tgorleyReflections

Title: Economics and the Transformation of Libraries

Presenters: Carla J. Stoffle and Kim Leeder

August 30, 2005  SIRLS, University of Arizona

Description: Libraries are an essential institution of a learning environment and as such are in a constant state of change.  Driven by economics, there are never enough dollars for sufficient funding; therefore, libraries need to shift from being book storage facilities to proactive learning centers.

Key Ideas:

• Libraries will become partners in the educational process creating a place to stimulate research and learning through technology.

• Library focus will reach beyond the processing and management of books and move into digital format, thus lowering budget needs for purchasing, processing and managing print media.

• Libraries will become politically proactive, monitoring and influencing policies through national and local actions.

Commentary: The days of the silent, book filled library are past.  Movement toward active hands-on places of learning where all types of information can be delivered to the desktop describes the transformed library.  Re-allocation of funds will provide for collection development in digital format, freeing space for people.  The move from cooperation (i.e. ILL) to a system of national collaboration with reliance on another’s collection will save dollars for each library and simultaneously expand the size of each library.  Thought and planning will center on the question, “What are the needs [of our customers] and how can we meet them?” (Stoffle).  While it is a risky proposition to foster change, the win-win result will be libraries as resource centers able to meet the needs of a campus or community and through them influence the greater world. 

More to Know: Libraries have always been in a state of fluctuation as the needs of users change.   However, this is an especially exciting time as technology is creating change at a much faster pace than any other time in history.  I was intrigued and curious by the terminology grey literature and data sets.  There is indeed, much more to learn.