Mike & LIS 753

http://www.walkingpaper.org/1100

I have to be honest; I’ve never really viewed myself as a technologically minded individual.  When fellow pre-teens were lined up at the library’s new computers waiting to play Gertrude’s Secrets, I was much more interested in reading about Encyclopedia Brown’s latest caper.  Then, when I grew a little older, and the Internet grew in popularity, I was confused as to why anyone would want to pay so much for a computer and search the “information superhighway,” when my parents had a perfectly good set of Encyclopedia Britannica just collecting dust!

However, today, following a calculated cue de ta by the Apple Corporation, I have become a lover of this “new” technology, which had shown itself to me through convenient music downloading, must have applications, and entertaining video games (oh yeah, a phone too).  Indeed, through a dizzying array of already-obsolete iPods, I can definitely see why the newest and hippest gadgets from Apple are so sought after by the masses.  I mean, they are the coolest!

Yes, I own an iPhone and I am addicted to it.  

I refresh its RSS feeder application every few minutes.  I use the text to talk to people more than I actually speak to them.  I hardly ever open my laptop, I check all my email through the phone and I have an application for most anything that could arise in life.  I have an application that can locate the best restaurant, one that checks movie times, another that locates the Metra, another for tracking the EL, and one that helps find the best route to plan a trip.

Until recently, I thought I had seen every application there was.  Then I read the blog, Librarian in Black (see my last post) and was very excited to see the following post: DCPL launches first-ever library iPhone application. The post detailed how the Washington DC Public Library has created an application for iPhones. 

I downloaded the application and, although still basic, it is pretty cool.  The application allows the user to put a hold on a book, search library materials, check library hours, and phone numbers, and locations, and read summaries of materials within the library’s walls.      

The application has some great groundwork in place, such as an instant link to MapQuest when the library branch’s address is touched.  Another sleek feature is that, after a title search is completed, a photo of the book’s cover appears when it is located.  Finally, and of course the best feature, the ability to place a hold on a book and to search the library’s catalog can all be done on the go!

There is some room for improvement.  Perhaps, as this new technology advances, libraries can find ways to feed their books and audio collections directly through their applications.  There are already applications by which users can download classic literature, newspapers, audio books, etc.  Additionally, I did find that the New York Public Library’s collection is available on iTunes.  So, these future improvements are not all too far fetched. 

As someone who is no longer apprehensive about technology moving into the library, and is o.k. with books being available online, I’m really looking forward to my Chicago Public Library creating an application for the iPhone.  They had just better hurry before these applications are obsolete.