Libraries’ Newfangled Virtual Networking Roles:
OUTLINE
Definition of terms
 Key trends for the next decade
 Librarians’ traditional roles
 The Internet
 Latest trends on library operations and
services in a virtual environment
 Role of library networks
 Conclusion

Definition of terms:
Newfangled:
1 : attracted to novelty;
2 : of the newest style or kind.
- Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary
Definition of terms:
Network- Two or more organizations
engaged in a common pattern of
information exchange through
communications links, for some
common objectives
-ALA Glossary of Library and Information
Science, 1983
Definition of terms:
Library network- A specialized type of library
cooperation for centralized development of
cooperative programs and services,
including use of computers and
telecommunications, requiring the
establishment of a central office and a staff
to accomplish network programs rather than
merely to coordinate them.
- ALA Glossary of Library and Information
Science, 1983
Definition of terms:
Resource sharing- A term covering a variety of
organizations and activities engaged in jointly by a
group of libraries for the purposes of improving
services/or cutting costs. Resource sharing may be
established by informal or formal agreement or by
contract and may operate locally, regionally, nationally,
or internationally. The resources shared may be
collections, bibliographic data, personnel, planning
activities, etc. Formal organizations for resource
sharing may be called bibliographic utilities,
cooperative systems, consortia, networks, bibliographic
service center, etc.
- ALA Glossary of Library and Information Science, 1983)
Definition of terms:
Document delivery service (DDS)- The provision of
published or unpublished documents in hard copy,
microform, or digital format, usually for a fixed fee
upon request. In most libraries, document delivery
service is provided by the interlibrary loan office on
a cost-recovery basis. The patron is usually
required to pick up printed material at the library,
but electronic full-text may be forwarded via email. Also refers to the physical or electronic
delivery of documents from a library collection to
the residence or place of business of a library
user, upon request.
- ODLIS - Online Dictionary for Library and
Information Science
Definition of terms:
Interlibrary loan (ILL)- A transaction in
which, upon request, one library lends
an item from its collection, or furnishes a
copy of the item, to another library not
under the same administration or on the
same campus.
- ALA Glossary of Library and Information
Science, 1983
Definition of terms:
Exchange- The arrangement by which a library
sends to another library its own publications,
or those of the institution with which it is
connected, such as a university, and
receives in return publications from the other
library; or sends duplicates from its collection
to another library and receives other
materials in return, also called, respectively,
publication exchange and duplicate
exchange.
(ALA Glossary of Library and Information
Science, 1983)
Forty Key Trends for the Next Decade: 20 Key Global
Trends and 20 Key Consumer Trends 2005-2015
People on the move.
 Home as a sanctuary.
 Entertainment on demand
(DVD/Downloads)
 Internet everywhere (Wifi/Wimax)
 GeeWiz Mobile Technology.

- Euromonitor International
Future trends:
- What’s Next: Top Trends : The diary of a supposed futurist observations on current and future trends
Future trends:
“Recent articles on technology indicate the move in the future is
towards increased portability, wireless and cheaper devices to get
onto the Internet. Also, there is a trend towards Cloud Computing
where application programs such as word processors and
spreadsheets and documents are located on Internet servers - not
on a computers hard drive. These trends not only improve learning
but are a less expensive alternative to traditional computer
workstations, hard wiring, software licensing and computer servers.
Cheaper laptops are part of the accelerating trend to greater
portability. The cell phone is growing keyboards (or should they be
called "thumb boards”) and laptops are getting lighter and smaller.
Meanwhile over-the-air Internet access is morphing from Wi-Fi to
WiMax, as well as traveling over the same pathways as cell
phones. These are the other components of cloud computing -- the
wireless connections that define the cloud“.
- Nevin, 2009
Librarians’ Traditional Roles
(Stover, 1997)
Selection
 Organization
 Dissemination
 Preservation
 (Knowledge creation)

The Internet

The Internet is a global communication
medium, facilitating information retrieval,
publication, dialogue, and coordination
amongst groups and individuals across
the world.

- Iqbal and Purbo, 2008
The Internet and libraries

The web allows us to help (and be
helped by) other libraries as all of us
seek to support our parent organizations
and to fulfill our traditional roles as
selectors, organizers, preservers, and
providers of access to information.
- Stover, 1997
Latest trends: Recommender system
(Amazon.com)
Latest trends: Predictive text
input
Latest trends

Web-based cooperative:
indexing
abstracting
web-harvesting
(e.g. Wikis)

Online forums/blogs
Latest trends:
Online Inter-Library Loan and Document
Delivery Service
Common E-book platform (EBL,
NetLibrary, Ebrary, MyiLibrary, etc.)
 Online ILL of E-books
 Electronic journal articles sent via IM
and Email (check license agreement)

Latest trends: Shared off-site storage
system, preservation, and digitization
Physical space
 Computerized organization, access and
retrieval system
 Cooperative scanning and digitization
 Cooperative data warehousing

Latest trends: 24/7 Ask-A-Librarian

Instant Messaging
(e.g. YM, Meebo, Chikka etc.)

Skype
Some Ideas on Library
Networking:
“Library networking is a political process.
The act of connecting computers is
easier than the business of connecting
people and organizations.”
- Saunders,1995
Imperatives for joining library
networks
Budget cuts/declining budgets/price
increases.
 Increasing expectations from
stakeholders.
 Changing library user profile (Gen Z)
 Fast-paced advancement of technology
 World getting smaller (Global villageMcLuhan)

Role of library networks
Empower its members.
 Provide value for money purchases.
 Present opportunities for its members.
 Foster friendship and camaraderie

Conclusion:
It is important to consider the following
before joining a library network:
your library’s:
Mission
Organization
Role
Situation
- Adapted from Stover, 1997
References
Iqbal, Tahani and Purbo, Onno W. (2008)
“Geektivism”, in ICT Infrastructure in Emerging
Asia : Policy and Regulatory Roadblocks. New
Delhi : LIRNEasia and Sage Publications
Nevin, Roger. (2009). Future trends - Portability and
Cloud Computing. Retrieved April 7, 2010, from
http://www.libraryng.com/node/1323
Newfangled. (2010). In Merriam-Webster Online
Dictionary. Retrieved April 7, 2010, from
http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/
newfangled
Saunders, Laverna. (1995) “The Internet Librarian”.
Library Journal. 6:41
References
Stover, Mark (1997) “Library Websites:
Mission and Function in the Networked
Organization”. Library Journal. 6:55-57
What’s Next: Top Trends. Future of Libraries
(Draft Scenario 4) Retrieved April 7, 2010,
from
http://toptrends.nowandnext.com/?p=621
Young, Heartsill (1983). ALA Glossary of
Library and Information Science. Chicago :
American Library Association
Questions????