Futurist Library Services - Assignment Example

Futurist Library Services Futurist Library Services Introduction Academically, a library creates a favourable learning environmentthat enables students to enrich information in a given field. The curriculum that an institution has in place influences operations of the library. A library should as such meet the needs of learners in terms of the programmes studied. The continued development of the learning environment has necessitated the expansion of library services. In the future, library will seek to transform to a multifunctional state. The transition will offer advanced services other than the prevailing services that oscillate around research and studies. Concepts of Osborn-Parnes are critical in developing the basis of the futurist library that will encompass interdisciplinary services. The Osborn-Parnes model The model involves a problem-solving initiative that considers creativity. Owing to the flexibility, the model defines issues that may affect the achievement of a given goal and recommends possible solutions (Kagan, 2015, p.134). Unlike other problem-solving strategies, the Osbon-Parne’s model places more emphasis on the generation of ideas to existing challenges. Judgement only comes into play following the implementation of a decision (Ferguson, 2007, p.24). Creative problem-solving uses a divergent approach that relates different perspectives in determining the scope of a problem. Innovation appears to be the new way of improving all the spheres of life and the learning environment is no exception. CPS implementation involves three states coupled with six steps. The steps will provide a systematic manner of understanding the current challenge in provision of library services. To add to that, the steps will also determine the appropriate action to take in order to improve future library services in Britain. Exploring the Challenge Objective Finding The ultimate goal is to take the library services to the students as most of the students find it difficult to access the library. Innovative measures will make the objective realistic in an economy that is continuing to growth in all aspects. It is imperative that services in the library promote learning to achieve educational goals (Cohen, 2007, p.46). Cases of poor organisation among the library staff exist. An example is a situation where the number of working staff is less resulting to slow services. Disregarding the prevailing trends in the education sector especially the increase in the number of education programs would make library services ineffective (Bowman, 2012, p.58). To understand what steps to take requires creating awareness of the growing needs of students. As a result, libraries will fine-tune the services in a manner that suits the desires of users. In the prospect, it will be suitable for students to acquire information at any location and not necessarily inside a library facility. This would essentially decentralize the learning environment. Logically, breaking down the learning environment would further the pursuit of education at all levels because even postgraduates are still pursuing various interests of the educational scope (Lauchlan, 2013, p.11). Under the academic concepts, the library should strive to empower learners to understand the scope of specified professions (Gorman, 2011, p.123). Decentralising the environment would not deviate with the very objective of fostering knowledge enrichment. If anything, the strategy would expand the number of users thereby creating a learning culture in the economy. The single most important issue is the recognition that knowledge is the driving force behind the growth of the economy. People are now more than ever taking learning seriously especially the practical part of it geared to increasing competency in specific fields. Fact Finding Shifts in the learning criteria have seen the growth of a new approach where learning occurs in other context away from the setting of the classroom. The question of how the changes affect learning covers a broad area (Simmons, Thompson, & Russell, 2014, p.36). In modern day, economic conditions and the desire to lead a better life has pushed individuals within the UK to go back and increase skills and knowledge pertaining to a given field (Bowman, 2012, p.67). Marketability is an important factor across all professions. Most of the students are applying for a master’s degree program due to the competition in the job market. Plenty of studies indicate that due to the increasing cost of living, the students cannot afford to put aside the current jobs to pursue the master’s program (Gorman, 2011, p.116). As such, most of the individuals choose to multitask by taking on a part time session. The information will aid the laying down of strategies for future development. The question of how the libraries operate seems to be very common. One of the major shortcomings in the library services is the slow procedures of borrowing books and other sources of information (ECDL & Christensen-dalsgaard, 2008, p.73). The procedure of loaning books is a bit formal because the individual has to show sufficient identity as a member of the particular institution or library. If not a member, the individual has to register and comply with a given fee failure to which, the library staff will not allow access to services. An individual can only borrow a book for a limited period against the desire of users to use a book for comprehensive research (Ferguson, 2007, p.35). Most libraries have few resources on specific fields. This inefficiency is a major contributor as to why people get discouraged to access information from the library. Problem Solving To clarify the issue, people living within the United Kingdom have been facing the challenge of accessing libraries services. This is not because the people cannot but because less time to do so is available and much inefficiency affect libraries. Individuals in the society have job and other commitments (Cohen, 2007, p.62). Even students have internship programs and part time jobs that require attention. The requirement for experience in a profession makes individuals more inclined to the working environment. Nonetheless, education is still a priority for development to such individuals. What the society wants is an easy way of getting access to informational services (Breeding, 2013, p.51). Many of the students prefer to study at home because some come from locations where no library exists. Due to the inefficiency, getting information sources from the library has been challenging. This creates a barrier to enriching the knowledge depth. Travelling to the available library to access relevant information is costly. Generating Ideas Idea Finding Technology has revolutionized the way people live in the society. Technological devices for instance iPads, smartphones and tablet computers are a common phenomenon (Tiwari, 2006, p.63) Sharing of information has as a result gone a notch higher and so have the means of communication. The use of the tools could enhance the delivery of library services to users in a convenient and cost effective way (Great Britain, 2010, p.47). There is no doubt about the potential of libraries to accord users a systematic channel of retrieving data. To add to the viability of the idea is the fact that students have a wide exposure to technological software. The move will increase the number of users who will benefit by accessing information without necessarily being with the library of the institution. In 2025, UK will have automated all economic processes including the learning system in institutions. The new paradigm will not