Summary
This article provided an overview of libraries in 2008 with a focus on their use of technology. It was intended to inform libraries about trends in the use of information. Hirshon broke his article into five main sections: society and economy, technology, education and learning, information content, and library leadership and organization. He is trying for forecast how each of these five areas will be effected in the future and how they will effect libraries and library users. He provides examples from a wide range of sources but notes that this environmental scan is not intended to be exhaustive, but rather a sampling.
What I learned
It's interesting reading this report written in August 2008 from a January 2011 perspective. Many of the trends Hirshon identifies and many of the predictions he makes about the future are in fact happening now. For instance, when discussing e-readers, he notes that in many other countries it was common to see e-reader capabilities on mobile phones and he mentions that the iPhone would likely offer that in the future. Almost two and a half years later, there is definitely an expanding number of people who use an e-reader app (Kindle or otherwise) on their iPhone but also on any number of other smart phones in the expanding market.
What I am taking away from this article
As technology becomes more and more intertwined into people's daily lives, it will also need to become more incorporated into libraries in order to keep pace with users' expectations and wants.
Discussion question
Hirshon discusses Chris Anderson's assertion that "anything that touches digital networks quickly feels the effects of falling costs." Do you believe this is true?
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