OPPORTUNITIES FOR LIBRARIES IN THE INFORMATION SOCIETY

Transcription

1 OPPORTUNITIES FOR LIBRARIES IN THE INFORMATION SOCIETY Colin Attenborough The concept of the Information Society, with all its opportunities and challenges, is now rapidly turning into reality. It is certain to change working and living patterns throughout society, and like every other group of professionals, librarians are having to face radical changes in the services they offer. Certainly national governments and industrial companies are taking the Information Society very seriously, and the European Union has prepared a great many policies and programmes, to the point where there is an Information Society dimension to all major development programmes. Ishallnotinthispaperattempttodescribethewholespectrumof Information Society projects, although the scale and importance can be judged from the value of funded development projects with direct relevanceat1.3billionecu.itshouldperhapsbenotedthatasfarasthe economyofeuropeisconcerned,thereisaracetocapturemarketsfor these new products between, principally, Europe, the USA and Japan. Having said that, its importance to us as a professional group lies in the expected changes to all aspects of economic, social and cultural life.thisiswhereourprofessionmustshowitsrelevance.whatiwant toofferisapersonalviewofwherelibrariesmightstandinallofthis, and a pointer to some opportunities, amongst many, which can already be seen. My viewpoint is that of a librarian practising in Western Europe, taking account of changes taking place in our own tradition, and drawing on personal experience of project work with partner librarians in Eastern Europe. This experience comes largely from our Public LibrariesDevelopmentProject,co-fundedbytheEUandtheOpenSociety Institute. Based on work carried out in Hungary and Romania, the project now has coordinators and partners in 16 East European countries. What is meant by the Information Society? The concept arises from the implications of the rapid development and 16

2 convergence of telecommunications and computer technologies(sometimes known as telematics), and the understanding that these developments can dramatically speed up and simplify all activities involving the transfer of information. These activities include of course publishing, in the broad sense of recording and disseminating printed information (always a core interest of libraries), but also applications throughout the fields of teaching and learning, commercial and personal transactions, and access to recorded knowledge. Of course, these changes are already happening very rapidly. It is already clear that a massive reskilling of workers is required. In the UK (following the American example) there are proposals to put very large numbers of computers with Internet connections into schools(and one hopes, libraries). At the same time, large investments are being made in the retraining of adult workers via new training agencies supported by government money. On the European Union level there are three main action lines deregulation of telecommunications services applications hardware and software development of innovative services On the engineering side, the networking infrastructure is coming together fast: digital telephony, fibre optic cables, microwaves and satellite are all growing rapidly. On the software side too, there is a proliferation of multi media products and improved search engines. All of these are of interest to libraries, where they begin to replace(and often improve) printed products. The third area, development of innovative services, is growing much more slowly. This area is directed at finding meaningful ways of applying these new technologies in society, particularly in the fields of learning, employment and democracy. This clearly is the area where the future of libraries becomes closely involved: on the understanding that libraries should be a key access point for information and knowledge for citizens in the broad sense. Justtolookatthethreemainareasinturn: Learning Libraries(both public and academic) have always provided an obvious support for learning by providing reading(that is, learning) materials, facilities for research, and information on educational opportunities. Indeed library catalogues themselves are important research and finding tools. As a simple improvement in access, why should not these catalogues, together with indexes to special collections, be made widely available through the new global networks. This already begins to 17

3 provide content to learning networks and improves access to knowledge andlibraries.intheuk,weareworkingtowardsthenetworkingof major public library resources as an extension of the existing academic network, JANET. Learning is of course not concerned only with formal educational courses at school or university. The concept of lifelong learning has taken root. We all need to continue learning beyond formal education, not least to update skills for employment, but also to update knowledge about our personal interests and research. We also need information about what learning opportunities are open to us. Here again, libraries have a traditional role which should be reasserted and modernised. In my own library system, Essex, there are proposals to network public library information into schools, and to broaden access by providing workstations in libraries and other suitable locations. Lifelong learning, then, is an area where libraries are well placed to make a solid contribution to the Information Society, facilitating learning and opening access to learners. The idea that libraries can provide an interface between learners and knowledge is widely accepted as being a simple development from the world of printed materials. Service providers frequently think of libraries as the focal point for pilot projects of this kind. Democracy It is quite explicit from the foundation statements about the aims and benefits of the Information Society(Bangemann)[1] and recently reiterated by the First Forum[2], that alongside economic and industrial benefits the Information Society must be for citizens. Thekeymessageofthe1996AnnualReportoftheForumas The InformationSocietymustputpeoplefirst.Itsaidthekeystothisare: a) Giving citizens the know-how to use the new services b) Building a lifelong learning society c) Raising public awareness of the information revolution d) Universal public access to basic online services such as public information e) Using new technology to bring more people into decision making, allowing closer scrutiny of what their governments are doing. Hereistherichestveinofopportunityforlibraries.IntheUKlibraries have already taken responsibility for citizens information by providing databases of community information and public services. Largely becauseofthehighuseofpubliclibraries(around65%oftotalpopulation in membership, 30% regular users), public libraries have made 18

