Librarians have assumed the role of leadership in technology almost by default. The methods of finding information are changing and the librarian has to keep up with the changes to give the patrons the best service possible. In the case of schools, these patrons are the students and the teachers. Even though today's students are growing up in a technology world, many do not have the skills that are necessary to find and use the information available. Just because the students can text well and are great at social networking, it doesn't mean they are where they should be according to the Standards for the 21st Century Learner put out by the AASL. The standards have four main headings. The first is to inquire, think critically, and gain knowledge. This is the finding of the information in multiple ways and then start to synthesize it. Librarians can certainly be on the forefront here. Giving the students the tools so that they can go a look in a meaningful way should be a basic function of the librarian. The second standard is draw conclusions, make informed decisions, apply knowledge to new situations, and create new knowledge. This takes the information a step forward and starts to draw conclusions and ask new questions. Again, the librarian should be there to support the information gathering and help to guide the process of how to process it. The third standard is share knowledge and participate ethically and productively as members of our democratic society. In this case, the librarian can be a model, as well as a guide. Librarians should be able to demonstrate what being ethical and productive means. The fourth standard is pursue personal and aesthetic growth. This is where the librarian has to listen and be mindful of the interests and needs of the patrons so that they can foster the reading and information gathering to meet each individual.
Rubin (2010) talks about portals that allow librarians to put favorite sites in. Social bookmarking is taking this further. This is a very real tool that librarians can use to help students and teachers have a head start on their search. This is a way for the librarian to very much be a leader in new technology. Johnston (2011) talks about much data discussing the leadership of librarians in technology but that many do not do so because the role is not well defined. There do not seem to be any real guidelines on what the librarian's responsibility is when it comes to technology, just that the librarian be a leader. This does make it hard to know what the parameters are. Teachers and administration often have varying ideas about what the librarian should do. It should be a collaborative effort no matter what the definition. The librarian is there to support and help but not do it all. Information technologists also should have a role in the technology. They may have more to do with the hardware and gadgets but they should be part of the collaboration that allows the technology to be used effectively. Librarians will continue to be leaders in this area because they have to be. Technology is intertwined with the library but the librarians should not have to do it in a vacuum. Many pieces have to work together to get it done.
http://www.ala.org/aasl/standards
Rubin, R. E. (2010). Chapter 6 Redefining the library: The impacts and
implications of technological change. In Foundations of Library and
Information Science, 3rd ed., 225-270
Johnston, Melissa P.(2011). School Librarians as Technology Integration Leaders: Enablers and Barriers to Leadership Enactment. Electronic Theses, Treatises and Dissertations. Paper 3480.
http://diginole.lib.fsu.edu/etd/3480
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