Brown and Duguid (2002) made several critical points about the balance between social needs and influences on and by technology that are relevant to libraries and librarians.
First, while technology has made it possible to work independent of others, neglecting the social needs of people impacts learning and productivity. Technology cannot supplant the role of other people in how we learn and work, technology is the conduit; information derives meaning when we interact with and apply it. Ironically, in fact, technology has amplified our need for others to help resolve problems with "frail and fickle technologies and unlimited technologies" (pg. 79).
The example of Chiat/Day illustrates the dangers and perhaps inevitable failure of underestimating the significance of social ties, organizational structure, and the relationship between place and identity. Again, technology is not a substitute for contact; the benefits of technology include enhancing and extending social relationships.
Successful technology design drafts social dynamics and resources to create more useful technologies, both enriching and enriched by the contributions of social influences.
The relevance to libraries and librarians is that human collaboration is key to the success and usefulness/usability/application of technology. Databases, virtual reference, and the myriad ways information resources can be accessed remotely only extend the services libraries and librarians provide and the role the institution and its actors play in the ability to use and apply information and technology.
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2 comments:
I felt almost comforted by this reading. There are many wonderful technologies available to people, but that does not mean that our jobs will become obsolete. People will always need other people.
I totally agree - it seems this need for a human element is the key to our job security. :) Like jhscils598s08, I was also comforted by this! We can embrace these technologies as "enhancing and extending" our relationship with the communities we serve, without feeling it is diminishing the need for our profession! Hurrah to that!
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