Assistive Technology LT 130 2024

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     Google Books Influencing Digitization      In 1996, Sergey Brin and Larry Page introduced Google Books to the world with a mission to make digital libraries viable for research. Since this time, Google Books has digitized over 40 million books that are available in over 400 languages (Google). These languages make it possible for scholars from all over the world to access works that would have only been available in the original language it was written in. Powered by Google's "web crawler" feature and page ranking algorithm, Google Books has quickly become the go-to resource for scholars. Google Books has increased the possibilities in many fields of study, such as the psychology field. A study performed and published by the International Journal of Psychology analyzed the cultural change for Chinese students by studying the use of words and lexicons through the reoccurrence of words used in Google Books (Zhang 146)." Collecting this data of reused wor...

Libraries Bridge the Gap in the Digital Divide Libraries have served a critical role closing the gap in the digital divide. However, using technology comes at a cost which can become out of reach for people, thus creating the digital divide. In David Lee King’s article, he described the digital divide as those who have access to internet and those who do not. We all use our mobile phones everyday to read our texts, watch videos, search things on the internet, and even keep track of finances. However, this “level of use is possible with a mobile device and a stable internet connection (King, 24). The digital divide is the access to stable internet. King’s study shows that “...more than 21 million people in the United States don’t have [the internet]. That includes nearly 2 in 10 people – 27 percent – who live in such rural places…as well as 2 percent of those living in cities (King, 24).  As technology continues to make advances that improve our quality of life and efficiency, this ...

     Assitive Technology: Technology Made Easy      As technology becomes more sophisticated in its performance and development, libraries have been a leader introducing new technology to its users. Libraries have served a critical role introducing new technology to library patrons. One way that libraries achieve this is by providing and teaching how to use assistive technology to patrons with disabilities. As defined by the New York State Education Department, “[a]n assistive technology device is any item, piece of equipment, or product system . . . that is used to increase, maintain, or improve the functional capabilities of students with a disability" (NY Education Dept). These types of devices help bridge any accessibility issues towards digital literacy      The Talking Book and Braille Center (TBBC) at the New Jersey State Library (NJSL) has offers assistive technology classes that helps readers magnify text on computer screens and how...

  There are many ways that libraries are changing in this new age. This, of course, pertains to many things, but especially how the library is both shaped and shapes the community around it. According to Shana Hinze, the message we should send to the community is that “the library truly cares about the people in our community.” Library staff needs to integrate themselves into the community and listen to input about what the community needs from these libraries. I’ve seen this in my observations of the two different libraries in my area. One of these libraries provides things like “Bingo Night” and “Technology Assistance” since a lot of their population consists of retirement age people and the other provides “Family Game Night” and “Children’s Storytime” as that library’s population consists more of families. A lot of these activities and programs are made possible by open communication with people in the community and other service centers like City Hall and the local community c...

One of the many things that many people don’t realize about library leadership is how much the use and leadership of libraries has changed in this new digital age. There are many who do not want to interact with the library physically. Why do that when I have a world of information at my fingertips? However, these people are looking at this the wrong way. What people should be looking at is how we can adapt libraries and how they are used into this new digital age. Before the access of information via the internet many people would show up at their local libraries and look through their collections and archives to find something—a lot of that seems unnecessary with many of these libraries digitizing these records. Now, in this new age of global access from anywhere, we as librarians now have to teach new kinds of researching skills. Instead of showing patrons how to look and comb through printed materials, we now need to educate them on how to use a search engine and find the right in...

What makes a good makerspace? Well, that really depends on where and for who you are making the makerspace for? This has been a new but fast moving concept for libraries everywhere and now, maybe you need some help developing your own space. Kristin Fontichiario has some ideas on how to do these types of spaces. The makerspace, as she says, should serve the population it is for and that will very much differ depending on what kind of library you’re making it in: school, academic or public library. Some questions you need to ask yourself when putting these spaces together are: What do the students or patrons need and what do they want? Will your space enhance their curriculum or not? Maybe have patrons of your library give ideas on what they need whether it be certain technology, media or physical space. You then want to make sure you have the right budget for these things and if you don’t, what is more important to have then not? You then want to give certain guidelines or policies th...

Access for all in technology usually is summed up with audiobooks, books in braille or even digital books. However, pouring money into these types of accessible media can make or break a budget of a library, especially if the library is underfunded for reasons such as the area around being low-income. That is why many librarians may find the task of being more inclusive with library media can be difficult. This is why finding low cost alternatives for books on the shelves is key to any library. There are many ways a librarian can adapt books to suit the needs of all patrons, in fact, librarians have been adapting books since 1854 for blind patrons according to Cathy Galyon. Some of these adapted story books may be in traditional format, but have interactive elements added on each page. Librarians can transform an existing storybook into a digital storybook using software like PowerPoint to add sounds or animation to the story, even adding a narrator’s voice that is reading the story ou...

  The impact of Mobile technology and Libraries In an era where technology permeates every aspect of our lives, libraries are not exempt for this wave of digital transformation. One of the most significant  advancements in recent years is the integration of mobile technology within library services. This fusion of tradition and innovation is reshaping how libraries operate and how patrons access and interact with information. So examples of these: Mobile Apps for Libraries Mobile apps have become a cornerstone of modern library services.  Libraries worldwide are developing custom apps to provide users with access to their catalogs, account management and digital resources. These apps allow patrons to search for books, reserve titles, renew loans, and even pay fines from the convenience of their smartphones. For instance The Ronald H. Roberts Temecula Public Library offers users the ability to browse the vast digital collection of e-books, and listen to audiobooks on the g...

