2007年VOA标准英语-Information Technology Improves Public Librarie

By Joseph Mok
Washington, D.C.
27 June 2007
 

With the expansion of print and multimedia¹ sources in American life, public libraries have had to adapt to society's greater dependence² on computers. VOA's  Mohamed Elshinnawi looks at one modern library in Fairfax County, Virginia near Washington, D.C.

Public libraries in the United States are no longer simply print-based institutions. Online catalogues have replaced card catalogues, more material is available on CDs and DVDs and users can search remote databases for information.

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Ingrid Bowers, associate manager of Pohick Regional Library

Ingrid Bowers is the associate manager of Pohick Regional Library. "Our database is especially wonderful because it provides all kinds of E-books and magazine articles and newspaper articles, encyclopedia⁵ articles and full text online to our customers," says Bowers.

With multiple information formats⁶ available in print and electronic mediums, Bowers stresses the importance of library information specialists to serve customer's needs.

"When a customer comes up to us, we need to make a professional decision on whether a book would be the best format³,” adds Bowers. “We have to kind of sift⁷ through our knowledge of the databases and what we know on the databases and which database will help our customer."

Bowers says library customers can e-mail their research outcome to their computers at home. They can also access databases from their homes.

Library manager Jean Johnston

"They can access the catalogue from home; they can place books on hold,” says library manager Jean Johnston. “They can check their accounts. Many of the databases that we have give them access to excellent periodicals, in many cases full text, they can access from home. We have homework help: tutor.com. Many of the students and their parents are delighted with that service."

Johnston says that information technology has allowed the public library to introduce another new service.

"We do have what we call Ask-a-Librarian and it is staffed with professional librarians. So if they (customers) have a question, they certainly can go back and forth⁸ so it is rather like a chat format. Many times they (librarians) answer the question, but other times they (customers) get referrals, but it has proved to be very popular."

New technology allows the library to offer special texts for vision-impaired visitors

With the spread of mobile Internet devices, public libraries are providing visitors with both wireless⁹ access for laptops and a quiet room to work on assignments. New technology also allows the library to offer special texts for vision-impaired visitors, and electronic children's books for pre-school visitors.

Sam Clay is the director of Library Administration in Fairfax County. He says information technology has enhanced the library's role in educating and entertaining the public.

"Libraries are not doing new services,” says Clay. “They are doing existing services but differently because of the technology. Technology helped us to expand our range, to expand what we are able to offer to our customers."

In today's public library, Internet access is attracting all sorts of visitors. But information technology is not replacing people's need to physically¹⁰ read books.

1 multimedia   

adj.多种手段的，多媒体的；n.多媒体

参考例句：

• Multimedia is the combination of computer and video technology.多媒体是计算机和视频技术的结合。
• Adam raised the issue of multimedia applications and much useful discussion ensued.亚当提出了多媒体应用的问题，从而引发了许多有益的讨论。

2 dependence   

n.依靠，依赖；信任，信赖；隶属

参考例句：

• Doctors keep trying to break her dependence of the drug.医生们尽力使她戒除毒瘾。
• He was freed from financial dependence on his parents.他在经济上摆脱了对父母的依赖。

3 format   

n.设计，版式；[计算机]格式，DOS命令:格式化(磁盘)，用于空盘或使用过的磁盘建立新空盘来存储数据；v.使格式化，设计，安排

参考例句：

• Please format this floppy disc.请将这张软盘格式化。
• The format of the figure is very tasteful.该图表的格式很雅致。

4 bowers   

n.（女子的）卧室( bower的名词复数 )；船首锚；阴凉处；鞠躬的人

参考例句：

• If Mr Bowers is right, low government-bond yields could lose their appeal and equities could rebound. 如果鲍尔斯先生的预计是对的，那么低收益的国债将会失去吸引力同时股价将会反弹。 来自互联网

5 encyclopedia   

n.百科全书

参考例句：

• The encyclopedia fell to the floor with a thud.那本百科全书砰的一声掉到地上。
• Geoff is a walking encyclopedia.He knows about everything.杰夫是个活百科全书，他什么都懂。

6 formats   

n.（出版物的）版式( format的名词复数 )；[电视]电视节目的总安排（或计划）

参考例句：

• They are producing books in all kinds of different formats. 他们出版各种不同开本的书籍。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• A true GUI includes standard formats for representing text and graphics. 真正的图形用户界面包括表示文字和图形的标准格式。 来自互联网

7 sift   

v.筛撒，纷落，详察

参考例句：

• Sift out the wheat from the chaff.把小麦的壳筛出来。
• Sift sugar on top of the cake.在蛋糕上面撒上糖。

8 forth   

adv.向前；向外，往外

参考例句：

• The wind moved the trees gently back and forth.风吹得树轻轻地来回摇晃。
• He gave forth a series of works in rapid succession.他很快连续发表了一系列的作品。

9 wireless   

adj.无线的；n.无线电

参考例句：

• There are a lot of wireless links in a radio.收音机里有许多无线电线路。
• Wireless messages tell us that the ship was sinking.无线电报告知我们那艘船正在下沉。

10 physically   

adj.物质上，体格上，身体上，按自然规律

参考例句：

• He was out of sorts physically,as well as disordered mentally.他浑身不舒服，心绪也很乱。
• Every time I think about it I feel physically sick.一想起那件事我就感到极恶心。