Thing #11

Technology. Frequently a four-letter word.

I remember when only boys in higher level math classes were allowed to use the only computer in high school.

Everyone took typing classes in 9th grade and had to learn how to center a line, figure out room for footnotes, and make room for a page number. Let me tell you, a wordprocessor is a life saver! Especially for simple corrections or for editing.

I love going to http://www.barnesandnoble.com/, placing an order, placing something in my Wish List.

I love that we can access a library's catalog online. WorldCat is one of my favorite websites.

I like that companies have a website so I can find their address, or phone number.

I like being able to do an online search to learn who still sells Totes Socks with the strips on the bottom, then find the UK company that sells them, place an order online, and in two weeks receive socks that are not offered locally or domstically.

So much communication is available now: email, texting, webpages. Grandparents can email far-away families and receive photos. But online photo sharing sites are still not all that user-friendly, regardless of how they think they are.

There's a lot of good out there with technology.

But we must remember to NOT go too far to the extreme. Keep our eyes open for what's out there but don't jump on the band wagon simply because it's the latest gadget. It's nice that my library offers downloadable books, but I own a cassette player - so do many, many of our older or lower income patrons. When I did get an MP3 player it wasn't the expensive model that allows bookmarking, etc. so using my player became an exercise in frustration. So often the technology we offer requires people to have The Latest, The Most Expensive and we must guard against that.

It was painful to shift from the card catalog to an online catalog and my library maintained both systems for a few years to help people adjust. We must remember to bring everyone along with us when we use technology.