June 22, 2005 -– The traditional stereotypes of bookish librarians, dusty ancient buildings, and enforced quiet are losing favor as libraries continue to make headlines with their progressive and often contentious position as champions of the Information Age.
“ The library and web development fields are both extremely specialized and complex. ”
With their fierce defense of privacy and freedom of information, often at odds with major governmental initiatives like the USA PATRIOT Act, libraries at the dawn of the early twenty-first century forged a new image in the public’s eye. Now, as fashionable search engine technology by Internet giants like Google begins to encroach on the territory of incumbent research methods, the realization of the modern digital library has become the new focus of innovation in web technology.
Much of the transition has been brought about by librarians themselves. In fact, Masters of Information Science degrees now often include significant technology coursework, and those library professionals with additional experience and training in computer science and related areas are increasingly in demand.
However, a few web development companies have emerged with a focus on realizing the potential of Internet technology in libraries. Summit E-Solutions (www.summitesolutions.com) is one of these companies, and celebrates the release this month of a new software product for library public service interactions. Reference Desk Tracker (www.referencedesktracker.com) enables library staff to track and manage library traffic and patron requests through a web-based interface, taking the place of pen and paper.
“The library and web development fields are both extremely specialized and complex.” said Ben Myers, owner of Summit E-Solutions. “To make genuine progress in realizing the ideal of the digital library, you need either library professionals with substantial IT skills, or technology professionals with a real inside knowledge of the needs and processes of libraries. Our strategy is to provide the latter.”
Ben Myers and Summit E-Solutions represent a new specialization in the web design industry. By providing products and services with the library in mind, they hope to play a part in the next big act of the Internet.
It’s with this hope that Summit E-Solutions will be attending the American Library Association annual conference in Chicago, June 23-29. “It will be an exciting event,” Ben Myers said, “just because of the fact that so much change is happening within the industry.”
Exactly what the Internet will look like in a year from now, or ten, is hard to say. However, it is certain that libraries, once thought of as old fashioned, will play a major part in its growth.
About Summit E-Solutions: Arizona web designer, software engineer, and marketing specialist Ben Myers formed Summit E-Solutions in 2004. The company specializes in web-based products and services for libraries, higher education institutions, government, and non-profit organizations. Visit www.summitesolutions.com for more information.
Contact:
Ben Myers
Owner, Summit E-Solutions
http://www.summitesolutions.com
PO Box 23751
Flagstaff, AZ 86002
(928) 699-9925
