Week 6 Task #15

Future of libraries.
OK, let me state up front. I work in the library industry and I truly love it. I am not a librarian, but I am still part of the team which delivers a wonderful service to a community who truly appreciates what we do, and what they can get access to.
I see libraries as a multi-layered entity. Some people come to us for the opportunity to interact with real people - their friends, and library staff who they consider to be their friends. Some people come to us for information - physical or online information; and some of these people are extremely capable and self sufficient while some of these people need a bit of help with not only finding the information they require but actually deciding what that information is that they require.
I engage in conversations with people all the time. We exchange ideas and I decide which of their ideas I agree with and accept, and which of their ideas I think are utter rubbish. I see this as no different to how the online world is developing. There is a proliferation of ideas out there which I think are reasonable and I might take some on board - but there are also those out there which I think are utter rubbish. When I need to "learn" something, the inference is that I don't already know about this subject nor do I have any firm ideas. My time is limited, I don't want to "learn" from a source which turns out to be utter rubbish.
This to me is the danger of things like Wiki, and del.icio.us and Technorati. Just because there is a very large number next to a site which seems to indicate it is popular, doesn't make it authoratitive or helpful.
I am old fashioned. I go to a library for recreational purposes as well as learning purposes. I like to take away my information so that I can digest it in the comfort of my own home, perhaps over a cup of coffee or a piece of toast, while I ruffle my dog's ear. I would really not like to see libraries become techno-centric and virtualised. This would be my worst nightmare. I do however see the value in subscribing to electronic reference materials and educating users in getting the best out of the wealth of information that is available online. This does require a considerable amount of time decidated to it. So, perhaps the money we save on buying some physical materials can be transferred into an "educating" budget.

Oh dear, I wonder if I will still have a job when I have completed this week's exercise (just joking!)