"In this digital age you could be forgiven to think libraries will soon become a thing of the past." - Kathleen Dyett
It is the age old fight, to ensure that what we do is just as relevant as the world around us develops and changes. It is the same across all industries. As technologies advance and new understandings of our world emerge, the industry must adjust accordingly. Libraries are among the most affected by the changing world, as access to information is one of the main elements of our lives that develops most significantly with technology.
The internet was a very significant development for the information industry and for many years, the library industry attempted to 'soldier on' without the assistance of or alliance with the internet. After it became clear that the internet wasn't a 'passing fad', libraries began to accept internet search options as a beneficial option for a search for quick information, but being aware of the superiority of their more detailed fact finding abilities.
When it became clear that internet searches were becoming the main step that the general public would take in order to answer their questions about life, the universe and everything, libraries began associating themselves with the major search engines, aligning their own skills with those of the developers of these 'information highways' and working to develop a more user friendly pathway to answers. It is through this partnership that we now have resources such as Google Scholar as well as the countless e-resources and online catalogues for library services, offering a plethora of information at the simple touch of a button.
Today, when you walk into a library, you see an environment of unity between the world of book knowledge, and the world of advanced technology and it wouldn't be foolish to suggest that they are like two peas in a pod.
Jim Barlow-Oregon, 2013 - http://www.futurity.org/how-librarians-survived-the-search-engine/
Kathleen Dyett, 2013 - http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-08-13/libraries-use-novel-approach-to-ensure-digital-future/4884594?section=act
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