Ministerial Advisory Council on
Public Libraries. (2012). Tomorrow's library: Discussion paper. State Government of Victoria. Available at http://www.plvn.net.au/sites/default/files/TLTD002_Tomorrow's
Library Discussion Paper final web.pdf
In a rapidly evolving library environment, there is an ongoing need for
evaluation and assessment of library services, including the use of IT, so that
the needs of the community continue to be met and the workflow of staff is
streamlined (Burke, 2013, p. 3). Libraries have tended to be early adopters of
IT and their utilisation and reliance on it, as by most organisations, is
occurring increasingly ubiquitously (Kennan, Liu, & Wallis, 2007). The
State Library of Victoria website lists an extensive range of IT products and
systems used for online services and information, noting that its first library
management system preceded the development of the internet (http://www.slv.vic.gov.au/about-us/information-technology).
The Tomorrow’s library:Discussion paper was published by the State Government of Victoria as part
of a two year review of Victorian public libraries (Department of Transport,Planning and Local Infrastructure, 2014a). This paper is a consultation component
of the review, offering key stakeholders and the public the opportunity to
inform and shape “tomorrow’s library” (Ministerial Advisory Council on Public
Libraries, 2012, p. 2), with an invitation for submissions by interested
parties about the discussion paper, following the conclusion. Whilst it is a
well written document, there are some questions raised about the unbiased
nature of the process. The importance of IT trends could also have been more
greatly emphasised. The paper includes some discussion on current trends in IT
as one of four focus areas that will determine future strategic
directions.
These four focus areas or contexts allow for the consideration of
demographic, social, economic, cultural and local factors within them. The
four contexts are: collections, resources and programs; library buildings;
technology; and service delivery (Ministerial Advisory Council on Public
Libraries, 2012, p. 3). The recognition of the importance of technology in an
effective library is considered along with the three other factors that also
play important roles. As Burke (2013, p. 213) states, the library is likely to
be an amalgamation of various media and information sources, combining
traditional services and new opportunities to help people collaborate in the
space. The role of IT cannot be under-emphasised as a vital component of a relevant
and effective library service.
Examining the technology context, the article divides library
technology challenges into three general areas: library systems, future
technologies and community use of technology. Whilst this division provides an
organisational function, grouping the technology challenges in this way could
in fact limit the range of responses, as other areas of potential focus, such
as discovery products, assistive technology, security systems or virtual
reference services, for example, might not be considered.
The paper was conducted by the Ministerial Advisory Council on Public
Libraries (MAC) which has representation from a number of peak bodies, councils
and library services; however, despite the bipartisan claim, the ratio of ten
government or council representatives to only four library representatives
(Department of Transport, Planning and Local Infrastructure, 2014b), indicates
a possible over-representation of political bodies and consequently, a risk of
bias in decision-making.
The writing in this article is clear, cohesive and intelligible. It is
appropriate for the intended audience, being the public and key stakeholders,
who are encouraged to contribute to the consultation process. The paper appears
to be professionally undertaken except for the lack of referencing of sources
used throughout the article. To start each section, a pertinent quote with the
source acknowledged, appropriate for an in-text citation, is provided. The full
details to locate the source, however, are not given anywhere in the text.
Throughout the article, data from statistics, audits, reviews and reports are
included, yet in many instances no source is provided and no reference list is
included. This limits the credibility to some extent, although it may have been
a conscious decision for maintaining content accessibility by a wide
cross-section of the public.
The Tomorrow’s library:
Discussion paper highlights IT as an important component of library
services yet its broad-ranging role in virtually all aspects of service
delivery is not emphasised. The future of libraries is impossible to consider
without talking about technology (Burke, 2013, p. 207) and this is constantly
evolving, but as Seadle (2012, p. 563) states, libraries have a long history of
adapting to change.
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| Image source: Department of Transport, Planning and Local Infrastructure (2014c) |
References
Burke,
J.J. (2013). Neal-Schuman library technology companion (4th edn). New
York: Neal Schuman.
Department
of Transport, Planning and Local Infrastructure. (2014a). About Tomorrow’s Library. Retrieved 16 August, 2014, from: http://www.dpcd.vic.gov.au/localgovernment/public-libraries/about-tomorrows-library
Department
of Transport, Planning and Local Infrastructure. (2014b). Ministerial advisory council on public libraries. Retrieved 17
August, 2014, from: http://www.dpcd.vic.gov.au/localgovernment/public-libraries/ministerial-advisory-council-on-public-libraries
Department of Transport, Planning and Local Infrastructure. (2014c). About Tomorrow’s Library. [Online image]. Retrieved 20 August, 2014, from: http://www.dpcd.vic.gov.au/localgovernment/public-libraries/about-tomorrows-library
Kennan,
M.A., Liu, Y-H., & Wallis, J. (2007). IT
and organisations. [INF405 Module 1.7]. Retrieved 17 August, 2014, from
Charles Sturt University website: http://interact.csu.edu.au/portal/site/INF405_201460_W_D/page/36481ada-3d37-46d3-806b-cf8fde1c1fda
Ministerial
Advisory Council on Public Libraries. (2012). Tomorrow's library:
Discussion paper. State Government of Victoria. Retrieved from http://www.plvn.net.au/sites/default/files/TLTD002_Tomorrow's
Library Discussion Paper final web.pdf
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