EDITOR'S NOTES
Trending Into the New Year
by Dick Kaser
As we reach the end of another year, one is always inclined to look back, take stock of what the current year has wrought, and then quickly set one’s sights on the year ahead. This issue’s editorial lineup features thinkers, thought leaders, tinkerers, and innovators who will help you reflect on 2023, forecast 2024, and get ready to reboot after the holidays.
No trending topic has been discussed more this year than AI. In his thoughtful essay, Brian Pichman (The Evolve Project) captures our hopes and fears around the issue. In the EDTECH section, media specialist Sandra Echols presents a brilliant teaching strategy and lesson plan for using ChatGPT and other large language models to teach AI literacy in schools. And in the Online Searcher section, Amy Affelt shares her take on what AI means for information professionals based on interviews with 12 thought leaders.
The past year was also a time when concerns about social media seemed to reach a fever pitch. David Lee King takes a fresh look at the platforms—old, evolving, and new—with an eye toward helping you develop an outreach strategy that outlives the comings and goings of brands.
And what’s all this I’ve been hearing about OA? Scholarly publishing commentator Jill O’Neill takes a look at what’s going on with OA business models, platforms, metadata, discovery, and metrics and how that all affects information access.
Suzanne LaPierre took on the challenge of answering a trends question that I also had: After all these years of COVID-19 restrictions, what is the New Normal we were talking about way back when? Where have libraries found themselves post-pandemic? I’m sure you can relate to what she has to say.
Alas, this issue, we bid adieu to our long-standing columnist Jessamyn West. For the last 15 years, she has delighted us monthly with the findings of her insatiable curiosity, along with her keen observations on the real-life challenges of everyday patrons who are trying to deal with tech. My wish is that next year she will agree to at least one guest appearance.
To you, I say Happy Holidays and an inspired New Year.
Dick Kaser, Executive Editor
kaser@infotoday.com
|
