Emerging Technologies in Libraries and Its Ethical Implications - Dhanushka Samarakoon

The recent advancements of technologies such as artificial intelligence and data mining provide an avenue to gain a better understanding of a business and its customers. For the past decade, private corporations have been using these techniques to analyze consumer behaviors and maximize profits. These techniques are now entering the library domain and making an impact on patrons and staff. Most of these technologies will enhance library services and provide a better user experience for the patrons. They will provide a sense of familiarity for the patron that is on par with their digital life, outside of the library. At the same time, there are multiple privacy and ethical concerns with the use of most emerging technologies. It is up to each institution to find the right balance between convenience and ethics. The presentation will focus on the implications & importance of ethics when implementing these emerging technologies in libraries.

Dhanushka Samarakoon is the Head of Library Technology, for the University of Miami Libraries. He provides leadership, management, budgetary oversight, and expertise to develop and execute the long-term technology strategy in support of the Libraries’ mission. He supervises the departments responsible for the Libraries Enterprise applications, computing infrastructure, and Audio/Video & event support. He earned his Master of Library Science from Emporia State University and the Bachelor of Information Technology from the Sri Lanka Institute of Information Technology.

Presentation Slides