4. The library as place: challenges in the Digital Age

Abstract

Much of the literature in Library and Information Science (LIS), as well as the popular press, give the impression that the future of libraries will be focused on one of two bipolar trends - bricks or clicks. In the 80s and 90s library buildings were often presented as outmoded since the virtual library would make physical facilities and geographic location irrelevant to the successful library. The place of the library could be anywhere and everywhere. The author's forty year experience in LIS with 34 years as a Public Library Director during which he led the creation of three new main libraries, 16 branch libraries, and the renovation of over 20 branches has provided a great deal of knowledge in building projects. At the same time he earned international recognition as an expert in the use of new technologies in libraries. In the recent years as a faculty member, and Associate Director of the School of Library and Information Science, he has become adept at using information and communication technology for course delivery outside of the traditional classroom. This extensive experience, education, and practice leads him to believe that the primary barrier to the creation of the virtual library is that it is also nowhere, which creates the situation where there is no community to support the funding. Thus, the physical presence is still critical to library success. Therefore, it is the convergence, not the divergence that is the nexus of success for the library of the future. It will service as the communication hub (the virtual icon) as well as the physical hub (the physical icon) of the multi-dimensional institution to meet the needs of their community for access to information, knowledge, and community communications. In considering the process needed to ensure continuous evolution of libraries, the metaphor often used is the creation of a road map to the future. However, when traveling uncharted waters, there is often no known destination, let alone a map. Thus the goal must be the creation of the shared vision of the destination which includes both physical and virtual strategic goals for the library within the community, and then a process that focuses on the collective journey through the next era. This paper presents a historic continuum of current library development, a surmise of what might be next, and the attributes of the successful facility for the next era in library development.