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Future of Libraries According to Seth Godin
January 9, 2010
Posted by: Carol
What should libraries do to become relevant in the digital age? That's the question Seth Godin is asking.
While there are many reports that library usage has increased during this recession, with librarians turning into job search counselors.
But Godin insists that libraries "can't survive as community-funded repositories for books that individuals don't want to own." And he says, free or cheap DVD rentals is "not a long-term strategy, nor is it particularly an uplifting use of our tax dollars."
His proposal is that libraries should train people to take intellectual initiative.
With information now free, there is no need to pool tax dollars "to buy reference books." "What we need to spend the money on, Godin writes, "are leaders, sherpas and teachers who will push everyone from kids to seniors to get very aggressive in finding and using information and in connecting with and leading others."
I love this idea. If libraries (or schools) can't or won't provide it (and it would likely take a major culture shift to achieve this kind of innovation from within the incumbent institutions), then some other institution should. These are absolutely necessary skills for successful communities.
[If you are interested in this topic, read more here]
Joshua Franklin, January 9, 2010
Has Mr Godin been in a library the past 10 years? They're full of computers and "information professionals" (aka librarians) who help all comers "in finding and using information". If this post has been written in 1995 it would be insightful. In 2010 it just sounds uninformed.
steve, January 9, 2010
What is happening to libraries is also going to happen to universities and colleges which originally were organized around libraries. They have to develop new strategies for remaining learning centers
Link: www.pedicab.com
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