Information Management & Systems 101 Information systems. Spr 97. Michael Buckland

FROM PAPER LIBRARY TO ELECTRONIC LIBRARY

ROLE AND MISSION OF LIBRARY SERVICE
Library's role: Facilitate access to documents.
Library's mission: Support the mission of institution served.
Distinguish Means / Ends. Now new means.

LIBRARY TYPE       PROCESSES      MATERIALS
Paper Library             Paper/Card          Paper &c.
Automated L.             Computer             Paper &c.
Electronic L.               Computer             Electronic
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Library user                Computer             Electronic

PAPER LIBRARY PROBLEMS: Localized; Space needs; Inflexible; Catalog separate; User separate; Closed; Books in use; Time consuming; Scale; Geographical inequality.

COMPUTER / ELECTRONIC: Use from a distance; Multiple users; Use many ways.

AUTOMATED LIBRARY: Increased efficiency; Catalog less separate; Link catalog + bibliographies.
Otherwise same problems as Paper Library.

AUTOMATED LIBRARY EXPERIENCE: Standardization of data; Remote access to files; Cooperative use of files; Fewer duplicative files; Access to multiple files; Linking/combining files; More capability; Technological vulnerability.

CATALOG: Automation: Do same things better;
Redesign: Do different better things;
Redefine: Bibliographies, catalog, holdings records.
Network environment, multiple files and multiple retrieval options. "Union records".

ELECTRONIC LIBRARY: Documents not localized; Remote access; Simultaneous use; Flexible; Compact. Re-invent the Library!
Paper documents are best... except when: volatile; manipulate; scan; remote; communicate.
Gaps become links: User - catalog - bibliography - document - user's work.

ROLES OF COLLECTIONS: Archival; Dispensing ($, change); Bibliographic; Symbolic.

FUTURE ROLES OF COLLECTION DEVELOPERS.
Selection to anticipate demand (logistics).
Selection as an recommending / advisory role.
The collaboration between collection developers and technical services in relation to network resources.

CHANGES: Catalogs fuse with Bibliography; Shift from Local collections to Networked repositories; Users' work habits; Increased complexity (?); Shift from Service to Selfservice; Organization / governance; From Substitution to Redesign; Less geographical inequality.

For longer version see Redesigning library services article.
M. Buckland. Redesigning Library Services. American Library Association, 1992.