FW: Important Article

[Jennifer Abrams]

This article has been getting some play on other library lists, thought
some of you might be interested.


> 	Well, I don't know if I should label it "important" -- too few will
read
> it, and far fewer (if any) will act upon it.  Still, it is one of the
very
> best library-related articles I have ever read, which is why I'm
bringing
> it to your attention.
> 
> 	The article talks about improving something that is so desperately in
need
> of improvement -- library catalogs (and to a slightly lesser extent,
> library collections and library cooperation / ILL).
> 
> 	Certainly, some will criticize the article as "mere fantasy." 
Perhaps it
> is.  Another way to describe it might be "some really great ideas,
the
> details of which have not been fully explored."
> 
> 	In my opinion, the article is a quiet (very quiet) call for a
revolution
> in the way libraries cooperate.  It's exciting...
> 
> 	But also, it is disheartening to know that the potential of these
ideas is
> unlikely to be fully realized.  For the ideas in the article to have
even a
> slight chance of becoming a reality would require quick but
intelligent
> planning, library cooperation on an unprecedented scale, and some
> significant up-front expenditures that would result in savings for
all
> cooperating libraries down the road -- but the question then becomes,
"Who
> is going to be the first to sign a check?"
> 
> 	Anyway, I hope you'll be as excited about this article as I am.	It's
at:
> 
> 			http://www.infotoday.com/searcher/mar/coffman.htm
> 	
> 	Enjoy!
> 
> 	BTW, if you want to read it in print, it's the cover story of the
latest
> issue of Searcher magazine.
> 
> [I've been off the list for a few weeks, please excuse me if this has
> already come up.]
> 
> 								-- Mike
> 
> 
> Michael Dahn
> Librarian, Webmaster
> Stetson University College of Law
> dahn at law.stetson.edu
> (727) 562-7800 x7681
> http://www.law.stetson.edu
> 

===
Jennifer Abrams
Library Consultant
Ojai, CA
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