[WEB4LIB] The next 5 years

[Brian Williams]

On Tue, 1 Jun 1999, Carl R. Sandstedt wrote:

> Forgive a public library director for jumping into this discussion but
> several questions come to mind as we ponder the next five years:
> 
> 1. Are those people using the computers in our libraries doing so because
> of the help we provide, because they have no computer at home, or because
> they're looking for bandwidth?

They are using our pc's because that is the way we deliver services. Many
of them can/do/and will do so from home, but they still want to use our
machines when they are in our buildings for whatever reason.

> 
> 2. If bandwidth is the answer (none of my staff agrees with me that it is)
> then what do we do when the average home has more DSL and cable modem
> bandwidth than it knows what to do with?
> 

I agree with your staff. I don't think it is bandwidth. It may be access,
but not bandwidth per se, imho.

> 3. Does anyone but librarians even care about Z39.50? and
> 

Z39.50 is only useful for a certain slice of services, unfortunately, even
for, or especialy for, libraries.

> 4. If librarians had thought of making it a standard, would libraries be
> using gopher instead of the WWW?
> 

We did use gopher, and still do in those cases where that makes sense. But
the web is really easier for most people to use and that's where the
development is.

> 5. In other words does our penchant for organizing and forming committees
> and standards groups get in the way when change is this rapid? 
> 

Probably. It's pretty hopeless.

My 2 cents.


Brian Williams			brianw at multnomah.lib.or.us
Automation Manager	  	5032044627 at mobile.att.net (pager)
Multnomah County Library	 (503) 248-5227 (v) 
801 SW 10th  Portland, OR 97205  (503) 248-5226 (f)