[Web4lib] Re: Future of libraries

[Ms Norma Jean Hewlett]

Bernie Sloan wrote:
> The futurists sometimes act as if libraries are not
> changing. Libraries are changing, although some are changing 
more/less
> than others.

At the recent ALA conference, it was brought home to me quite 
forcefully that many people don't know we are changing. 

I attended a full-morning panel discussion about the future of the 
library catalog. One of the participants, who is not affiliated with a 
library and runs a popular web2.0 site, repeatedly described people 
making a trip to the library and sitting down there to use the 
catalog. When he spoke, it seemed as if nobody ever logged into a 
library from their home computer, and so of course people were turning 
to alternate sites like his.

In fairness, it's quite possible that he was consciously playing 
devil's advocate. But it did make me realize how even well-informed 
people can be unaware of what libraries offer these days.

Jean Hewlett
Regional Librarian, University of San Francisco

All opinions are my own, and do not represent my employer.


----- Original Message -----
From: Bill Drew <dreww at tc3.edu>
Date: Monday, July 7, 2008 2:02 pm
Subject: Re: [Web4lib] Re: Future of libraries
To: Chris Strauber <cstrauber at gmail.com>, Dan Lester 
<dan at riverofdata.com>, "B.G. Sloan" <bgsloan2 at yahoo.com>
Cc: web4lib at webjunction.org

> I wasn't singling out any one individual.  I was just commenting 
> on the
> general thread of the discussion.
> 
> Bill Drew
> 
> >>> "B.G. Sloan" <bgsloan2 at yahoo.com> 7/7/2008 4:56 PM >>>
> 
> Bill,
> 
> I don't know if you are including any of my posts on the 
ALA "futures"
> panel discussion in your "handwringing about all of our handwringing
> about the future of libraries" comment. If you are, that's not 
> what I
> was doing.
> 
> I was simply saying I was getting tired of the futurists' old "change
> or die" spiel. The futurists sometimes act as if libraries are not
> changing. Libraries are changing, although some are changing 
more/less
> than others.
> 
> Bernie Sloan
> Sora Associates
> 
> 
> --- On Mon, 7/7/08, Bill Drew <dreww at tc3.edu> wrote:
> 
> > From: Bill Drew <dreww at tc3.edu>
> > Subject: [Web4lib] Re: Future of libraries
> > To: "Chris Strauber" <cstrauber at gmail.com>, "Dan Lester"
> <dan at riverofdata.com>
> > Cc: web4lib at webjunction.org 
> > Date: Monday, July 7, 2008, 10:14 AM
> > It has been interesting to read all of the handwringing
> > about all of our
> > handwringing about the future of libraries.  It is a major
> > part of being
> > a librarian to always being forward looking and discussing
> > the future. 
> > Why whine about that?  It makes no sense.  The only
> > constant in our
> > profession for the last 50 years has been change.  Just
> > deal with it and
> > move on.  Change is why I enjoy being a librarian.
> > 
> > Bill Drew
> > 
> > -----------------------------------------
> > Wilfred (Bill) Drew, M.S., B.S., A.S.
> > Assistant Professor
> > Librarian, Systems and Tech Services
> > Tompkins Cortland Community College  (TC3) Library:
> > http://www.tc3.edu/library/ 
> > Dryden, N.Y. 13053-0139
> > E-mail: dreww at tc3.edu 
> > Phone: 607-844-8222 ext.4406
> > AOL Instant Messenger:BillDrew4
> > Online Identity: http://claimID.com/billdrew 
> > StrengthsQuest: Ideation, Input, Learner, Activator,
> > Communication
> > http://www.facebook.com/people/Bill_Drew/ 
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > _______________________________________________
> > Web4lib mailing list
> > Web4lib at webjunction.org 
> > http://lists.webjunction.org/web4lib/ 
> 
> 
>      
> 
> 
> _______________________________________________
> Web4lib mailing list
> Web4lib at webjunction.org
> http://lists.webjunction.org/web4lib/
> 
>