Scenarios for the future (was HTML...)

[Vivienne Cuff]

> Haven't we about beaten this thread to death?     I fear that web4lib 
> may be undergoing a transition which I have seen all too often on 
> other library related lists.    The list starts with a relatively small number of 
> posts exchanging useful information among practitioners and then is 
> overwhelmed by lengthy discussions of what librarians should or 
> shouldn't be doing in the "Information Age". 
> 
My 2c worth - I don't think we have exhausted it - because what is useful 
information? - sure, the list can  include how you do X or configure y or whatever 
but the list should also  cover the broader issues such as the impact of 
the Internet/WWW  on libraries as organizations, the role of librarians etc...
I personally would prefer discussion 'cos if I want information on 
practicalities I know it's on the 'Net somewhere and readily accessible 
using Altavista.


So,  going global...

Does anyone know of anyone/any organization
doing any work on describing  future scenarios for 
libraries? I know there is lots of library literature about the 
future, but what I am interested to know if there is anyone using futures based 
techniques such as Peter Schwartz's scenario building - see this 
 site - http://www.hotwired.com/wired/scenarios/build.html and
for futures techniques in general,
 see http://ag.arizona.edu/futures/fut/semtech.html.

This is an area of interest for me and I think the futures techniques could 
assist us to further the dialog about  the impact of the Internet on 
libraries...

So let me know of anything that's being done 
and I promise I will summarize for the list.

Cheers

Vivienne
Vivienne Cuff
World Wide Web
National Library of New Zealand
Molesworth Street (or PO Box 1467)
Wellington
Phone: 4743086 Int'l prefix: 644
EMAIL: Vivienne.Cuff at natlib.govt.nz
WWW: http://www.natlib.govt.nz/
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These are my views, and they do not 
necessarily reflect National Library
of New Zealand policy.