From: Winston Tabb <[log in to unmask]>
Date: Mon, 11 Sep 2017 21:25:33 +0000

Joe:



I don’t think anyone can talk about the future of libraries in a generic
sense.   For many major academic libraries, services (including spaces) are
at least as important as collections





*From:* LibLicense-L Discussion Forum [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
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*Sent:* Sunday, September 10, 2017 3:47 PM
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*Subject:* Re: The future of libraries



From: Joseph Esposito <[log in to unmask]>

Date: Sat, 9 Sep 2017 16:16:18 -0400

I wish to thank all the list members who have replied to my query online
and off. Please keep 'em coming! Great ideas here.



If I may be permitted some follow-on comments:



First, let me state for the record that I do not believe that libraries
have no role in a purely OA future, nor do I expect such a future (or
anything "pure"). Traditional collections are but one part of a library's
functions.



Second, the original question was put as a hypothetical. This is an
approach my colleagues and I often use when conducting strategic planning
sessions with clients. We have found that inviting people to contemplate a
universe that is similar to our own, but different, opens up a number of
new perspectives. It is also true that some people struggle to imagine a
purely (that word again) universe.



Finally, the question that nags at me is whether or not universities will
continue to support libraries as they do now if the budget for toll-access
materials were to fall to zero or something close to it. What happens when
you "unbundle" non-collections activities from collection-building itself?
Will a university administration look coldly at some of those activities
and ask the library to do the job with fewer resources? Or do we believe
that the administration of the modern university is as enlightened as those
who direct and operate the institution's libraries?



Thank you again for the helpful and insightful responses and, yes, I would
welcome hearing more, online or off.



Joe Esposito