emerging trends in libraries

Emerging trends in libraries

Dr. H. Anil Kumar

Librarian

Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad

Questions to ask…

• What does the ecosystem of education look like?

• Are libraries relevant?

• Do we need libraries today?

• Will libraries be needed in the future?

India Skills Report 2014 by People Strong, Wheebox and CII

Indian Government Initiatives in Education

• Improve Access

– More institutions

– Improve infrastructure

– E-learning

– Improve GER

• Improve quality

– Entry - admissions

– Experience

• Design - curriculum

• Delivery – pedagogy

• Choice based credits

• Teacher training

• Learning materials

– Evaluation

• Learning focus

• Application orientation

• Grades vs marks

http://www.thenational.ae/business/technology/lack-of-demand-and-poor-quality-blamed-for-decline-in-enrolment-in-indias-engineering-colleges

Source: Indiastats database

Resources 20% Environment 20% Connectivity 20% Output 40%

www.cdeep.iitb.ac.in

http://www.business-standard.com/article/news-ani/education-goes-digital-in-india-115073101354_1.html

Technology Advantages

• Learn at your own pace and interest

• Supplement learning in the classroom

• Less dependency on formal support

• Explore new ways of learning

• Variety and wide range of topics

Learning and education

• Formal methods – Classroom training – Laboratory training – On the job or apprenticeship

• Non-formal methods – Self-study and Reading – Watching, seeing and trying

• Sources – Institutes / schools / industries / employers – Libraries and laboratories – Internet

Libraries

Why go beyond formal methods?

• The 95 Percent Solution: School is not where most Americans learn most of their science by John H. Falk and Lynn D. Dierking

• Recent findings challenge the longstanding belief that the place for science knowledge acquisition is the classroom.

• International comparisons of trends in science knowledge over lifetimes suggests that much if not most science knowledge is acquired outside of school.

American Scientist: v. 98 (Nov-Dec), 2010

Universities, ours and theirs

Krishna Kumar (in The Hindu, August 9, 2012)

• Recruitment of faculty

• Concept of teaching (periods)

• Concept of knowledge – research

• Library

• The fourth critical difference lies in the library. In the West, even in the most ordinary universities, the library forms the centre of life, both for teachers and students. Librarians enjoy a high status as their contribution to academic life cuts across academic disciplines…..

www.libraryasincubatorproject.org

A 3D printer at DeLaMare Science and Engineering Library. Photograph courtesy DeLaMare Science and Engineering Library - See more at: http://span.state.gov/business/libraries-turn-into-makerspaces/20150101#tab1

Engineering students of Carson High School in Nevada get a hands-on experience of 3D scanning, 3D printing, laser cutting and engraving, using Google Glass, MakeyMake kits and Google Liquid Galaxy at DeLaMare Science and Engineering Library. Photograph courtesy DeLaMare Science and Engineering Library

A 3D printed model at DeLaMare Science and Engineering Library. Photograph courtesy DeLaMare Science and Engineering Library - See more at: http://span.state.gov/business/libraries-turn-into-makerspaces/20150101#tab1

Milwaukee Makerspace Library, which aims to foster a community of makers by providing an environment—in terms of people, equipment and space—that supports creativity and personal growth.

Libraries Reinvent Themselves as Makerspaces

By Steve Fox January/February 2015

SPAN Magazine

http://span.state.gov/business/libraries-turn-into-makerspaces/20150101#tab1

Indian Express, Aug 24, 2014

PEW RESEARCH CENTRE

• Google is deskilling information literacy skills

• Facebook is deskilling interpersonal skills

• Internet: Attention span reducing

• No distinction between first year and final year students project reports

• how the printed book served to focus our attention, promoting deep and creative thought.

• Internet encourages the rapid, distracted sampling of small bits of information from many sources

• Scrolling and skimming - Reading: Jet skiing vs scuba diving

http://www.thetakeaway.org/story/paper-vs-plasma-how-digital-reading-shift-impacting-your-brain/

http://www.theguardian.com/books/2014/aug/19/readers-absorb-less-kindles-paper-study-plot-ereader-digitisation

http://chronicle.com/article/How-E-Reading-Threatens/147661/

http://www.readingrockets.org

http://slowreadingco.com

Libraries will survive…

• If education is important…

• If learning is the outcome of education….

• If reading is an important part of learning….

• If print books are relevant and needed….

• If learning spaces are required….

Libraries will be relevant as

Education is moving from

• Information sharing to learning

• Teacher to learner

Libraries are moving from supporting to partnering roles and facilitate:

• Reading

• Discussion

• Incubation

• Connecting

Safe, Social and Learning spaces

Thanks

anilkumar@iimahd.ernet.in