What current technologies are on the cusp of moving from “gee whiz” to real-life application in libraries? This LITA Guide will explore the information landscape as it might be in 3-5 years. It will describe the emerging technologies of today that are likely to be at the core of “standard” library offerings in the not-distant future. It will introduce project managers and project doers not just to new technologies, but also provide an understanding of the broader trends that are driving them.
Chapter-length essays are particularly sought on the following topics:
- Mobile Technologies
- Linked Data
- Web Scale Discovery Environments
- Technology for Augmented Reality
- Digital Repositories
- Digital Preservation
- Content Management
- Ereaders & Ebooks
- Cloud-based ILS
- Beyond FRBR – metadata formats
Chapters will be in the 4000-4500 word range and address the following points:
- Define the technology (in general, and in the context of the chapter)
- Why does the technology matter in general, and to libraries in particular?
- What are early adopters doing?
- What does future trend look like?
- Having embraced this technology, what would the library of 2017 look like?
Proposals should be submitted to Ken Varnum, the book’s editor, at toptech2017@umich.edu by Monday, April 15, 2013. Please include the following things in your proposal.
- Your name, title, phone, and email address
- A few sentences describing your experience with the technology being proposed
- A draft of points 1 and 2 in the outline above
- An outline of the remainder of the chapter
- A writing sample, preferably something published in an edited or peer-reviewed publication
Deadlines
- April 15, 2013: Proposals due
- May 1, 2013: Notification of acceptance
- August 15, 2013: Chapter drafts due
- September 15, 2013: Editor’s comments provided to authors
- October 1, 2013: Revised drafts due to editor
- 2014: Publication
About the Editor
Ken Varnum is the Web Systems Manager at the University of Michigan Library, where he manages the library web site and development of new features and functionality. He received a masters degree from the University of Michigan's School of Information and his Bachelor of Arts from Grinnell College. He has worked in a range of library settings -- large and small academic, corporate, and special. He led the University of Michigan's implementation of Summon using the Summon API in a Drupal site in 2010. An active member of the library technology world for 18 years, Ken's research and professional interests include Drupal, web-scale discovery, and user-generated content. He is the author of Drupal in Libraries (ALA TechSource, 2012) and a frequent presenter on library technology topics.
