Future of Finnish Libraries
April 23, 2010
“Future of Finnish Libraries”
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April 27th, 2010 at 11:28 am
Whatever the differences might be in terms of development between the countries, I find the picture described here as what will happen almost everywhere. More and more people are losing the habits to read. Books used to concentrate almost all the information someone might need on a given topic. Now, the technology of hypertext (or hyperlink) has made the linear reading almost unnecessary, so that the user is somehow the creator of his own information. The informational behiavor tend to be a standard. In such a context library services go beyond merely providing information. They encompass things like fixing technology issues, teaching and providing recreation. A best exemple of this assertion is the case of the American Corners in Senegal. Every American Corner is located in a place where a traditional library already exists. However, the number of the visitors of the corners is exponentially increasing while those of the traditional library are stagnating or eroding. Why? Because the visitors know that at the Corners they will not only find books – the traditional library has also books – but they have access to Internet, can use their own laptop thanks to the WiFi and attend public programs (music anf theatre performances, conferences, webchats, etc.). And don’t be surprised that this is happening in Africa: the continent is being computerized before being electrified. Information Revolution is global!