Reading #3

Andrew Darcy
Library 103
Reading #3

“The Future of Libraries Beginning the Great Transformation”
By: Thomas Frey
http://www.davinciinstitute.com/page.php?ID=120

Libraries have played a significant role in history and through preservation of important documents/items. This is evident through their role in keeping the da Vinci collection in tact along with many other iconic figures in the past. Ever since Libraries were first used in practice, it was to serve as a storehouse for important artifices, documents and other types of manuscripts. Not only did they keep collections and other important documents in one place, they were the “foundational building blocks of information for all humanity.” Prior to Johann Gutenberg, books were far too expensive for the common man to enjoy, but ever since the wide scale use of his printing press libraries have been for mostly collections of books for most people to enjoy. However, this is currently changing and adapting to the times of the computer age/technology driven era. Libraries are going to need to take some drastic measures in the future to try to develop and maintain a relationship to the younger generation that could use the internet, instead of the library. There goals in reinventing themselves should be through evaluating the library experience of their customers, embracing new information technologies, preserve memories of their communities, experiment with creative spaces so the future of the library can define itself in the future. Modern libraries are currently a work in progress and their future is uncertain and almost exciting as to how they will be able to change with the new society.

Great article for libraries to think strategically about because of how they are going to need to adapt to the external environment where information is readily available. Libraries have been around for thousands of years and are going to be around forever in my opinion. Due to the fact of how it’s a conducive and safe environment for the younger generation to learn, it plays a part in many of our upbringings, and creates ways for the disadvantaged, economically or physically, to find a place that will keep them up on the changing world. In my opinion, libraries in the future are going to be more technology driven through information technologies because of how apt the younger generation is in getting information from the internet, as opposed to the libraries. Most users of the library in the future are going use it for access to information technologies and less of what has historically been the use of libraries, books.