Why we won't be here in 20 years-NOT

[John_Goldsmith]

Greetings,

To misquote Mark Twain, "News of our death has been greatly exagerated!"

It doesn't take a rocket scientist with 5 nanoseconds of 'Net experience to
figure out that access to information does not equal information access.
Given the sorry state of 'Net searching tools and the constant cry from
most folks, "I don't have TIME for this s#@%!", I'm amazed that anyone uses
the Internet for research.  The only folks I know who are still
pontificating on the wonders of the "Information Highway" (just had to get
that cliche in) are the people who know nothing about it and have never
used it.

It's my hope that even the most purile netizen will soon realize that
without some sort of order and organization, the Net as an information
source is virtually useless.  And,  who are the people who can bring order
out of chaos and leap tall buildings at a single bound - TA DA - us,
librarians!

Maybe I'm dreamimng but I think there is both a great task ahead and a
great future for librarians and information specialists and I have every
confidence that we will not only be around in 20 years but that we will
also have the respect and admiration which we deserve.

My $0.02.



John Goldsmith,   Fraser Valley Distance Education School
http://www.fvrcs.gov.bc.ca   e-mail: jgoldsmi at rainbow.fvrcs.gov.bc.ca