The Emerging Technologies Librarian investigates and advocates the use of evolving and existing technologies for practical application to library services. Working in partnership with library administration and staff, the Emerging Technologies Librarian considers library technology priorities and promotes solutions that effectively provide cross collection discovery to service at the point of need. The Emerging Technologies Librarian surveys instructional and scholarly trends and proposes projects that create dynamic platforms for engaging library users in meaningful research discovery. Proposals should offer opportunities for presenting information within an open access medium and advocate further development of open access initiatives.

Emerging Technologies Strategic Initiatives
2009/2010

1. Direct develop of Web site for Emerging Technologies; include Tools site that includes Library toolbar; widgets; IGoogle widget; Dashboard; Virtual bookshelf; Yahoo Pipes
2. Customizable Library Home Page – Pilot during summer and perform usability testing
3. E-Book readers – Explore use of Sony Reader and Kindle Reader for check-out and downloading electronic resources available in UF collection
4. Assignment Calculator – Library West Info Commons
5. Content Management Systems (Drupal; WordPress; Plone; Joomla) – monitor development in open software and make recommendations for adopting CMS that offers seamless access to library services. Users will have more opportunities to interact with content through collaborative Web tools
6. Disruptive technologies – explore application of various technologies to library services. Communications- blogs, Twitter, social networking; Collaboration: wikis, social bookmarking/tagging; Multimedia: visualization, photoshare, videoshare, datashare; Entertainment: Virtual worlds; gaming.
7. Explore mobile technology – begin experimenting with IPhone and other smartphone apps for improving/expanding access to library resources
6. Video and audio casting – investigate streaming capabilities from UF server; investigate using Podcasting technology for promoting Library news and streaming BI instructor sessions live; also look into ITunes University and YouTube education section for streaming functionality
7. Gaming – develop Gaming collection and promote Library Gaming area within the library