The Impact of Information Technology on
Academic Libraries
Arts 199 Seminar
Mark Haslett
Associate University Librarian
Information Services & Systems
October 23, 2001
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Focus for today
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Discussion of some major trends in the
area of I.T. and its impact on higher
education
An administrator’s “take”
Some UW examples
Some pointers to other sources of
information
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Some Personal Info.
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UofT philosophy 1974-78
UWO MLS 1979-81
Career focus on:
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Information technology & management
issues
TUG TRELLIS project
UCIST, LT3, …
Interest in George P. Grant
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Some Questions
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How many of you:
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Have a computer?
A laptop?
An email address?
Use ICQ?
Know what a URL is?
The Netscape browser?
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Some Context
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The Second International WWW Conference
’94: Mosaic and the Web
Netscape browser – October 1994
Universities – key players in the development
of the WWW
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Efficient and effective access to information
Academic Libraries – key participants; leaders
in the effective use of technology
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Networked environment
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Networks are ubiquitous
Portable computing devices are
commonplace
Wired and wireless environments are
intertwined
The IT environment envelopes us – the
computer is not just a tool.
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Connectivity, Content & Collaboration
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Connectivity
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Content
Convergence of connectivity & content
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Communications technology
e.g. Electronic journals
http://webdev.uwaterloo.ca/ejournals/index.html
Collaboration opportunities
 IT as an enabler
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The Library’s mission/role
Enhancing access to information
The Library trains and develops staff to:
 identify the information needs of Library
users
 relate those needs to available resources
 provide access to those resources
 facilitate the productive and proficient use
of those resources
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The UW Library
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High level of connectivity
Collaborate extensively
Commitment to focus on client service
Commitment to innovation
A commitment to the effective use of
technology in delivering information
resources and services.
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The I.T. Context for Libraries
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Libraries have a significant and proud
past of I.T. initiatives and projects.
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Early 1960’s at UofT
They are able and innovative users of
I.T.
They know their business; they are
effective users of technology.
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Some History of Libraries and
Information Technology
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Modernization, innovation,
transformation.
3 automation ages: (1) computerizing
library operations; (2) rise of public
access; (3) print goes electronic.
Now: networked information revolution.
http://www.educause.edu/pub/er/erm00/pp060068.pdf
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Some UW Library I.T. examples
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The UW Library is a leader in the
effective use of IT
TRELLIS & TUG
Remote Web access to e-resources
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see http://www.lib.uwaterloo.ca/
Direct links to journal articles
TDR
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The evolving library
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Digital/electronic and paper resources both
continue to grow
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E-Journals (CFI CNSLP – Sept. 11 event)
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The Digital Library
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The Hybrid Library
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Print; digital/electronic; …
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E-Resources & services
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Some Key I.T. Issues in the Current
Academic Library Context
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Integrating access to information
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To print and digital resources
Linking digital and digital
Where do you go for information first?
TRELLIS? i.e. the catalogue? The Internet?
Sustainability & support
Fostering innovation and building
prototypes
Do you want personalized access to your
information?
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Changing I.T. Context
BUT technology is not a panacea, not a
cure-all, nor a magic silver bullet.
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Watershed period
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“The ‘E’ is for Everything”??
We are in a watershed period
The E-Economy is being hit hard. Even more
so after September 11th
“Has the Internet Peaked?”
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(http://www.pfeifferreport.com/trends/ett_internet.html)
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We are emerging from an e-everything
environment.
More realistic and practical.
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Some issues
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E-overload
Unrealistic expectations
A digital collection in itself is not a digital
library (the Internet is not a library)
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A library is a collection that is organised,
maintained, preserved, …
Plagiarism – easier in the e-environment
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Is technology enhancing
learning?
The educational environment at the University of
Waterloo should be centred on learning where
technology helps play a role in facilitating the
acquisition, comprehension, dissemination and
application of knowledge.
UW students and alumni should be life-long learners,
adept at the self-directed use of technology in the
acquisition, organisation and critical evaluation of
knowledge.
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Putting Learning First - 1
Learning is primary
Technology is secondary
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Putting Learning First - 2
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Sound pedagogy should dictate when, where, and how
technology is deployed in the learning and teaching
environment.
Learning should be at the centre of any innovation in
teaching that involves technology.
UW students and alumni should be life-long learners,
adept at the self-directed use of technology in the
acquisition, organisation and critical evaluation of
knowledge.
The introduction of technology should enhance the
learning environment.
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Technology’s role
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Enabler
Provides opportunities to share, collaborate…
Efficient delivery of information
Aim is on effective & focused use of technology
The introduction of technology should enhance
the learning environment.
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Technology & Empire
Technology & Empire
G.P. Grant (Toronto, 1969)
1.
2.
“To exist as a North American is an amazing and
enthralling fate.”
“We can hold in our minds the enormous benefits of
technological society, but we cannot so easily hold the
ways it may have deprived us, because technique is
ourselves.”
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In Conclusion
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How connected are you?
How connected do you want to be?
Are you aware of the IT environment in which you
live and study?
Where do you get your information?
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Use of libraries and labs?
Use of print and digital/web resources?
Is the following a goal for you? To be a “life-long
learner, adept at the self-directed use of
technology in the acquisition, organisation and
critical evaluation of knowledge.”
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