David Lee King

social media | emerging trends | libraries

Emerging Trends and Libraries

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As you might have noticed, I’ve been writing about different emerging trends lately.

I plan on continuing that for awhile, and thought I’d make a handy list of the whole series of articles. As I add articles to the series, I’ll update this blog post.

Here’s that list – Emerging Trends and Libraries:

Hope you enjoy them, and hope you find this list useful!

Image from Elizabeth Hahn

Big Data and Libraries

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This is my continuing series on emerging technology trends and libraries. This week’s trend focuses on Big Data.

You’ve probably read about “Big Data” in the news. But do you know what it is? Hopefully this article will point you in the right direction!

First, for a definition of Big Data (from wherever Google gets their definitions): “extremely large data sets that may be analyzed computationally to reveal patterns, trends, and associations, especially relating to human behavior and interactions.”

That’s a good start. Wikipedia expands on this: “Current usage of the term “big data” tends to refer to the use of predictive analytics, user behavior analytics, or certain other advanced data analytics methods that extract value from data, and seldom to a particular size of data set.”

I like Wikipedia’s additional info, because they’re pointing out something really important about big data as a useful tool: the amount of data is important, but more important is what you do with those data sets.

What can you do with Big Data?

Big Data is intertwined with other emerging trends, like Smart Cities, Artificial Intelligence, and the Internet of Things. They all interact to do cool stuff. For example:

  • Healthcare issues. This article shares how a doctor was able to cure his wife of cancer by using the power of big data.
  • Weather tracking. There are a lot of weather sensors deployed around the world that collect and share weather pattern data. This helps meteorologists have more accurate weather reports, and also helps give us early signs of larger natural disasters.
  • Tracking customers. Coca-Cola is using big data to track customer retention.
  • Uber’s surge pricing. Surge pricing is dynamic pricing that adjusts based on demand, mostly seen in busy urban areas (i.e., never in Topeka, KS).

Potential Negatives of Big Data

So Big Data does some pretty cool stuff! Any negatives associated with using big data? Sure there are. Here are some:

  • Privacy concerns. Somewhere in all that big data is something about me. Stuff maybe I want to keep private. That is not guaranteed in today’s online world.
  • Security concerns. All that data out there … it can be hacked.
  • Probably a host of other issues, too!

Big Data and Libraries

How can libraries use big data to make better decisions, create better services, etc? Here are some examples:

  • GIS mapping. My library has used our patron database combines with GIS mapping to find out more about our customers, where our non-customers live, etc. We used that to increase library card holders.
  • Buying better stuff. Or at least stuff that people want to check out. There are tools out there to help with that, including Collection HQ or Gale’s Analytics on Demand can help with that.
  • Tracking other library-related analytics. Check out OrangeBoy, CIVICTechnologies, and Patron Point for starters.
  • Washburn University example. Here’s an example from Topeka’s local university. The library used data to help improve student retention (and getting more students into the library).

More reading on Big Data:

Two Cool Mentions

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In the past month, I’ve had a couple of nice mentions of the work I do. I thought I’d share them!

  1. StateTech named me one of their “30 Must-Read State and Local IT Blogs 2018.” That’s pretty cool! I’m the only individual librarian  blogger mentioned. TechSoup for Libraries also made the list (you’re following them, right?). Definitely check out the other blogs mentioned – there are some great thinkers and ideas to be found in that list!
  2. Callminer.com just shared a slide deck of mine in their “50 Must-See Customer Engagement Presentations.” Very cool to have my slides mentioned on the same page as Ogilvy, Microsoft, ad:tech, and Salesforce! In this case, it’s a presentation from 5 years ago. So a good example of older online content still being useful to someone! And an aside – I do seminars on customer engagement in libraries. Let me know if you want me to come speak at your library/association/conference!

So – fun stuff for me! Click through the links and see if you find a new blog to follow (I’ll guess you will!).

My Boss is a Robot

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This is my continuing series on emerging technology trends and libraries. This week’s trend focuses on shifts in the job world.

Ok – my boss isn’t really a robot. But as smart machines, artificial intelligence, and big data continue to grow and mature, it’s very possible that some performance-based jobs will be measured by a machine instead of a human. Hence – a robo-boss.

I know – that sounds sorta weird! But guess what? Some people already have robot bosses! Some examples:

  • Uber drivers. They interact with their mobile app, which gives them pickup requests, provides performance feedback, etc.
  • Starbucks – uses a software program to schedule baristas, based on sales and other data.
  • Hitachi has experimented with warehouse robot bosses (more here)

While you might not have a robot as a boss, there are a lot of jobs that are being replaced by smart machines. Some examples include:

  • Writers: Business-focused content like shareholder reports (who the heck actually reads those?), legal documents, short sports articles, etc. can be automated.
  • Paralegal research: Hunting for specific words or phrases in a bunch of legal documents can be automated.
  • Call centers: That first-tier, “let me help direct you to the right person” part of the call is already automated.
  • Drivers: Taxi drivers and truck drivers. Companies are experimenting with driverless taxis, and the trucking industry has been saying that there will be automated truck deliveries within 5-10 years.
  • Warehouse workers: Amazon has already replaced some warehouse workers with their Kiva robots.

Any library examples? Besides the paralegal research example seen above (that one strikes pretty close to home), there are some examples. Not completely replacing jobs, but replacing human work with automated work:

  • Automated Materials Handling (AMH) systems – they presort returned items so people don’t have to.
  • Online desk scheduling systems: Not quite AI yet, but some of these systems are smart enough to automatically schedule another person to work a desk when someone calls in sick, and it certainly keeps the schedule so you don’t have to.

There are probably other examples – do you have any? Please share!

More more information:

A couple of Recent Articles – Video tips & Emerging Trends

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Update: Added a link to the Information Today article!

I keep track of my publications and presentations on my website. It’s fun to see those lists grow!

Here are three articles I’ve recently written/been interviewed for:

  1. Making Library Videos: Seven simple steps to visual marketing (American Libraries). This is a short article that provides 7 easy tips on how to start making videos for your library. Want more than the quick article? Check out my new Library Technology Report about Video in Libraries.
  2. Emerging Technology Trends for Libraries (IT lib: Informačné technológie a knižnice, a library publication from Slovakia). I share my thoughts on what emerging trends you should pay attention to and how I think those trends affect libraries.
  3. 10 Experts Talk Library Positivity (by Brandi Scardilli) in the November issue of Information Today. I was interviewed for this article (along with a bunch of other amazing people) and asked 3 questions: What’s something that has re-energized you or kept you excited about libraries in the past year; How do you see librarianship/libraries evolving in the next few years; and What makes you feel hopeful about the future of libraries? It’s a fun “looking forward” article. Not available online, but definitely worth a mention!

Hope you read the articles (and find something useful in them)!

Image from Pexels (handy place to find license-free photos!)