15th Conference on Professional Information Resources

Autor: David Bawden, City University London, United Kingdom

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Abstract:

This presentation considers the future of library/ information science and library/information services over the next two decades. It builds on the imaginative thoughts of several commentators who have considered future scenarios, while including the implications of recent events. These latter include the current world economic problems, which are already affecting library/information services, sometimes in surprising ways. They also include the introduction of 'cloud' computing, which offers a way to obtain information, as well as music, movies and so on, 'on demand', avoiding the idea of 'ownership' or 'collection'. Three possible views of the future are presented. The first is a continuation of the current situation, with library/information services continuing, and perhaps growing in importance, in something very similar to their current form. The second is a change to the current situation, with some forms of library/information service diminishing, or even disappearing, and others expanding, and changing their nature considerably. The third, and most radical, sees the disappearance of most current forms of library/information service, and their replacement by a very different 'information landscape'. The likelihood of these views prevailing, and their consequences for library / information specialists, are discussed.

About author:

David Bawden is Professor of Information Science at City University London, and Director of the Information Science Centre within the University's School of Informatics. Originally coming into information science through a batchelor degree in organic chemistry, and an interest in chemical information systems, he holds masters and doctoral degrees from Sheffield University, and worked in pharmaceutical information services before joining City University. His main interests are in the history and philosophy of the information sciences, information behaviour and its relation to developing technology, and digital literacy. He is editor of Journal of Documentation, the leading European academic journal for library and information science.

Author: Richard Hindls, rector, University of Ecomics, Czech Republic

Author: Vladimír Karen, Albertina icome Praha s.r.o., Czech Republic

Author: Herbert Van de Sompel, Los Alamos National Laboratory, USA

Author: Carol Tenopir, University of Tennessee, USA