ALAAmericanLibraryAssociation HOW TO STAY ON TOP OF EMERGING TECHNOLOGY TRENDS FOR LIBRARIES David Lee King FEB/MAR 2018 Library Technology Reports Vol. 54 / No. 2 Expert Guides to Library Systems and Services ISSN 0024-2586 Library Technology R E P O R T S Expert Guides to Library Systems and Services How to Stay on Top of Emerging Technology Trends for Libraries David Lee King alatechsource.org American Library Association About the Author Library Technology David Lee King is the Digital Services Director at REPORTS Topeka & Shawnee County Public Library, where he plans, implements, and experiments with emerging tech- ALA TechSource purchases fund advocacy, awareness, and nology trends. He speaks internationally about emerg- accreditation programs for library professionals worldwide. ing trends, website management, digital experience, and Volume 54, Number 2 social media and has been published in many library- How to Stay on Top of Emerging Technology related journals. King is a Library Journal Mover and Trends for Libraries Shaker. His newest book is Face2Face: Using Facebook, ISBN: 978-0-8389-1611-7 Twitter, and Other Social Media Tools to Create Great Cus- American Library Association tomer Connections. King blogs at http://www.davidlee 50 East Huron St. king.com. Chicago, IL 60611-2795 USA alatechsource.org 800-545-2433, ext. 4299 Abstract 312-944-6780 312-280-5275 (fax) Advertising Representative Technology has changed the face of libraries and Samantha Imburgia is continuing to change how we work and how we [email protected] deliver services to our library customers. This issue 312-280-3244 of Library Technology Reports (vol. 54, no. 2), “How Editor to Stay on Top of Emerging Technology Trends for Samantha Imburgia Libraries,” focuses on personal strategies you can [email protected] follow to keep up with emerging technology trends 312-280-3244 and provides you with suggestions for how you can Copy Editor incorporate these trends into your library. This report Judith Lauber explores four major areas: why you should stay on top Production of technology trends, the trend watchers you should Tim Clifford follow and how to follow them, practical ways to incorporate new technology trends into your library, Editorial Assistant and how to prepare for and know when not to pursue Colton Ursiny current trends. The goal of this issue of Library Tech- Cover Design nology Reports is to help you become better prepared Alejandra Diaz for technology changes now and in the future. Library Technology Reports (ISSN 0024-2586) is published eight times a year (January, March, April, June, July, September, October, and Decem- ber) by American Library Association, 50 E. Huron St., Chicago, IL 60611. It is managed by ALA TechSource, a unit of the publishing department of ALA. Periodical postage paid at Chicago, Illinois, and at additional mail- ing offices. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Library Technology Reports, 50 E. Huron St., Chicago, IL 60611. Trademarked names appear in the text of this journal. Rather than identify or insert a trademark symbol at the appearance of each name, the authors and the American Library Association state that the names are used for editorial purposes exclusively, to the ultimate benefit of the owners of the trademarks. There is absolutely no intention of infringement on the rights of the trademark owners. alatechsource.org Copyright © 2018 David Lee King All Rights Reserved. Subscriptions alatechsource.org/subscribe Contents Introduction 5 Chapter 1—Why Stay on Top of Technology Trends? 6 Examples of Rapid Technology Change 6 How Rapidly Changing Technology Impacts Libraries 9 Innovation Cycles 11 Consumer Behavior and Innovation 12 Libraries in Transition 12 Consumer Technology Is Shaping Libraries of the Future 12 Conclusion 13 Notes 13 Chapter 2—Trend Watching 14 What Is a Trend Watcher? 14 Advantages of Following Trend Watchers 15 Organizational Trend Watchers in Library Technology 15 Individual Trend Watchers in Library Technology 16 Some International Library-Related Blogs 18 Trend Watchers Outside the Library Industry 18 Tools and Techniques for Following 20 Notes 23 Chapter 3—Practical Ways to Incorporate New Technology Trends 24 Developing a Plan 24 Learning from Library Early Adopters 28 Conducting a Technology Process Review 28 Dealing with Technology Overload 29 Notes 29 Chapter 4—Current Technology Trends 30 Ways to Prepare for Rapid Technology Change 30 Fads, Trends, and Tipping Points 32 Knowing When to Pursue (and Not Pursue) an Upgrade 33 Embrace Emerging Technology Trends 35 Notes 35 Introduction echnology has changed the face of libraries and help follow trend watchers will also be discussed. is continuing to change how we work and how • Practical Ways to Incorporate New Technol- Twe deliver services to our library customers. The ogy Trends. Scanning the technology horizon is ability to identify and incorporate appropriate