Re: One library or many?

[Heather Morrison <heatherm@eln.bc.ca>]

Let's not take this too seriously - no doubt Joe is simply playing devil's
advocate, as he often does.

In my opinion, while this kind of provocative statement can often be
helpful to stimulate discussion, in this case it would be best to avoid
this kind of extreme statement.

As one example of why this discussion is of concern, in many regions there
have been severe cutbacks to school libraries.  One of the justifications
for these cuts is the information that is freely available on the
internet.  The research shows that there is a relationship between school
libraries and literacy.  Leaving kids loose on the internet does not
substitute for the storytimes, and qualified adult guidance in selecting
appropriate material.  The need for information literacy skills is
increasing, and would be greater in an open access world.  Having the
peer-reviewed literature on the internet is wonderful; how helpful this is
if no one ever learns what peer-reviewed research is, is an unknown.  
There are also dangers in leaving kids loose on the internet, which many
school and public librarians are addressing through web awareness
programs.  Not to mention that the library is where many people go to
access the internet!

For these, and other reasons, I would suggest that it is irresponsible for
anyone with credentials in the library or publishing world to suggest that
libraries are irrelevant.

It might also be tempting to speculate as to whether the publishing
industry will still be needed, when anyone can easily publish themselves.  
This too is irresponsible - publishers play many important roles, and,
IMHO, it would be much more helpful to think about how the roles of the
publishing industry might change in an open access world.  
BioMedCentral's recent announcement of their institutitonal repository
service is an interesting example of early adjustment and creativity for
the change in the market - and an area where there is likely room for
competition.

This might be a good time to examine the role of the library - and the
publishing industry - in a future which includes open access, but which is
also affected by all the other trends relating to the switch to electronic
format as well.

It is easier to publish in the electronic world.  At the moment, this is
true of the individual in Western society.  Before long, this could be
true of the entire world.  There could be a very great deal more
information being produced out there - of different types, and in
different languages.  For example, it is now possible to publish research
data, as well as the report via a traditional article.  It is possible to
expand the article itself - the limitations imposed by the cost of
printing pages don't really make sense in the electronic environment.  
The technical details of archiving electronic information have yet to be
worked out, never mind figuring out who will take responsibility for this.  
Google is a terrific tool, but it is also a business without precedent,
and there are no guarantees of its survival.  In other words, the web as
it is now is ephemeral in nature, and its future is largely unknown.

What might the information world look like in the future, and what roles
might various players have?  These are the kinds of questions that I think
would be most useful to discuss at the present time.

a personal view by,

Heather Morrison