Sidebar: That Thing We Do
As RUSA president, I have the privilege of contributing a short piece to each quarterly issue of RUSQ during my presidential term. While there is a lot to be said (and I certainly have never been accused of being at a lack of things to say), my four columns are intended to provide a perspective on my presidential theme. The first in the series, “Are You Smarter Than a Fifth Grader?” discussed the misconception of reference librarians as answer machines. This column continues that process by focusing on some of the external demands being placed on libraries and reference services. The next column will focus on the main theme. Although I am not giving any hints as to what that might be, you can be sure that it will be a quality piece.
Sidebar: Library 4.0
With all of the hype about Web 2.0, some people are promoting the concept of Library 2.0. Although the motivation behind Library 2.0 is all well and good, they don’t have the numbers right. Libraries have gone through a long period of innovation and are well beyond level two. In my opinion, a numbered series of versions of the concept of Library would read as follows. (And as with any good upgrade, each version of library incorporates all of the developments and features of those that came beforehand.)
Library 1.0. Historically, the first function of Library was to build collections. This function dates back to ancient times and continues with us today. During version one, libraries focused entirely on materials.
Library 2.0. The second version of Library is the one that focused on organization. This version began some time around the sixteenth century and continues to be a part of all later versions. During this era, we developed organizational schema to make our collections easier to use. Cataloging, indexing, and metadata are all modern remnants of Library 2.0.
Library 3.0. The third edition of Library is the one that focuses on service. Beginning in the mid-nineteenth century, libraries began to provide direct personal assistance to users. This is the version of the Library that spawned the reference desk, instruction, readers’ advisory, and even this journal.
Library 4.0. We are currently in transition from Library 3.0 to Library 4.0. I would characterize Library 4.0 as the era in which the library serves not merely as the collector and organizer of information, but also as the producer or publisher of information. Modern technologies, such as digitization and telecommunications, allow us to distribute material that is unique to our institution, making it available to the rest of the world. Exactly how this will affect the traditional publishing industry is not yet known, but version 4.0 should look very different in the future than today’s version 3.0.
There will, no doubt, someday be a Library 5.0. What will make 5.0 unique is something that future generations will need to define. For now, let’s stop looking into the past by calling it Library 2.0, and begin looking at the present by calling it Library 4.0.