On 10/19/07, Stephens, Owen <o.stephens_at_imperial.ac.uk> wrote:
> However, I also think it is worth examining the idea of 'selection'
> in the context of large amounts of digital material being available.
Indeed, it needs scrutiny. Do we think for a second as the world
information grows exponentially - and the number of librarians do not
- that we're capable of selecting even the thinnest cream of the crop?
> There is clearly a challenge here - as more material is either born
> digital, or digitised, does the pre-selection model still apply, or
> is post-selection going to become the norm? If the latter, what does
> it mean for libraries?
I'll be brutally honest here ; there is no way that libraries can hope
to a) collect everything (too much), b) collect everything of note
(too hard; needs more reference librarians), or c) collect only the
cream of the crop (too crazy!). Further, there is no way that
libraries can a) give all people what they want (we can't please all),
b) give some people what they want (we may not have all they want), or
c) anyone what they want (we don't have it all, and all knowledge does
not come in printed form).
As we can only make whopping big assumptions about what people might
want or need, I think it's fair to say that the only thing we can do
which we could do really well, is to do what we *want* to do. I no
longer believe that libraries should worry too much about their
customers needs, and I say this *because* knowledge has broken out of
the print format we're still stuck in. (If we kicked ass in the
electronic information arena [and no, that does not include having an
electronic database of print material], then sure, let's talk about
handling the user experience ...)
I've said it before and I'll say it again ; the printed material are
no longer the main source of knowledge transfer between humans. Yes,
printed stuff is still here and will be for some time (especially in
literature and discourse), but in the sense of you and me getting
educated or more knowledgeable the transfer is no longer held in
print; it's in electronic form.
Alex
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Received on Thu Oct 18 2007 - 19:57:02 EDT