Librarians and Older Technology Part 3: Moving Images
Collection development and technology skills for special librarians include evaluating older formats including moving images
Collection development and technology skills for special librarians include evaluating older formats including moving images
Technology skills for special librarians include evaluating old formats e.g., audio with focus on care, handling, storage, stable environmental conditions
Technology skills for special librarians include evaluating older formats including microforms, audio, video, and photograph prints and negatives
Skills for special librarians include evaluating “obsolete” formats and equipment in context of library’s mission, scope and needs of researchers and users.
Skills for special librarians include leveraging technology as an efficient tool; formats have changed, former print indices and catalogs are now online.
Special librarians are evaluated on productivity; skills for special librarians involve productivity tools, focus, research skills and collaboration.
Skills for special librarians include deep thinking, focus on connecting data and information, application of technology to information retrieval.
Writing is one of the most important skills for special librarians, and requires focus, attention, and hard work, free from distracting technology.
Skills for special librarians include focused writing; tips for disciplined writing include taking a break from technology to concentrate.
Active reading sharpens special librarians’ reference and retrieval skills and is an essential aspect of integrating technology and reference.
Database query versus search engines: searching specific databases yields focused results. The best use of search engines is preliminary research.
Active listening in special librarian reference interviews is essential to monotasking and focus; avoid distraction librarians and technology.
Special librarians must embrace monotasking when doing library reference research; do not let technology be a distraction. Increasing productivity as librarian.
Troubleshooting steps for librarians include: listen, replicate problem, test logically, identify solution, help researchers.
Tips for special librarians writing software reviews after evaluating software, databases, technology. Focus on organization’s mission, user needs and workflow.
Special Librarians evaluating new ILS technology must keep in mind the mission and different users who access data and collections.
Paying attention to technology and structure of information improves special librarians’ data retrieval skills and understanding of how data is organized.
Off-site and remote storage provide a long-term preservation/retention solution for paper and microfilm records, sound and video recordings, and data.
Facilities that house special library items stored remotely or offsite should be included in security, risk management and disaster response plans.
Off-site/remote storage facilities can be havens for items with long-term preservation needs which is a trigger for moving materials to off-site storage.
Off-site storage requires decisions based upon users, use of collections, and timely access to materials; solutions minimize disruption of service.
It is expensive to house seldom used items in libraries/information centers. Digitization and then off-site and remote site storage reduces local costs.
Special librarians must continuously learn in order to stay knowledgeable and relevant; this is especially important for embedded librarians.
Embedded librarians apply vocabulary and special subject thesauri to newly accessioned and hidden collections, making them accessible to internal and external users.
Dedicated or part time embedded special librarians bring project knowledge back to the library and disseminate information to the organization.