The learning library

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The learning library

• Prof.dr. Albert K. Boekhorst
• Universiteit van Amsterdam
• University of Pretoria
• LIDA2001
• 25 May 2001

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Content

• Informatisation paradigm
• Effects for libraries
• The Learning Library
• Conclusion

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Informatisation of society

• theoretical perspective for the process in which
  information is becoming the dominant production
  factor in society, which is triggered and
  facilitated by ICT

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Civilizing process

• Ongoing control over natural forces
• ? technologisation
• Ongoing social differentiation
• ? differentiation
• Expanding of interdependency networks
• ? globalisation

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Information science

• ... an interdisciplinary science that
  investigates the properties and behaviour of
  information, the forces that govern the flow and
  use of information, and the techniques, both
  manual and mechanical, of processing information
  for optimal storage, retrieval, and
  disemmination
• (Borko 1968)

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3 aspects

• Properties and behaviour of information
• Flow and use of information
• Processing of information
• (manual and mechanical)
• Implicit
• Restricted till communication between people
• Restricted to stored information

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Infostructure
social infrastructure
technical infrastructure
information
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Effects

• Exponential growth of information, information
  media and channels
• Growth of technology and tools to process
  information
• Changes in communication patrons

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and for libraries

• From paper via hybrid to virtual
• Differentiation in products and services
• Shift from medium to network
• Heterogenity of users and demands
• Differentiation of services
• Differentiation support

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The Learning Organisation

• People are always dealing with a changing
  environment
• To cope with and make sense of change, people
  have to be able to learn continuously
• Learning is behavioural change
• Anticipate and react on the dynamic surrounding
  environment
• Applied to organisations
• when an organisation can continuously adapt to a
  changing environment, it is capable of learning

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The learning library

• University Library Amsterdam
• University Library Groningen
• University Library Utrecht
• 50 Sponsored by IWI

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Sub-projects

• 'The learning organisation'
• 'Information transmission'

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'The learning organisation'

• Aims at changing the organization
• A policy to inform and involve library management
  
• A learning route change master towards a
  responsive learning organisation
• A self-directing workshop for library staff teams

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'Information transmission'

• General Introduction ICT in the University
  Library
• Behind the scenes concepts of the IT-domain
• White elephants? visions on libraries
• Indexing Electronic Sources
• Information intermediary in the virtual world
• Use of electronic sources
• Intermediary in the Virtual World.

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Behind the scenes Concepts in the IT domain

• Insight into the meaning of ICT for library work
• consequences of ICT on documents
• consequences of the digitalisation of paper
  editions
• implications for employees in a digital working
  environment

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Planning

• Duration 1-7-96 till 1-11-97
• Phase I Orientation
• Phase II Development courses
• Phase III Try-outs
• Phase IV Transfer to training institute

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Conclusion

• Libraries are organisations like any other
• Learning Library is concept for development
• A learning organisation cannot be produced and/or
  made
• It is only possible to create and support
  conditions favourable to its induction
• Commitment of management
• Collaboration by staff

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Comments

• Albert K. Boekhorst
• Oude Turfmarkt 147
• NL-1012 GC Amsterdam
• The Netherlands
• albert.boekhorst_at_hum.uva.nl
• www.hum.uva.nl/akb