and information literacy, the paper reflects on the changing role of librarians in an era of greater access to technology, including Web 2.0. Findings -Collaboration with faculty was found to be an essential feature of the most successful stories. Teaching students and faculty to use new information technologies may have become one of the major roles of librarians. Originality/value -This paper demonstrates that the continual evolution of the web is causing a move from e-libraries to mobile libraries, and that the educational role of the librarians must encompass this trend, and to anticipate similar future developments.

Information Literacy for Health Professionals: Teaching Essential Information Skills with the Big6 Information Literacy Model

“…Avery and Ward (2010 affirm that the reference encounter provides a unique one-on-one teaching opportunity. Today, reference librarians face the added challenge of helping users acclimate to the complex changing world of the electronic library and exciting new information technologies, especially when the continual evolution of the Web is causing a move from e-libraries to mobile libraries (Sun, Chen, Tseng, and Tsai 2011) and smart phones and mobile technologies are changing the ways library users consume, learn, distribute, and create information (Little 2011).…”

One Day at the Sands: Exploring Las Vegas' Intangible Heritage through Virtual Reality

“…Recent advances in digital technologies provided archivists and exhibit designers with new, interesting, and captivating ways of presenting and disseminating cultural objects, thereby meeting the needs of personalization and interactivity required by visitors ( [5], [6], [7], [8]). In particular, VR allows the creation of novel exhibition paradigms, rich in the informative and emotional content often missing in classic ones.…”

So What’s the Big Deal With Information Literacy in the United States?

“…Hao-Chang et al (2011) envision librarians as avatars providing virtual world information services. They describe how important it is for librarians to continually blend traditional library services and resources with today's popular science fiction concepts.…”