[Leica] Re: Digital library

[lrzeitlin at optonline.net (Lawrence Zeitlin)]

On Feb 14, 2007, at 3:11 PM, Jim wrote:

> I'm currently working with a local library on a promotion/expansion  
> project.
> One of the first questions the community asks is "how big should it  
> be?"  If
> we're considering the needs of 2012, and if Google does achieve  
> something
> like a universal online library, how would that affect the community
> library?  Perhaps the community shouldn't build a bigger paper  
> warehouse,
> but instead invest in more computers, high speed data lines, and  
> limit paper
> to high-circulation books and childrens books.  It may also require
> retraining librarians in web search techniques.


It's not just Google. Digital access is becoming the method of choice  
for the expansion of university libraries. Most newly fledged  
librarians are well trained in methods of digital access to  
materials. It is far easier and less costly for a library to  
subscribe to digital bibliographic services than to build buildings  
and shelves to house real books. Most technical and research journals  
are available on line and most magazines publish an internet edition.  
The New York Times has floated the idea of dropping its print  
editions entirely within the next few years. Even LUG photos are  
downloadable (slowly) on line. Do a Google search for "digital  
libraries" to get a feel for what is available. Of course the process  
will be resisted by traditional librarians who cherish the feel of  
bound books - but this is the 21st. century and books are so 16th  
century.

Larry Z