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Written by Peter Brophy
Reviewed by Barbara Verble
Are libraries threatened with extinction, or are they morphing into a universal hub of information and knowledge, an indispensable factor in the success of their constituents? These questions frame the debate over the fate of libraries of any description. Library practitioners have been wrestling with answers to these questions for years; students of library science regularly find themselves confronted with these and similar questions in their coursework and research; the general public and policy-makers must assess the value of libraries to make funding decisions with far-reaching consequences for libraries and their stakeholders. Even as libraries and library leaders make mighty efforts to ensure that libraries continue to flourish, the debate is just not going away.
Now Peter Brophy weighs in on the discussion once again with the revised edition of his comprehensive assessment of "The Library in the Twenty-first Century" (London: Facet Publishing). Six years after the initial publication of this book, Brophy sees no reason to revise his original judgment that libraries continue to be under threat and have to be proactive, if not aggressive about defining and taking their place in their respective environments, whether it is universities, schools, corporations, or the general public.
Before laying out his view of the future of libraries, Brophy takes stock of their current state, taking a multi-faceted approach. He describes libraries as they function in their respective environments, for example as national libraries, academic libraries and so forth, but he also recapitulates cross-sectoral library models, from traditional functions, such as collection and access, to the notion of the immersive library, the goal of which is to make itself visible and indispensable by integrating services with the user environment.
Brophy continues his assessment by highlighting the concerns and preoccupations of professional organisations as a gauge of where libraries are headed, and discusses the extent to which the digital revolution has made our understanding of libraries and library services broader, more diffuse and more complex. He concludes his evaluation by focusing on libraries’ efforts to maintain relevance through emphasis on performance and quality.
Picking up on the themes of user focus, emphasis on performance, and technology integration that emerge from his assessment, Brophy uses the remainder of his book to develop a comprehensive perspective on what libraries need to accomplish in order to thrive in a constantly changing 'information universe'. In his view, libraries need to recognise the value of existing library activities, but also develop their potential. For example, as libraries have always collected some basic 'user intelligence', they can deliver more focused and customised services by using resources to effectively connect users and resources in such a way that users perceive the library as an integral part of their own lives. In this way, libraries can become 'lifeflow-centered' – one of the main strategies that Brophy identifies for libraries. In the same way, Brophy’s other strategies, for example taking an active role in learning and literacy and effectively deploying technology and collaborative practices, emerge from existing practice but need to be intentionally and systematically developed. Brophy’s high-level but comprehensive approach can at times appear overwhelming, for example when he discusses concepts of learning that library professionals should understand and integrate in their practice. Nonetheless, this is the type of strategic thinking that, if deployed through library planning processes, supports the goal of keeping libraries relevant and influential.
Barbara Verble has had a varied career which has allowed her to explore various facets of information work and education. She has worked as a German translator, technical writer, instructional designer, and college instructor. These professional activities have led her to discover, investigate and promote knowledge management. Having learned the theory of knowledge management as part of her MLIS degree from the University of Denver, Colorado, she has become attuned to the many opportunities for practicing knowledge management. Barbara professional experience and interest include online training design, information audits and business research.
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