Reading #3

The article titled “The Future of Libraries Beginning the Great Transformation,” was very revealing and informing. Thomas Frey suggested ten trends that are affecting the development of the next generation library. Trend number one: Communication systems are continually changing the way people access information. Communication has gradually changed over the last 100 years from telephones to ipods. Trend number two: All technology ends. All technologies commonly used today will be replaced by something new. Trend number three: We haven’t yet reached the ultimate small particle for storage. Trend four: Search Technology will become increasingly more complicated. Librarians well be greatly appreciated during this time as typical people will not be able to keep up with the technology changes and rely more on the professional librarian. Trend five: Time compression is changing the lifestyle of library patrons. Trend six: Over time we will be transitioning to a verbal society. Computers will become more human-like with personalities, traits, and other characteristics that will give us the sense of being in a room with other humans. Trend seven: The demand for global information is growing exponentially. Trend eight: The Stage is being set for a new era of Global Systems. Trend nine: We are transitioning from a product-based economy to an experience based economy. Trend ten: Libraries will transition from a center of information to a center of culture. A culture-based library is one that taps into the spirit of the community, assessing priorities and providing resources to support the things deemed most important. With the changing and evolution of libraries, Frey came up with a series of recommendations that will allow libraries to arrive at their own best solutions. Libraries must evaluate the library experience, embrace new information technologies, preserve the memories of your own communities, and experiment with creative spaces so the future role of the library can define itself.

In my opinion, I believe that the changing of libraries is a good thing and that most of the trends that Frey suggests are true. Technology is a growing process in our society and sometimes you don’t realize how much it has changed over time until you sit down and look at the advancements overtime. The one trend that I most I agree with and that I am most anxious to see how it plays out is trend number two: All technologies commonly used today will be replaced by something new. Frey gives an example, saying that the 8-track tape was replaced by the cassette tape, which in turn was replaced by the CD, which is currently in the process of disappearing altogether. Every couple of years we are amazed by some new form of technology, and then something else comes along that blows that out of the water. Right now ipods, iphones are the craze and seem unbeatable. I can’t wait to see what new technology will explode on the scene in the coming years.