EDITOR'S NOTES
A Better Library Experience Through Technology
by Brandi Scardilli
Libraries have always been at the forefront of adopting new technologies to serve their patrons. When researching examples, I was surprised to learn that libraries were lending books on tape (audiopub.org/history-of-audiobooks) and using online catalogs (escholarship.org/uc/item/3mz7h8hr) as early as the 1970s. When I entered this field in 2011, building makerspaces was the hot topic, and the ebook discourse was heating up. In the past 15 years, makerspaces have become commonplace, and—as you’ve seen in the pages of this magazine before—we’re still trying to figure out fair and equitable ebook lending. But uncertainty hasn’t stopped libraries from using their resources and knowledge to give patrons excellent experiences. This issue’s feature articles tackle a few ways librarians are actively improving on their existing technologies to do just that.
Three librarians share their experiences with updating their web services. Rachel Evans (University of Georgia’s libraries) provides tips for doing usability testing based on how she performed it on her university’s special collections website, institutional repository platform, and more. Amber Spratlin and Sara Bronson (Maryville University Library) discuss how they overhauled their web systems to include AI-assisted search and discovery, taking us through the various phases of development.
Two library leaders offer outside-the-box stories. Technologist Brian Pichman recounts a discussion with librarians that leveraged Unanimous AI’s Thinkscape product focused on enhancing human collaboration. They talked about challenges libraries faced, with Thinkscape analyzing the conversation. Erin Busbea (Columbus-Lowndes Public Library System in Mississippi) shares how her state’s libraries had to get creative in continuing to offer digital access in the aftermath of the current presidential administration’s funding upheavals.
Sincerely,
 Brandi Scardilli,
Editor in Chief
bscardilli@infotoday.com
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