20 years? Try 10.

[George Jenkins]

John:

Okay, I'll bite..

At 09:54 AM 3/6/97 -0800, you wrote:
>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.

I agree that data on the Internet/WWW is poorly organized and categorized.
However, these "purile netizens" want answers and many people would
strongly argue that many of the software tools today do help users find
answers.


>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!

Oh, we'll be here in 20 years, but the job will be radically different.  I
see the change already in my library.  As a researcher supporting faculty
requests (books, articles, classroom materials, speeches, etc.), I no
longer receive requests for the simple, easy literature searches.  The
difficult or complex searches I still receive and/or searches requiring
analysis, thought, organization, filtering or sifting.  Many faculty will
search some WWW sites, which I gladly suggest in reply to their answers.
Users are beginning to ask for and use digitized data (audio, graphics, etc.).


> And,  who are the people who can bring order out of chaos and leap 
>tall buildings at a single bound - TA DA - us, librarians!

I wouldn't bet against the software/telecomm industries providing more
effective tools to category information for users.  That is what users
want, and venture capitalists are willing to fund, and the type of
products/services companies are developing.

Just like we see media convergence today (i.e., computers, television,
data, etc.), the library profession is *already* converging with software,
software development, programming (i.e., HTML etc.) media management, and
IT/systems mgmt (i.e., LAN, IP, hardware  support, etc.).  The pace will
accelerate.


>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.

The task is to adapt/manage/capitalize upon the increasingly rapid changes
and new tools; to "get on this freight train," and not stand in the tracks
lamenting why users demand/ask for too much.  Their demands point to future
opportunities and new (i.e., higher) service levels.

Perhaps, the terms "library" must be replaced with "media center" and
"librarians" with "media specialists."

My 2 pesos.

George

P.S. What's your organization doing with distance learning?  Please respond
privately.



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