4 themselves coordinators and providers of such services. They act for many public bodies in processing and carrying information. Soitisquiteusualforcitizenstogotothelibrarytofindinformation about citizens rights, responsibilities and opportunities. These include topics like: Education Health Social Services Other public services Voluntary sector services Tourism Culture Recreation and leisure In the UK libraries have already processed and delivered a great deal ofthisinformation,andhavedevelopedthestaffskillstocopewithit. NotethatintheUKwenowcallourclusterofprofessionaldisciplines the Library and Information Services(LIS) professions. Notice also that the skills required go beyond information processing and IT into the realms of negotiation and business planning. This bundle of skills(including of course information processing) is the core of the libraries contribution to the Information Society. The most important feature of any information network is content, and thisiswherelibrarianscanrushintofillthegap. AtthispointI dliketomentiontheworkdoneoncommunityinformation within the PLDP project. After early analysis and user surveys bothoftheinitialeasternpartners,clujandpestdecidedtocarryout somedevelopmentworkinthisarea.asaresulttheyarebothnow gathering information from a variety of public bodies and other providers to add to their Community Information databases. This activity has brought both these libraries into closer contact with important information providers. This has created many useful partnerships, and has enhanced the libraries importance with the community. The creation and management of community information services can give the library a central position in the partnerships providing thenewnetworks.inessexwearekeentomakeessexlibrariesthe leader in local data management, and we are recognised in having the leading role in our region, managing the County s Internet presence, calling meetings of providers, and acting as lead partner in proposing and managing projects. Employment and support for business In the UK many of the larger public libraries support local businesses with business information services, and all public libraries support 19

5 employment by providing careers information, job advertisements and openlearning trainingpackages(forexample,trainingpackageson word processing). Again, it can clearly be seen that this is information which, properly managed, could be made available across community networks. Onthebusinessinformationside,thereisahugedemandforthe provision of company and market information, employment law and financial information, and technical information(including standards andpatents).muchofthisisalreadyavailableindigitalform,oris easilyadapted.anemerging valueadded growthareaforlibraries is the access to business opportunities, including public procurement contracts and partnership offers. These are services of considerable economic importance, which the libraries(at least in the UK) are well equipped to provide. On the employment side we see further opportunities for libraries in assisting people seeking employment, offering workers retraining opportunities,andactingas gatekeepers foremploymentinformation. We would like to provide many more workstations for public use, and learning packages for retraining. Further, it would be useful to set up (in partnership with external government funded training organisations) direct training rooms and skilled trainers within libraries to offer demonstrations of the new services and practical help in using them. Tosumupsofar:therewillbeadramaticgrowthinnewnetworks verysoon.theywillbeaimedatandusedbythewholecommunityof citizens. These networks will desperately need the sort of content that libraries(at least in principle) can provide. Librarians should see these changesasasetofopportunitiesforthefutureoftheirwork,andin this discussion I have mentioned a few possibilities: providing library catalogues(ideally networked together) supporting lifelong learning, by access to special collections, indexes etc. providing information about learning opportunities(courses, lectures, resource collections, etc.) establishing libraries as providers and managers of networked community information supporting employment and business activity, by information on careers, job opportunities, etc. providing demonstrations and training for the new IT services. How can libraries grasp these opportunities? If librarians want to be a significant part of the Information Society overthenexttenyears,theywillneedtoembracechange,notleastbe- 20

6 cause the necessary investment in new services will substantially come from outside traditional library sources. It seems to me that to become important players, librarians must change some of their attitudes: Embrace a positive attitude towards IT Be prepared to welcome these radical changes. Move from a narrowly cultural missiontowardsinformationmanagement. Develop the right skills Get more library staff skilled in information management and IT. Move forward from traditional methodology. Retrain all staff regularly. Haveapositiveattitudetowards customers Findoutwhatpeoplewant,andbereadytoprovideitinaprofessional and businesslike way. Be ready to work in partnership with others Librarians can t make this revolution on their own. Learn to share and negotiate. Show leadership and commitment Ourrebornprofessioncanearnalotofrespect,butleaderswillneed courage. Conclusion As we have noted, the Information Society will happen, and is happeningnow.itsphilosophyisinmanywaysclosetotheaimsoflibraries, anditrequiresthesortsofskillsthatlibrarianscanoffer.theinformationsocietyisinitsinfancy:newideasarewelcome,anditisfull of opportunities for librarians to develop their role and become central to society s information needs. There are challenges and difficulties to overcome. Changes are needed: changes in philosophy and vision: improvement of skills and development of leadership. But the potential rewards are great: the future oflibrariesmayitselfbeatstake. References 1. Bangemann, Martin. Europe and the Global Information Society. European Council Information Society Forum. First Annual Report. ISAC