Here's a possible discussion topc for this Summer's morning PADG meeting.
Respectfully,
- Walter Cybulski
"Libraries
In the past, universities provided the humanities scholar with a library, perhaps a museum, but few other resources. A university with a large library has had an advantage in attracting faculty. In the future, we can expect a university that provides its faculty with good electronic information to have a similar advantage.
The vision of the electronic library is at least 25 years old, but, until recently, developments were extremely slow. This is changing. The new research library will no longer be a passive repository, but will provide instantaneous and interactive access to information, with the ability to sift, sort, rearrange, and reformat that information.
A key question is whether existing library organizations have the flexibility to fulfill this role and whether the electronic library will develop within or outside traditional libraries. The signals are mixed.
It is clear, however, that the training of librarians must change dramatically. The University of Michigan recently fired a shot that should be heard around the world. Dan Atkins, an engineer with no formal library background, was appointed dean of the library school. The new libraries will have to draw talent and expertise from a great range of disciplines. Yet, today, almost every library needlessly restricts its choices by requiring an MLS degree from candidates for professional positions."
From: "The Institutional Implications of Electronic Information" / William J. Arms / Vice President for Computing Services / Carnegie Mellon University /
http://www.cni.org/docs/tsh/Arms.html
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Mr. Arms can also be heard in an Educause interview, where he expressed his hope that in ten years "less than half the senior management in libraries" will have MLS degrees.
http://connect-cdn.educause.edu/files/active/0/CNI_F2006_BILL_ARMS.mp3