digital reality: response to Libraries: Digital, electronic, and hybrid.

There are many changes occurring in libraries across the globe, but not all are as easily discernible as a building renovation or a change in section or shelving placement. Like any profession or field of study, library science is greatly influenced by the factors that create its foundation. Components such as academia, finances, technology, and the trends of the business world can all have, to varying degrees, a powerful influence over the structure of a library. This is especially apparent in the digital library. "The developments surrounding digital, electronic, virtual, and hybrid libraries are symptomatic of impeding changes in scholarly publishing, the entire academic realm, and in the sociological structures of education, research, and scholarly activities as a whole" (Rusch-Feja 4). The influence of technology has become the structure behind almost any professional decision and without learning how to successfully integrate the tools of today into older methods of operation, librarians risk becoming outdated compared to the spheres of influence in which they rely. While the changes wrought by technology are unappealing to some, in order to be successful and have continual purpose in the field, "the librarian must become an information specialists, continuously remaining on the cutting edge of information technology, on the various forms of information offered by the content providers, on the cost-effectiveness of physical and electronic document delivery options, and lastly continuously update the users, to train and motivate them to use the full range of adequate information resources"(Rusch-Feja 4). How are librarians supposed to fulfil that last portion of the quote preceding this sentence if they do not first create a standard of expectation when interacting with technology? In order to appropriately compete with other professionals or stay up-to-date with the societies in which a library generally operates, it must help set and monitor the pace rather than constantly trying to catch up to an overwhelming and sometimes harmful expectation.