NextGen: Let's Use the Technology We Live

Our relationship with technology pervades every aspect of our life as librarians. Most library operations are inevitably intertwined with technology, and younger grads tend to be—for better or for worse—identified with it. This combination of technological need and generational assumptions creates pressure for younger librarians to come up with new, creative, and useful ways of employing technology in libraries.

NextGen librarians might jump-start this creative process by looking at how the profession has already been examining the technology trends that impact librarianship. The LITA division of the American Library Association (ALA), for example, sponsors moderated expert discussions on top technology trends in libraries during ALA annual and Midwinter conferences each year, generally attracting hundreds of attendees. These discussions, and the related links provided on the LITA web site, usually focus on broad topics, such as "security," "federated searching," and "open source."

This is good. This is useful. This is indicative of the ways in which technology is transforming every library and every aspect of librarianship. Yet, how about some attention to the ways in which many next wave librarians live technology—and how this spills over into our work? A personal relationship with new technology allows NextGen librarians to think of new possibilities and of countless small creative options in a way the big-name trendsetters can't. It's one thing to read about it, to think about it, but it's another to live with it and watch our friends use it.

The profession's youngest librarians are closest in age to the generations that libraries specifically want to attract and retain: teens and younger. The techies among us need, therefore, to be involved in the decision-making process when it comes to the ways in which libraries work with technology.

Public library board members and established reference personnel might not see any problem with blocking access to chat on patron Internet terminals, for example. Many next wave librarians who may themselves use chat as a communications tool recognize that instant messaging (IM) is a primary way in which teenagers now stay in touch—over 70 percent of online teens have one or more IM accounts. Public libraries that ban IM indicate that they are out of touch and provide another reason for teens—our future adult users—to stay away.

Librarians who have completed coursework—or an entire degree—online and who are comfortable using courseware and other collaborative tools have a unique level of ease with the online community. Who better to ensure the integration of library resources into an academic institution's online course offerings and to participate as librarians in interactive class discussions, pointing students to the library's offerings and assisting them with their research strategies? The main barriers to librarians' participation in online courses have been the time commitment and learning curve involved. NextGen distance learners have the learning curve beat, and the time commitment concomitantly lessens with a mastery of technical tools.

Inculcating a NextGen attitude toward technology can also affect librarians' professional development and networking opportunities. Why aren't more people moblogging (mobile web publishing) library conferences, for example? Instead of conference write-ups that association members receive in a printed paper months later, what about a cadre of mobloggers keeping us up-to-date and providing their impressions, photos, descriptions, and commentary as events unfold? What if ALA (with the help of its corporate sponsor friends) investigated conference facilities that provided low-cost or free wireless access to attendees, rather than herding those needing access into long lines for limited email stations?

and other appropriate ALA subgroups should take a look at the annual Canadian Access conference's associated Hackfest, which brings together technical and library expertise in a computer lab for one long day of brainstorming and programming projects. This is a great example of an event that joins NextGen techies and seasoned library experts in hashing out prototype solutions to real-world problems. Why not sponsor a similar hands-on event in the United States?

In order to keep up with constant change, our profession has the responsibility for integrating the contributions and perspectives of younger librarians into the field. The best way to start is by adopting their perspectives on and comfort with a variety of technological advances.

Each small step we take toward this integration makes the profession that much more attractive to future professionals and to patrons. Each group expects technology to be woven as comfortably into their library interactions as into the rest of their lives—and why not? Let's use technology as a jumping-off point, as generations of librarians work together to revitalize the profession.