[WEB4LIB] The next 5 years

[Thomas Edelblute]

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?

Here in Anaheim, only 10% of the general population have a computer in
the
home.  Therefore, people come into our library for all computer
services,
including word processing.  I suspect that other low income communities
are in
the same situation.

>
>
> 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?

We have our CD-ROM network running on the T-1 lines to the branches.
These
are services not available through the Internet.

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

No

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

What we want is for Z39.50 to be used through the web browser so we can
do
broadcast searches with a group of other libraries instead of selecting
Z39.50
search for a particular library.  I want to see this happen five years
out.

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

In my last job I was always hearing that a job well planned is a job
half-done.

>
>
> Carl R. Sandstedt
> Director
> St. Charles City-County Library District
> PO Box 529--- 425 Spencer Road
> Saint Peters, MO 63376-0529
>
> 314-441-2300, ext 1591
> 314-441-3132  Fax
>
> http://www.win.org/library/
>
> A Hennen's Top Ten American Library--
> http://www.haplr-index.com/



--
Thomas Edelblute
Anaheim Public Library