Running Head: Technologys Impact on Libraries

Technologys Impact on Libraries: Literature Review Research Report

Crystal Mendez
October 30, 2015
UTEP

Abstract
The following paper will discuss the how technology has impacted libraries. This
questions will be answered by seven sources of secondary research and two sources of primary
research. The primary research includes an interview of Angela Lucero, an instruction librarian at
the University of Texas at El Paso. It also includes the results from a survey conducted to 20
students at UTEP between the ages of 18 to 35. Throughout the paper it will demonstrate how
much of a change libraries have gone through and how they are adapting to the needs of students.
The reader will see the impact the internet has had on how research is done, students and
libraries. It will also demonstrate the role search engines and databases, such as Google and
Ebsco, have to play in all of this change that is occurring. They will see the benefits and
downsides technology has had on libraries and librarians.

Introduction
Technology has had its impact everywhere. There is use of technology in classrooms by
teachers to better engage their students and make learning fun or at least adjust to how students
today are learning with things like Blackboard. Even teachers do student to teacher
communication through the internet. Technology is used in new vehicles that are built with a
GPS for good navigation that makes travelling on the road easy. Businesses such as restaurants
offer free Wi-Fi to attract customers and keep up with the demands their customers may have.
Nowadays even parks have Wi-Fi. Libraries are no exception to this impact.
Today libraries provide computers and access to the internet. They provide credible
databases in their websites will all the information and articles students may need for research.
Libraries also provide various amount of books online for peoples benefit. Libraries are having
to adjust and make changes in order to keep up with all the new technology.
The following are questions that come to mind with these changes on libraries. How has
librarians role changed? How are libraries adjusting to technology when it comes to providing
information? Has technology affected the way students research and how effective their research
is? What role do databases and search engines play in students research? Libraries are adapting
to meet the needs of the people and technology has also had it impression on how students work.
How has Librarians role changed?
Back in the day libraries and books were the main access to information. If a student
needed to know where to find the exact text he/she was searching for in order to accomplish their
research he/she would ask the librarian for assistance. Today, that practice is not applied as much.

Students will more than likely find their answer themselves by using a search engine via the
internet.
When interviewed Angela Lucero, an instruction librarian at the University of Texas at El
Paso, answered that librarians went from providing answers to empowering users with the skills
to find answers themselves and to be able to choose, discern what the best answers are (A.
Lucero, personal communication, October 15, 2015). In fact, 19 out the 20 students surveyed
answered yes into noticing the role of librarians change (Personal Communication, October 28,
2015). Librarians today guide and help students develop good researching skills for their classes
and the future. Often in an English course, teachers will schedule a trip to the library for her/his
students where the librarian will explain step by step on how a student can do good quality
research using one of the libraries online databases. Teachers organize these trips in order for the
students to provide the quality of work they are being asked for and to get them out of the habit
of Googling it and looking at information on a website like Wikipedia that cant be trusted.
Librarians have also had to make books available online. Some people prefer having
access to a digital copy of any book they want through a tablet or smart phone instead of carrying
a hard copy around. This saves them the hassle of having to go to the library, check out a book,
read it, and then turn it in back to the library by the due date. People live busy lives and want as
much free time as they can possibly have.
There is also the case of audio books that benefit certain readers. Some people want to
listen to the story while accomplishing other task than having to make time to read it. Audio
books are great when multi-tasking. Libraries make sure that they can provide this type of things
in order to meet with the demands and needs of people.

However, as much as students appreciate and

value the easy access to information or books on
the internet, they still might feel the need for
personal communication. As stated by Goodman
in the article Library, community campus,
learning hub: the community educational
development challenge, We still crave face-toface engagement, and we need spaces that are
free and well resourced, to deliver the quality of
life experiences that help equalize access to
societal goods that all members of our
Figure 1 demonstrates the use of
libraries for students.

communities seek (Goodman, 2015, p.219).

Students like having a place to do homework, a

place with no distractions. A place with no television, music, or any loud noise. A library is a
great example of just that kind of place. Libraries are still very important to students and so are
librarians. Overall, Librarians have always had the responsibility to meet population needs
(Valenza, 2014, p.28). A responsibility they continue to fulfill every day.
How are librarians adjusting to technology when it comes to providing information?
In the article The Changing Economics of Information, Technological Development, and
Copyright Protection: What Are the Consequences for the Public Domain the author states,
Public access to published information (regardless of format or delivery mechanism) is the
principle upon which our nations educational institution and librarians are founded (Cheverie,
2002, p. 329). It doesnt matter if a student is finding his/her research online or on books,

