Comments on: If Libraries are More than Just Books, Then Where are All the Damn Technology Awards?

By: librarydude

librarydude — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 14:39:01 +0000

I have a problem with the Premise! Technology Awards? I think this is a worthwhile discussion, but it needs to head in the direction of “Innovation Awards” and not technology (technology is a tool, like a pencil….

By: Sharon McKellar

Sharon McKellar — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 23:21:21 +0000

Yeah, but so is the Caldecott, right? I mean it’s an ALSC award, not an ALA award. As are almost all of the Youth Media Awards (either ALSC or YALSA or joint). I did want to mention that I was pleased that this year, for the first time, submissions for the Notable Children’s Recordings list could be digital. I sat on the committee and listened to a few submissions that came as mp3s via my email rather than CDs in the post. It was a nice start!

By: Lori Mills

Lori Mills — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 20:40:00 +0000

I agree and I think it’s an important goal for ALA to consider. That being said, it would take some time for any award to gain the fame of the book awards. Also, when it comes to technology, you cannot compare the volume of technologies developed in a year to the number of books written. Even if an award was won, I don’t know that it would drive people to use a particular technology as much as book awards drive people to read particular books. Possible honoring specific library YouTube videos or cell phone apps or games might get some followers.

Although not quite an award, I think the PRIMO committee does an excellent job honoring instruction librarians with their “site of the month”:)
http://www.ala.org/acrl/aboutacrl/directoryofleadership/sections/is/iswebsite/projpubs/primo Only really of interest to librarians, though.

P.S. Didn’t the Today Show end their segment on the book-award winners?

By: The Unquiet Librarian

The Unquiet Librarian — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 20:49:06 +0000

I don’t think this award would be for technology like you referenced but rather how any library is using technology to engage patrons (see the OITP Award I listed in an earlier comment). I think something like what the YOUMedia Lab in Chicago is doing would be a great example of innovative use of technology to engage and empower patrons.

By: Michelle

Michelle — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 20:46:16 +0000

Please let me follow up by saying I don’t think an award is a bad idea. I just think expecting it to have the public following of the Caldecott or Newbery is unrealistic.

By: Michelle

Michelle — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 20:45:09 +0000

I’m having trouble visualizing a public-facing Library Technology Award with that kind of prestige. What kind of technology projects would be honored? Would there be sufficient public interest in those kinds of achievements? I don’t see some new innovation in information retrieval attracting the kind of public attention that makes the Today Show want to do a segment. It’s a niche interest more important to librarians than the general public. It seems like even our regular patrons don’t care about the underlying technology and don’t really want to hear about it.

By: Jenny R

Jenny R — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 22:13:55 +0000

Off topic for Mike the Librarian: how can we make it easier for public library folks to get their work out there in LITA? Academic folks have requirements to get published, so there’s always tons of content coming in from them. I’ve been on the Forum committee a few times and we always tried to not have academics completely dominate, or at least pick topics that would be translatable. As LITA’s current membership committee chair, I’d love to hear your perspective. bmljenny at gmail if you’re interested in giving me more of an earful!

By: Andy

Andy — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 05:11:38 +0000

Right. I do acknowledge the history and reputation behind the awards that I mention. I would say it was time for a new tradition.

By: Buffy Hamilton

Buffy Hamilton — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 02:24:36 +0000

Kristin, those are all excellent (and accurate) points. Perhaps now or the not so distant future will be the beginning of additional awards in other areas of librarianship/libraries (in addition to the existing ones that are respected and rightfully so) that will grow in stature over time.

By: Kristin (@shinyinfo)

Kristin (@shinyinfo) — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 02:18:44 +0000

Well Caldecott is run by the ALSC division not just ALA in general. And it would be very difficult for any tech award to meet the Caldecott level since Caldecott has such a long history behind it. It will take a long time for newer awards to build that kind of legacy & validity amongst the community.