Dear Colleagues
I haven't enjoyed a mail list debate so much for a long time. I think this
*lemon* is well worth poking with a fairly big stick. The arguments
regarding the virtual library posits a view that in future every citizen
will possess a handheld device - be it next generation mobile phone or a
PDA, or whatever. Ergo, the library as place, especially if it is a small,
under-utilised, branch library, is seen to be unjustifiable in terms of
expense. The library as *place and space* for community gatherings, and for
access to information for those without the latest gadgets, or the *socially
excluded* can then only be taken seriously by funders/government etc. if
they rebadge themselves as learning centres, or can demonstrate (via best
value review, I guess?) that they are tackling social exclusion and are
actively engaged in lifelong learning activities e.g. getting funds to
become an ICT learning centre.
There also seems to be (correct me if I'm wrong) a tension between regional,
local and national agendas (digitisation programmes, for example, which
enable national access to local collections - what can of worms does this
open up?), and the vagaries of local authority funding, which means that
libraries, like the property market, are at the mercy of *location,
location, location*. I had better stop now before people head for the
unsubsribe button.
Bye the bye, is anyone taking up Bruce Myers offer of taking this discussion
to the next phase (post the ALIA conference)? I for one would be interested
in hearing more from our Australian colleagues.
Penny Garrod
Public Library Networking Focus
UKOLN - UK Office for Library and Information Networking
University of Bath
Bath BA2 7AY
England, UK
Tel: +44 (0) 1225 826711
Fax: +44 (0) 1225 826838
email: [log in to unmask]
|