[Publib] on the future of libraries (and cheese)

[Robert L. Balliot]

Greetings,

Mary makes some excellent points! 

Most of what I have read about paperless libraries is based on making
library services less human, more automated, more computerized, and
certainly dependent on the grid operating properly. How does automation
really equate to better?  Are we helping people to develop their minds, or
developing props so that they do not need to think? 

Being able to obtain an answer quickly with a prop, is not the same as
reasoning and knowing why. The automation development process is based on
removing the effort of reasoning and providing instantaneous gratification.
The shorter the path for the rat to get the cheese, the better the rat
likes it.

When a skilled reference librarian conducts an interview, much more
information is revealed than with a keyboard interaction.  I am sure that
the capacities of computers will continue to develop to mimic the basic
skills of human interaction. But, all we will have done is make our props
smarter. How does only relating to a computer program develop interpersonal
skills or reasoning ability?

And, if the power goes off, or an EMP takes place, what will we really be
left with knowing when we our capacity to reason is dependent on props? How
will we find the cheese?

Sincerely -
*************************************************
Robert L. Balliot
1-401-441-5763
Skype: RBalliot
Bristol, Rhode Island
http://oceanstatelibrarian.com/contact.htm
*************************************************

-----Original Message-----
From: publib-bounces at webjunction.org [mailto:publib-bounces at webjunction.org]
On Behalf Of Mary Browder
Sent: Friday, July 27, 2007 5:09 PM
To: Publib
Subject: [Publib] on the future of libraries

Okay, I was not alive during the 1939 World's Fair, but I have seen 
promotional films of it.  In it
the future was predicted.  In the kitchens, things would be popping out 
of walls and up from the floors, but no microwaves.
Cars were just so streamlined and there would be ways for the car to 
transport us without having to steer, but no mention of  traffic jams. 
The future is not always predictable. Libraries have changed a lot in 
the past 50 years, and some of the most hyped things like the paperless 
society have not really come to pass.  Computers have not only come to 
pass but have exceeded what was predicted.  In other words, you can plan 
for a future, but it may not be what was originally visualized.  I know 
libraries have a future, but I believe that it will vary with individual 
libraries.  There is no one-size-fits-all.  I am always amazed when 
someone in a large library states that every library should have 
whatever they believe is essential to a library.  Some of us are doing 
the best we can with smaller libraries and small staffs.  There are days 
when getting the library open  is a big deal, because staff members do 
not always show up, roofs leak, computers do not compute, custodians 
break some vital part of their anatomy. and bathrooms overflow.  The 
challenge is to plan for the future that may happen and to keep the 
present up an running.

Mary Browder (on a day when we are short of staff and the bathrooms are 
not behaving well)
Octavia Fellin Public Library