Merging the Electronic

with the Library

                        By Laura Radzanowski

        Ask anyone.  It's easy to see that the technology revolution is in full swing, and it's here stay.  Everyday we're inundated with images of technology; computers, cell phones, PDA's, etc.   More and more often people are asked for the email address when they apply for a credit card, at the bank, when applying for a shopper's card.  The Internet is so a part of our lives that people don't have to be at the beach to 'surf.'  The growth of technology has changed our whole vocabulary and our way of looking at the world.

        The Internet and other electronic resources are revolutionizing the traditional library.  We're beginning to talk about libraries in different terms.  We've begun to refer to the library down the street as a "brick and mortar" library, and we now have to differentiate between electronic, virtual, and digital libraries.  The merging of the 'brick and mortar' library with the state-of-the art is (was?) only a matter of time.  Libraries are growing and changing to meet these new challenges and to provide their patrons with the best technology has to offer.

        While the Internet is a wonderful tool, it is riddled with inaccuracy.  There are no standards for Internet content.  Anyone can put anything on the Internet, and it doesn't have to be true.  Many people are under the mistaken belief that the Internet is the best source of accurate information.  That's just not true, but how will people come to understand this and learn how to retrieve the best information from such a massive amount of garbage?  LIBRARIES.  You know, those old-fashioned 'brick and mortar' buildings with all those things called...oh, what was that word again...Oh, yes!  Books.

        Yes, libraries.  That's the purpose of a library.  It is their mission!  Their whole reson d'etre is to provide their patrons with the tools to hack through the jungle of information; to provide patrons with skills and resources, and when necessary, direct them away from the hypnotic glow of the computer screen.  Electronic resources often take the place of traditional resources in the minds of patrons.  Librarians help patrons learn how to merge the two formats by showing how electronic resources can lead patrons to books and periodicals.

        Does the role of the library stop there?  No, libraries need to help patrons use the internet to share information and ideas.  There are great things on the Internet...and unlike the traditional library, the information is constantly writing and rewriting itself daily, not just when the library receives a new edition a year or two in the future.  It's now. 

        Many people have things to learn from Internet and many others have things to contribute...and not all of it is junk.  The beauty of the internet is that it is growing and changing...this can be seen in the number of very informative sites on the web.  Sites that provide reliable medical information, full text documents from a variety of media, education websites and online encyclopedias.  It can also be seen by the number of people using the internet to educate others through pathfinders and webquests.

        It's more than just the Internet, there are a number of electronic resources out there that aren't connected to the internet.  The number of companies devoted to providing captivating and in-depth educational resources is growing.  There are encyclopedia programs, databases, and an increasing number of electronic devices, such as e-books and e-book readers.  Such resources allow more people to view the same material at the same time, and they allow the same information to be formatted for different learners.  Over time, these offerings will become more and more visible in the library; more people will have access to them and be able to use them. 

        Libraries have to meet the challenge by keeping tabs on the technology and offer more to their patrons.  The state of technology ...what we know and what we can do with it...is growing exponentially.  The sum total of human knowledge doubles every four years and that gap is shrinking fast ...technology is serving that knowledge up on a silver platter.  Libraries can be the portals through which a large number of the general public can have access to this technology.

        How can libraries improve?  Keep up the good work.  Many libraries' catalogs are available online and can be viewed any time of the day or night.  Libraries are offering their patrons access to libraries around the world.  As long as libraries look for way to bring more technology into the library, we will all have access to the wealth of information available and be able to keep tabs on the changing view of technology.