librarians must still be able to provide the information they seek for them. A survey conducted at
the University of Texas at El Paso showed that 16 out of 20 students still find librarians helpful
in providing information and 11 out of those 20 students still think the library is of importance
when getting research done. (Personal Communication, October 28, 2015). With new technology,
librarians are able to keep their records in computers instead of piles and piles of paperwork.
This keeps things organized and easier for them and benefits students as well. The location of a
book or an article is just one click away.
Author Rapp states, Academic libraries might consider expanding instruction programs
to include how mobile users can best access licensed e-resources for subject research:, or to
examine how QR codes and augmented reality can enhance the research process (Rapp, 2010,
p.34). These are examples of news ways librarians can provide information. Technology allows
for easy access. If there is a way that just with one scan of a QR code can automatically provide
the information needed at anytime and anywhere, research would be easier done. All a student
will have to do is bring up an app on their phones to do so and they would save a lot of time. Its
just a question of librarians finding a way to use new technology to their benefit, to see the good
in it and not the complications it may bring. Technology will make their job of providing
information easier.
Has technology affected the way students research and how effective their research is?
When it comes to research and finding information, 20 out of 20 students surveyed
answered yes to using the internet as their first step (Personal Communication, October 28,
2015). However, the use of the internet is worldwide, Anyone with access to the Internet can
publish a Website (Radcliff, 2015). Not everyone who has a published website will have a

strong ethos, or credibility, on the topic being searched. There is no 100% guarantee that the
information found online is reliable. This affects how good a students research and writing is.
As stated by author Bill Henderson in his article Books Without Batteries: The Negative
Impacts of Technology, Because our brains can no longer think beyond a tweet, we cant write
well. And we cant read well either (Henderson, 2011). Students today are so used to reading
small captions post or a tweet of 140 characters. They dont want to read a long article even if it
does provide all the information they need. They dont want to do hard research just to find a
trusted source, they want easy answers. They want the first site they see on Google to be the
correct source. Technology has made students lazy with their research and probably a main
reason why many procrastinate.
Nevertheless, technology is easy access for information. Students can find any type of
information online and not just information about the United States but worldwide. They dont
even have to leave the comfort of their home to do so. All their school research can be done from
bed or even on their phone when they have free time. This is beneficial for students who work
and attend school. These students dont have as much time available as others for research. They
dont have time to go to the library to find the perfect book that will provide all the information
they need for their homework. The need something fast and easy and the use of search engines
can help with that.
What role do databases and search engines play in a students research?
Databases and search engines are typically students number one place of information
regardless of books and libraries. At UTEP, 20 out of 20 students surveyed answered yes to using
search engines as Google for research and 12 out of those 20 students answered yes to using a

reliable databases from the schools library website such as Ebsco (Personal Communication,
October 28, 2015). Students have the belief that they can find what they need online, but more
than three-fourths think internet search engines have conditioned students to expect to be able to
find information quickly and easily (School Libraries, 2013). However, that is not always the
case.
In fact author Radcliff stated in her article, Library VS Internet - ten good reasons to use
the library, ALA reports that only 8% of all journals and even fewer books are on the Internet
(Radcliff, 2015). Students are being limited on their research. They are not being provided with
everything that is available. This problem is usually due to the issue with authors publications
and copyright use, allowing content owners to control access through restrictive licensing
agreements, expanded legal protection and penalties, and technological measures that ultimately
eliminate fair use and gouge the public domain (Cheverie, 2002, p.330). Not all authors want
their work to be reused. Even if it is for educational purposes. This where books come in. Books
can fill in that gap of missing information. Libraries have various amount of books for various
amount of topics. There is a reason why books are considered to be a great source to providing
information.
Librarian Angela Lucero states that when using databases it is important to start from the
problem (A. Lucero, personal communication, October 15, 2015). She emphasizes the
importance to know what the best database to use is. She states that sophisticated searching
tools contains focused amount of information. (A. Lucero, personal communication, October
15, 2015). It is important for students to know how to use databases. Not all databases are
appropriate for every question or problem. It is important to start from the bottom and work your
way up.

Conclusion
In conclusion, technology has had its clear impact on libraries. Librarians role has
changed from providing answers to helping students to finding the most reliable answers
themselves. Libraries are adjusting to technology when it comes to providing information by
using online resources such as database to their benefit to make things easier for both the
librarian and the student. Technology has affected the way students research and how effective
their research is. It has made them lazier and trusting of websites. Databases and search engines
play a great role in students research when done right. Technology has affected how a student
work and how libraries have had to adapt to meet their needs.

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References
Cheverie, J. F., & Dugan, R. E. (2002). The Changing Economics of Information, Technological
Development, and Copyright Protection: What Are the Consequences for the Public
Domain. Journal Of Academic Librarianship, 28(5), 325.
"Cute Retro Libray Poster". . . <http://3.bp.blogspot.com/mmaZpWSlXQE/UcDkUsgOeqI/AAAAAAAAeZk/K5bMRazmsvk/s1600/library5.png>
. 16 October, 2015.
Goodman, J. (2015). Library, community campus, learning hub: the community educational
development challenge. Australian Library Journal, 64(3), 217-223.
doi:10.1080/00049670.2015.1041218
Henderson, Bill. (2011). Books Without Batteries: The Negative Impacts of Technology.
Publishers Weekly. Retrieved 15 October, 2015.
Radcliff, Joyce. (2015). Library VS Internet - ten good reasons to use the library. Tennessee
State University. Retrieved 15 October, 2015.
Rapp, D. (2010). The State of Mobile Technology. Library Journal, 135(17), 34.
"School Libraries." American Library Association. American Library Association, 2013. Web. 18
Sept. 2015.
Valenza, J. K., Boyer, B. L., & Curtis, D. (2014). Chapter 4: Curation in School Libraries.
Library Technology Reports, 50(7), 27-35