From Automation To Transformation

Most Interesting Sentence: "Libraries were forced to REACT to developments in information technology (and their cultural and economic consequences) rather than methodically exploiting them" (Lynch, 62).

In trying to control and predict the future of information game for so long, libraries were thrown for a loop when they had to adjust to an information paradigm that was forced upon them. Novel machines such as those described in the Downey article were certainly fascinating and thought provoking, but it was ultimately the world outside of libraries that changed libraries from inside. According to this article, libraries are still trying to find their place in a WWW world.

One way in which libraries were prepared for the Internet was through computerizing their card catalogs. "As the Internet began to grow, library catalogs were connected to the Net so that they could be consulted remotely from anywhere in the world" (Lynch, 63). The library still seemed unprepared for the prospect of valuable, yet free, information populating the Internet. What is the role of a library when you can find a recipe for turtle soup from Ask Jeeves?

One of the more interesting predictions Lynch makes is that librarians of the future will become de facto information "teachers". In a world full of information, who should be better suited to contextualize its many forms than a librarian? (see the sixth bullet point on page 67).