Trend Alert: The Future Of Libraries

Author: Mary Corcoran, Vice President, Business Development

This TrendAlert looks at the future of libraries by analyzing the currentstate of library digitization and other compelling influences and drivers.Among the key trends discussed are: the rate of digitization of librariesand the many flavors of 'virtual' or 'digital' libraries; the changingbehaviors of library users; and XML's role in radically changing contentdelivery models. The Briefing looks at three major pathways to the futurefor today's library: the fate of the physical library space; the librarian'srole in content integration; and the effect on library services ofinformation users' quest for simplicity. For content deploymentprofessionals, the Briefing highlights the marketing and organizationalchanges that will best position their libraries for the future. Forcommercial content vendors, the implications of the future are that entireorganizations are now wide-open markets for the information that theyformerly only sold into libraries.