Where to Go Next

Yelton, A. (2012). Where to go next. Library Technology Reports, 48(1), 25-34.

Summary: In this 10-page article, Yelton discusses the possibilities of mobile technologies in libraries and aspects of community involvement and content creation are briefly mentioned. Various examples of successful mobile technologies that have been incorporated by libraries are given, such as San Jose Public Library’s Scan Jose walking tour and North Carolina State University’s Wolf Walk photographic guide. Both mobile technologies provide guides complete with historical photographs from each library’s historical collections. These two examples illustrate how local collections can be made available to audiences through innovative technologies. The Chicago Underground Library provides an example of community involvement and the YOUmedia teen space at the Chicago Public Library Harold Washington Library Center is exemplifies a space for content creation.

Yelton then describes a potential community project created through the use of mobile phones and patrons taking photos. This small start can flourish into something larger where community stories can be created and shared via mobile devices. In order to start a project like the examples given above, Yelton recommends building one’s capacity of technology through various means such as exploring the features of a smart phone or other mobile device, learning how to write a program, practice with coding, and other tips. Ensuring that colleagues within an organization are also building their technological capacity is also important and tips are provided on how this can be done.

In the conclusion, Yelton shares an anecdote about an academic librarian who works in a predominantly low-income population where it was observed that iPhones were a popular device owned by many of the librarian’s students. This story ties in to why mobile technologies are being suggested. An iPhone may be seen as an obtainable device that provides online access, a cheaper alternative to owning a desktop or laptop. Thus, it is essential to consider the use of mobile technologies in libraries and library services as a way to reach diverse communities.

Evaluation: Yelton’s article presents an interesting viewpoint on mobile technologies. I found the sections that included examples already implemented by libraries to be intriguing, especially with the inclusion of photographs to illustrate the innovative technologies. Yelton highlighted the use of connecting communities to local collections, which is a lesson that we also discussed in our collection development class, increasing access to collections and connecting users to collections. A collection accessible on mobile phones is an innovative way to reach users. I found Scan Jose and Wolf Walk to be inspirational in its very modern approach to viewing local collections. The suggested project on how to incorporate patrons in the process of making a local collection of narratives was quite encouraging, especially with the provision of tips. I thought that some of the tips were helpful and the idea of creating a patron-based resource to be hopeful, especially with libraries moving toward fostering participatory culture and content creation. The conclusion regarding the move toward mobile technologies was rather convincing, especially with the example of low-income communities who may have more access to mobile smart phones versus a desktop computer. This prompted me to think back on daily interactions I have experienced at the library, with patrons who have ready access to mobile smart phones but come in to utilize the library’s desktop computers. I found this article to be enlightening through its unique take on the possibilities of mobile technologies.