Thing #15 - Post Card to the Future

After reviewing the articles on libraries in the future; 1) "Away From Icebergs", and 2) "To a Temporary Place in Time," I found myself agreeing with some of the information and disagreeing with the rest.

If the the future is in a place that has a post office and I can write to it, I would send a post card saying, "Arriving soon.  Please do wait up.  I've got so much to "show and tell."  With love, Impatience"

The first article, referring to "icebergs" in the way of libraries reaching the future, was very well done.  Of course it would not be cost effective to continue to build libraries big enough to hold books on everything.  I never thought of that, but it makes good sense.  We simply can't keep producing books and new subject headings and expect libraries to remain the same size.  And of course it's a good idea to be working to create computers that help patrons find what they want without a librarian's help, which would eventually lead to "gadgets" that would go to the library's gadget and retrieve needed information.  We can see the beginnings of all that today.  Ipods, GPS (global positioning systems), and laptops listing favorites with links to sites where one can download a book or magazine article and gadgets to other sites and so on and so on, and so on.  This business of having to go to the library whenever you need some information can be tiring.  Still, this article seems limited in scope.

The second article, "To a Temporary Place in Time" looked at libraries in the broader view and makes it clear that the actual library "place" should be and will be with us for the foreseeable future.  The article asks us to look beyond the current trends to examine the non-technological functions of the library, e.g., a repository of community history, central location for community gatherings, a place to promote community ideals, and a place to promote learning.

While it's obvious that we all love and adore the new technology that seems to be morphing every 15 days into something new, we will continue to need the social advantages provided by the physical structure of a library building.  Sure, it could be argued that churches and recreation centers could supply some of the same functions, such as a place for community gatherings or as a community repository for documents, the multi-media opportunities that a library affords enhances learning and social interactions in a way that is essential for people to thrive.  I maintain that we will arrive in the future laden with our "magic gadgets," which will all be adapted to plug into this or that gadget at our friendly neighborhood library.