emerg- about more than simply reading tech blogs. This ing technology trends into a library setting is para- chapter introduces ways to discover what technol- mount to continually providing excellent services. ogy trends are impacting your local community This issue of Library Technology Reports focuses on and how. I also cover ideas on how to plan to personal strategies to stay on top of emerging technol- incorporate new technology projects; how to start ogy trends and incorporate these trends into a library a project in a more manageable, less resource- setting, with the goal of being better prepared for intensive way through the use of pilot projects; technology changes now and in the future. what you can learn from the experiences of other This report explores four major areas: libraries; how to do a technology process review; and the potential for overload and how to filter ReportsLibrary Technology • Why Stay on Top of Technology Trends? This your information sources. chapter explains why library staff need to be • Current Technology Trends: How to Prepare familiar with emerging technology trends. I dis- and When Not to Pursue. In the final chapter, I cuss examples of rapid technology change, dif- explore some practical ways to be better prepared ferent types of innovation cycles, how consumer for rapid technology change. I also talk about behavior is driving and shaping innovation, and the differences between fads, trends, and tipping how technology changes affect current work and points and how to know if a trend is becoming future job opportunities. mainstream or slowly disappearing. I also discuss • Trend Watching: Who and How to Follow. What when not to pursue an upgrade. alatechsource.org makes someone a trend watcher or trendsetter? In this chapter, I introduce you to some trendset- So, roll up your sleeves, grab your favorite drink, ters and trend watchers in the library technology and get ready to focus on ways to keep up with quickly industry and some non-library trendsetters and changing technology. trend watchers as well. Tools and techniques to February/March 2018 5 How to Stay on Top of Emerging Technology Trends for Libraries David Lee King Chapter 1 Why Stay on Top of Technology Trends? h, technology, how we love it. Or . ahhh! Examples of Rapid Technology! How we hate it! Some people love Technology Change Athe current world of fast-paced emerging tech- nology changes and will gladly and quickly embrace Rapid technology change is evident in many aspects the newest technology tool. Other people? Not so of our everyday lives, including consumer payments, much—rather than embracing it, they actively run downloadable media, computing and mobile devices, from new technology, preferring the tried-and-true and the social web. tools and services they already know. Why change when something still works fine? Cashless Payment Systems Think of those two extremes as two ends of a “technology adoption spectrum” (see figure 1.1). I’d Most of us have used some form of a cashless payment probably place myself somewhere between the middle system. Credit and debit cards are good examples of and the “I love shiny new things” side of the spectrum. traditional cashless payment systems. As you prob- Most likely, you are also somewhere near the middle, ably have noticed, these payment systems are going maybe leaning to one side or the other. through rapid changes. Sometimes I do rush out and buy the newest tech- Consider Google’s newest payment system, nology. I did that with the first iPhone and the first Android Pay. Android Pay allows a user to store credit iPad. I’ve purchased cutting-edge video cameras as and debit cards online (using a secure server space). well. When there’s a software update, I almost always Then, instead of using a credit card to pay, the cus- February/March 2018 download or buy the newest version. I also stay up-to- tomer can tap his or her smartphone to a near-field date with new social media tools and services. communication (NFC) point-of-sale terminal at the I lean more toward the cautious side with other cash register. types of emerging technology. For example, I recently There are some useful aspects of Android Pay, purchased a Ford Focus with the capability to sync my including iPhone with the car’s Microsoft Sync software, giv- alatechsource.org ing me a hands-free, voice-activated phone experience • easy, app-based storage and retrieval of all credit while driving. I haven’t completely set up the system, and debit cards—no more digging around for the and at the moment I find it frustrating to use. correct store card Sometimes we gladly embrace a new tool, and • password-protected information, so if you lose sometimes we’d rather not; however, even if we don’t your phone you can remotely disable the account embrace a new trend, it’s still useful for us to be • plans that include in-store and online store use familiar with new technology.