Things I'm Trying to Do at Work

Motivation

Software is Eating the World! ( you may not think this is a good idea and I understand )

Information technology has been impacting libraries since the 1960's with the creation of the MARC Record. The most influenial publication concerning libraries and digital content is "D-Lib Magazine" which has been in publication since 1995. Just by browsing the table of contents of this journal you can see how digital libraries have developed. One of many interesting articles in the journal is "Visions: The Academic Library in 2012" where the author looks at libraries in 1992, 2003 (the time the article was written), and speculates about 2012. ( take a look at see how you think we've doing )

In 1992 Michael Buckland published "Redesigning Library Services: A Manifesto". Buckland states that library services have two bases:

• the role of library service is to facilitate access to documents; and
• the mission of a library is to support the mission of the institution or the interests of the population served.

The forward to Buckland's book comments that there have been many publications about the future of the libraries, technology and higher education, and the publication industry. Rather than speculate it offers "practical" information about how libraies should deal with the future. ( my point here is that none of this is new and we've been talking about this for 25 years! )

We are obviously past the time of the "Paper Library" and in my opinion we are past the time of the "Automated Library". We are living in the time of what Buckland called the "Electronic Library". Libraries and librarians must be knowledgeable of both digital tools and digital materials! There is one import thing to consider about Buckland's analysis, .... Google did not exist at this time. In spite of today's web giants Buckland's book still is of real value in defining library services.