The University Library System - Report Example

Dear Mr. Peterson, I am writing this letter in great concern over the practices of the library system in continuing to ignore up s in technology. In researching, I recently visited the library with a list of requisite books. While I was able to procure a number of old books, all the new books were unavailable due to another patron having checked them out. In the past, before the invention of new technologies and the large use of computers and ereaders, I understood that such shortcomings in access to books was necessary, but with the invention of this new technology I believe that such an occurrence is simply unacceptable. The Problem It seems to me that by changing the collection from paper based, to electronic and digitally based, the library will be able to more effectively offer updated information to students and save money. I have done research into the costs of keeping a paper based collection, and statistics demonstrate that it annually costs $1 to store each book in the University library. (Roth 2009) Since I’ve started my tenure as a University student, I have also heard numerous reports about funding issues and tuition hikes. Indeed, since 1958 tuition has risen at twice the cost of inflation, and a good deal of that money has been put to the University library system. (Ehrenberg 2002) In addition, the cost of a simple course packet has often times risen to exorbitant amount of $100, when the majority of the readings could be just as easily collected and made available online for a drastically cheaper price. Plan The proposed plan is a two-tiered approach that is geared towards both the University’s Library system, and the computer engineering department. The project will develop an electronic reader with features distinct from both the Apple iPad and the Amazon Kindle; specifically, it will feature components for the college-aged demographic. In concurrence with the development of this product the University Library system will be move to an entirely digital collection. This proposal is paradigmatically linked to the similar University developed product design of Gatorade, by the University of Florida. Gatorade was developed by the science department as a response to the increasing need of the athletic department to combat in-game dehydration. Gatorade proved greatly successful for both the University, and as a product for the wider-population. It’s believed that the electronic reader can have similar commercial appeal, while satisfying the immediate needs of the University Library system. The political factors for the platform will adhere to government regulatory standards. Private investors could be attained, and the County business incubator will be approached, as the platform has been indicated to have value for city-wide libraries. While I realize the need of multiple business models, the initial model could be geared towards to the college and post-college section of society. It will be promoted as both a practical means to access the internet, a cost conscious alternative to the pricey purchase of books. The hand held device will remain competitive with Apple and Kindle by attending to features these devices have over-looked, as well as by concentrating solely on the college demographic. This requires the development of digital pen technology that will allow students to digitally take notes on the device – currently a feature both Apple and Kindle lack. We could begin negotiations with outside University libraries to overhaul an antiquated system of print media. It’s believed that as these gradually occurs over the next decade the marketing emphasis placed on the 18-27 year old market will have extremely beneficial effects on profits. How do you know this will help A growing trend in the technology industry is the use of hand held devices. A recent article by Ngo (2009) Meraki: Internet usage via handheld devices soars discusses the undeniably growing trend towards the use of handheld devices, with particular reference to internet usage. Ngo writes, “the number of mobile devices including laptops and handheld devices grew from some 149,000 in 2008 to more than 211,000 in 2009, a 41 percent increase.” (Meraki, Web) Indeed, much of SNS innovation has occurred within the frames of hand held wireless devices. Armano (2009) references platforms, such as Foursquare, that are constructed specifically for hand-held wireless devices. When considering the growing rate of SNS usage critic David Armano notes that the growing trend of usage (Twitter grew by over 1000% in 2009) indicates that networking sites are increasingly taking on increased level of specialization. At a recent conference Joe Krauss, Google’s director of product management, discussed the growing need of websites to have a social networking dimension. Krauss states that today people “expect that if youre on a commerce site that you know your friends are also on, you can see what your friends bought there and if they liked it.” Recently, Apple released the iPad, which has gained great acclaim, in great part for its use as an electronic reading machine. The Amazon Kindle has also gained considerable popularity as an electronic reader. In addition, mainstream groups such as Google – which has started on a project to make electronic over 12 million books for the public – have begun moving in the direction of digital books. Newspapers have started to become a thing of the past, as numerous people have said the death of print media has started. (Madigan 2007) While many conservative individuals believe this is a bad idea, I believe it creates an opportunity where students and patrons can potentially have access to material like never before. The strengths of the product will be its features geared toward the 18-27 year old sect. Namely, the digital pen that allows note-taking; the decreased cost of the product making it accessible to the college demographic; as well as the library component that capitalizes on the shift from print media to electronic. The challenges are related to the difficulty in maintaining adequate capital funding to remain competitive in the technology industry. Costs will range from development of digital pens and artistically unique device software, to the overwhelming need for cutting edge marketing techniques that will appeal to the designated demographic. Benefits The point is not that the library is not deserving of funding, as having a repository of knowledge is essential to any intellectual environment, but it’s evident that moneys have not been implemented in the most strategic means possible. By changing to a digital collection, the money that would otherwise be spent to expanding the library to store the ever increasing supply of books could be spent on study areas for students and professors. Numerous times upon arriving at the library, particularly during exam weeks, students have found it difficult to find many places to study and read. Understandably, the majority of the library space is taken by books. If digitized these books could be sold and the space could be used for tables and more study space. Special collections where books and documents are highly valued could also be made electronic. The library could make them available all the time and not worry about people touching them or ruining them. Finally, by switching to electronic books the library will become more advanced than other libraries and help the university and surrounding community gain esteem. This way, students will have easier access to newer and more information. Students will be more likely to do in-depth research. It will also save money for students and the University. Summing it up When considering recent developments in hand held wireless devices the current all consuming example is the Apple Ipad – a part laptop, part handheld device, part ereader – that emerged largely as a response to Amazon’s Kindle. While the usage trends have yet to be determined for the Ipad, one can reasonably assume that a number of users will incorporate the iPad as a means of access to periodicals and books. This concept is also in line with trends in the print journalism field that have decried the death of the newspaper. It seems undeniably clear that the next decade will experience a gradual shift towards electronic means of cultural dissemination that will shift the medium and message previously contained in print to the hand held mobile device. The need to capitalize on the growing decline of print media in ways that Amazon and Kindle fail to do is evident. While a number of people have argued that books will never die out and it’s unreasonable to require students to attain ereaders, this is short-sighted. In less than twenty-years the world has seen computer word processing become required among high schools and universities. Just as writing on a computer is now required for any college English class, so will reading books. Sincerely, References Armano, David. (2009) ‘Six Social Media Trends for 2009’ http://blogs.hbr.org/cs/2009/11/six_social_media_trends.html Ehrenberg, Mark. (2002) Tuition Rising: Why College Costs So Much. Harvard University Press. Krauss, Joe. (2009) ‘Google’s three trends in networking’ http://news.cnet.com/8301- 17939_109-9970053-2.html Madigan, Charles. (2007) The Collapse of the Great American Newspaper. Ivan R. Dee Publisher. Ngo, Dong. (2009) Meraki: Internet usage via handheld devices soars http://news.cnet.com/8301-1035_3-10312296-94.html Roth, Mark (2009) The Thinkers: Libraries finger way to a digital tomorrow Read http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/09341/1019030-298.stm#ixzz0hp0D00xu http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/09341/1019030-298.stm, March 2010 Read More