Wilson Chap' 12: Future Directions

1
Wilson Chap. 12 Future Directions

• There are no new terms and no written assignment
  for this chapter.

2
Personal Computers

• Computers are getting smaller and smaller.
• Now, there are handheld devices that can act as a
  computer, cell phone, music player, movie player,
  etc. all in one.
• iPhone - http//www.apple.com/iphone/
• Libraries must adapt and communicate with their
  users electronically.

3
Networks

• Wireless networks are expanding everywhere.
• Libraries must realize that patrons will want to
  find information from any location.
• Libraries can not expect patrons to come to the
  library.

4
Digital libraries

• Digitizing materials for preservation will
  continue and grow.
• e-books will improve.
• What will happen to print materials?
• http//books.google.com/

5
Integrated Library Management Systems

• Better systems are being developed everyday.
• For example, there are open source systems, like
  Pines Evergreen.
• Libraries can buy new modules which can work with
  their system.
• Libraries must continue to train their staff on
  these improved library management systems.

6
Bibliographic Standards

• MARC standards are inadequate to describe
  digital/electronic and audio/visual materials.
• New standards may be developed to better catalog
  these new materials.

7
Beyond the OPAC

• OpenURL linking - linking between catalogs and
  online resources - will grow.
• Web portals will increase to help patrons get
  what they want from the library.
• Libraries must employ computer savvy individuals
  to keep up.

8
Online searching

• Technologies will continue to improve online
  search engines.
• Federated searching will also continue to grow
  and allow better searching on databases.

9
Reference services

• Online reference services via email and chat will
  continue to grow.
• Also, libraries may want to create blogs or wikis
  to communicate with their users.

10
Computer Skills

• So the moral of the story is the library staff
  will have to continuously learn and improve their
  computer skills.