Library In-Hand: Mobile Technology and Libraries        In recent years, smartphones have seemingly become ubiquitous in everyday life. We use it to communicate with everyone we know, to check our emails, search the internet, and most conveniently, it fits in our pocket. Libraries had to quickly adapt to disseminating digital resources through mobile technology. “Mobile Technology will help both novice and experienced librarians to stay relevant in an increasingly mobile society.” (Saxena 2). Mobile technology present opportunities for libraries to reach a wider audience through mobile services. Also, it is inevitable for libraries to distribute information in this way.      Though it is practical and a must to have library resources accesibile through mobile devices, library staff have to invest time figuring out practical ways to implement these mobile services successfully. A psychological focus study in the United Arab Emirates did a study on the ...

Assistive Technology and Libraries Does investing in Assistive Technologies automatically create benefits for disabled patrons? In the article “Analyzing Service Divide in Academic Libraries for Better Serving Disabled Patrons Using AssistiveTechnologies”, written by Devendra Potnis and Kevin Mallary, suggests that it might not. The article notes that libraries are unable to adequately meet those patrons’ needs. “Many individuals with severe cognitive disabilities... do not receive adequate accommodations to promote success.” (Potnis & Mallary, 2021 pg 880). So what are some of the challenges academic libraries encounter when offering these services to patrons with disabilities through Assistive Technologies? (from here on assistive technology will be referred to as AT) Resource Allocation: Ensuring adequate funding and resources for acquiring and maintaining AT can be difficult. Budgets often limit the ability to update or purchase current AT devices and software. Training Experti...

  Image Source:  https://stock.adobe.com/images/google-company-logo-with-arrows-pointing-up-financial-growth-concept-data-transfer-upload-concept-republic-of-moldova-16-march-2021/420574519?prev_url=detail 14 years ago Brewster Kahle, founder of the Internet Archive, wrote the article “A Book Grab by Google” on the impending monopoly Google Books could have on the digitization of books as publishers and authors battled over the rights Google had over the use of materials for digitization. With a tool for searching becoming a bookstore, Google’s project of scanning digitized materials en masse would create a situation where they could take unclaimed materials as their own, creating a situation where, as the article puts “Google will have permission to bring under its sole control information that has been accessible through public institutions for centuries.” While that settlement did not go through, the risk of a monopoly still hangs around to this day. Just in the past year, ...

  Google Books Google has partnered up with several libraries and is looking to scan books into their system, making it easier for researchers and students to find books they may have never been able to find before. “The project involves libraries at Harvard and Stanford Universities, the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor, and the University of Oxford, in England, as well as the New York Public Library” (Carlson). As far as equity and assistive technology are concerned, this may be a huge boon. People who are unable to make it to the library for whatever reason, or who may have trouble searching for the correct resources, can use Google Books to help them find what they need.  This project could come with some downsides though. Steven J. Bell states that the program should be viewed with a “dose of ‘healthy skepticism’ about the project. ‘Google is probably not going to do anything that doesn't have a profit return on it,’ Mr. Bell said. ‘What does that mean? Are peopl...

Mobile technology and libraries Libraries should have some way for customers to engage with their services and resources when they are outside the building. In order to accomplish this, libraries should have good mobile technology in place. David Lee King explains that these basic services can be accomplished through mobile technology “checking out materials; accessing e-books and other e-resources; reading library news; getting notifications; asking a question” (Lee King 18). In his article, Lee King goes through each service and how libraries can use different technology to help patrons access these services.  I think a good example of a library that uses mobile technology to allow patrons to access their resources is the San Diego Public Library. They have many different ways for patrons to engage in their services without ever stepping inside any of the branch buildings. Accessing the library’s catalog is an extremely important service, and the SDPL has several ways patrons...

  Assistive Technology and Libraries Assistive technology is very important in libraries because it can help build literacy in children that may not engage in books in traditional ways, whether because of a disability or any other reason. In the article “Access for All Adapted Literacy Through Low-Tech Assistive Technology” the authors mention a strategy called the Universal Design for Learning, or UDL. Within the UDL there are three principles used to help children better engage with stories. The principles provided are to prepare libraries to have “multiple and flexible means of representation of content; multiple ways to engage students; multiple ways for students to express what they know” (Gaylon 23). By adhering to these principles libraries can provide children of all different abilities the opportunity to build literacy. Some examples are tongue depressors (or popsicle sticks) to help students turn pages (Gaylon 23), use animated electronic books (Gaylon 24) or provide ad...

  Libraries and the Digital Divide Libraries around the world play a huge part in digital equity. This has become especially true within the last few years. “Over the past two years, the pandemic has exposed the widening gap in the US among those with and without consistent access to the internet” (Digital Equity 27). People and communities as a whole have come to rely on technology for almost everything and libraries have become a huge space for access to these resources. People not only use computer access at libraries for schoolwork, “but also for employment, public services, telehealth visits, social connections, or civic participation” (Digital Equity 27). Not everyone has access to computers or a stable internet connection, and that is why it is important for libraries to bridge the gap with their services.  In his article, “Crossing the Divide: An Urban Librarian’s Awakening to the Digital Divide in Rural Public Libraries,” Tim Kuelker describes his time working in a ru...