only improve the infrastructure of the libraries but it will also achieve increased efficiency in delivering services (Mathews, 2009, p. 66). It is only right that technology serves as a marketing channel to help libraries to reach out to a larger number of users (ECDL & Christensen-dalsgaard, 2008, p.56). The development of mobile and computer apps focusing on library services would be detrimental. The apps should also facilitate communication between the users and the library staff. Accessing information is the prominent concern but the depth of the issue will require users to connect with library staff (Kolderup Flaten, 2006, p.34). Through the app, users can raise questions and get answers that guarantee satisfaction. In the end, the idea will ease achievement of learning goals. Aside from technology, another idea would be to increase the number of libraries around the UK. This would require the building of additional libraries in the cities around the UK (Great Britain, 2010, p.58). The local libraries would offer a variety of different products and services to suit customer needs. To put the matter into perspective, the users would find it convenient to go to the localised libraries thus adding value and creating closer ties with the community. In addition, setting up stores that sell relevant reading materials and books of various fields will increase the access to information by users (Kagan, 2015, p.127). People with an interest in research would benefit greatly. The performance in the education sector in Britain would also increase. What would happen is that the society would be at a better position to gain more knowledge as well as reducing the levels of illiteracy. Preparing for Action Solution Finding The selection criterion of the ideas evaluates the cost involved in each case. The establishment of more libraries at a local level or the development of stores dealing with books cannot compare to the use of technological tools. To begin with, increasing the number of libraries is an expense venture that calls for many resources (Great Britain, 2010, p.64). Moreover, the library would have to hire staff to ensure proper coordination of services. Developing bookstores to increase access to information falls under the same category of high cost (Dewe, 2006, p.112). Chances are that the high cost incurred in setting up the local libraries and bookstores will cause the authorities to charge users a fee. Just because the relevant authorities may be willing to establish libraries and bookstores at a local level it does not mean that the ideas will work. This is because the two ideas do not change the fact that users have limited time to spend in the library. The development of websites, computer and mobile apps in increasing access to information is cost effective. Unlike the other ideas, the only costs involved are maintenance (Kolderup Flaten, 2006, p.27). To the users, the cost is less mostly requiring internet connectivity. Both the establishment of libraries and bookstores places less interest on technology improvements. In compliance with the automation requirements of the year 2025 the only feasible idea for library services is the adoption of technology (Breeding, 2013, p.36). Essentially, the government will transition to a paper free economy in future. Judging by the expectations, digital literacy is a necessity for survival that individual should start being familiar with (Snavely, 2012, p.38). The public will accept the idea because it will ease the stress and inconvenience associated with costs of travelling to the library. More importantly, it will solve the problem of accessing information from any location and time. Acceptance Finding The only way to get the idea of using technological tools to increase the knowledge base is through an action plan. The first step under the category will involve develop a website or an application for hosting a wide field of information (Great Britain, 2010, p.32). Next up is automating all the information related to various professions on the given database. Attached to this is the creation of an account that will allow the user to log in using a password. It will also be imperative to generate a platform that will enable a user to communicate queries to the support staff (Dewe, 2006, p.99). This is especially so to cater for changing scope of needs of the users. Marketing is an aspect that will enhance awareness about the existence of the system. Since the matter is a national issue, the marketing ideal should be across the whole of Britain (Tiwari, 2006, p.74). The cost of retrieving information should be as low as possible to ensure that lower, upper and middle-class individuals can use the system. Conclusion A library is an integrated part of the learning process that provides knowledge through a wide range of resources. Libraries have facilitated studies and research projects. The trend in education is changing with time and does not require people to learn or access information inside a school setting (Mathews, 2009, p.54). In the modern day, people have applied for part time programs of study. Many individuals are unable to access information due to various commitments associated with the pressure from economic constraints. The creative problem-solving technique of Osborn-Parnes model lays down six steps that will guide the development of library services. In the future, precisely by the year 2025, Britain will have automated the learning process (Snavely, 2012, p.25). This makes the adoption of technology the best approach in improving the access to information by members of the society. The method is convenient as it costs the users and the library administrators less amounts of money. Bibliography Bowman, J. H. (2012). British librarianship and information work 2006-2010. Raleigh: Lulu Com. Breeding, M. (2013). Resource sharing in libraries: concepts, products, technologies, and trends. Chicago: IL, ALA TechSource. Cohen, L. B. (2007). Library 2.0 initiatives in academic libraries. Chicago: Association of College and Research Libraries. Dewe, M. (2006). Planning public library buildings concepts and issues for the librarian. Aldershot: Ashgate Pub. ECDL (Conference), & Christensen-Dalsgaard, B. (2008). Research and advanced technology for digital libraries: 12th European conference, ECDL 2008, Aarhus, Denmark, September 14-19, 2008 : proceedings. Berlin: Springer. Ferguson, S. (2007). Libraries in the twenty-first century charting new directions in information services. Melbourne: Elsevier Flaten, Kolderup T. (2006). Management, marketing and promotion of library services based on statistics, analyses and evaluation. München: IFLA Publications. Gorman, M. (2011). Broken pieces: a library life, 1941-1978. Chicago: American Library Association Great Britain. (2010). The modernisation review of public libraries: a policy statement. London: Stationery Office. Kagan, A. (2015). Progressive library organizations: a worldwide history. New York: McFarland Lauchlan, F and Carrigan, Donna. (2013). Improving learning through dynamic assessment: a practical classroom resource. Philadelphia: Jessica Kingsley Publishers Mathews, B. (2009). Marketing todays academic library: a bold new approach to communicating with students. Chicago: American Library Association. Simmons, R., Thompson, R., & Russell, L. (2014). Education, work and social change: young people and marginalization in post-industrial Britain. New york : Palgrave Macmillan, 2014 Snavely, L. (2012). Student engagement and the academic library. London: ABC-CLIO Association. Tiwari, P. (2007). Information technology and library evolution. New Delhi: A P H Publishing. Read More