I've been chewing on the Dewey controversy for days now and this thought
suddenly struck me in the car on the way to work this morning (yes, I am
a 24/7 library geek):
Look a few years into the future. What if every book were stuck with an
RFID tag that had some GPS capability? That is, the books would "know"
where they are. Then it wouldn't matter where we put them. Anybody could
find out where anything was. This might free up Librarians to put things
in any order we chose. We could put those baseball poetry books together
with the baseball sports books and the business of baseball books. Or
not. The movie "Clueless" could be shelved next to the novel "Emma." We
could redesign the entire shelfspace according to a personal vision,
like the Prelinger Library
(http://www.home.earthlink.net/~alysons/library.html). Users could
reshuffle and remix the collection to suggest their own connections
between materials. The catalog front-end could provide the
searchable/browsable space necessary for more pointed inquiries. We
could (and, I would argue, should) keep Dewey or LC classification in
the records because structured metadata provides a controlled and
predictable architecture for searching that is, I believe, impossible to
replicate with folksonomy. From a strictly school library perspective,
it would also allow us a vehicle for teaching aspects of information
literacy which are still and will remain important.
The books might even "remember" all of the other materials near which
they'd been shelved, suggesting further connections for users.
There are significant concerns with RFID, particularly in the area of
privacy, which is a special concern in schools. But, just for fun,
consider the matter hypothetically: If these could be fully addressed,
would it be worth pursuing?
I'm sure I'm not the first one to consider this. Many libraries are
already implementing RFID
(http://news.com.com/RFID,+coming+to+a+library+near+you/2100-1012_3-5411
657.html). But I'd be interested to hear what others think. The
technology to do something like this is already here and the price is
coming down. The question is whether it would improve opportunities for
student learning. Would it serve our children? Are they being adequately
served now?
I'm not advocating, just curious.
If you have any doubts about the significance of the changes coming to
the information landscape, it could be instructive to watch one of the
new ads for the iPhone (especially this one
http://www.apple.com/iphone/ads/ad3/) and then think again.
Any ideas?
---Bob.
/************************************************/
/* Bob Hassett, Head Librarian */
/* Luther Jackson Middle School */
/* 3020 Gallows Road */
/* Falls Church, Virginia 22042 */
/* (703) 204-8133 */
/* Bob.Hassett@fcps.edu */
/************************************************/
See you in the Library!
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Please note: All LM_NET postings are protected by copyright law.
You can prevent most e-mail filters from deleting LM_NET postings
by adding LM_NET@LISTSERV.SYR.EDU to your e-mail address book.
To change your LM_NET status, e-mail to: listserv@listserv.syr.edu
In the message write EITHER: 1) SIGNOFF LM_NET 2) SET LM_NET NOMAIL
3) SET LM_NET MAIL 4) SET LM_NET DIGEST * Allow for confirmation.
* LM_NET Help & Information: http://www.eduref.org/lm_net/
* LM_NET Archive: http://www.eduref.org/lm_net/archive/
* EL-Announce with LM_NET Select: http://elann.biglist.com/sub/
* LM_NET Supporters: http://www.eduref.org/lm_net/ven.html
--------------------------------------------------------------------
LM_NET
Mailing List Home