January 29, 1991 The Digital Electronic Library by Gregory B. Newby School of Information Studies Syracuse University New technology is changing the world. The library has the opportunity to be at the forefront of that change through the development and use of technology. Three related tasks for library involvement in the 1990's are: 1. To upgrade existing services by making use of technology. 2. To plan and develop new services and products which make use of technology. 3. To study library users, anticipating and meeting their changing information needs. To remain viable and competitive into the next millennium, the library must both meet the needs of users and maintain a favorable position relative to other information providers. The key to the evolution of the library for the information age is not to introduce technology on the basis of technological criteria alone. It is necessary to consider the goals of the library and its users and then assess the appropriateness and utility of a given technology for achieving those goals. The digital electronic library is not limited to books and periodicals. Services now offered by commercial information and entertainment industries are indicative of the information- intensive environment in which libraries operate and the changing needs and desires of their users. The successful library of the twenty-first century will extend beyond the doors of one building. It will provide immediate access to a wide variety of print and electronic information resources when users need them. Many libraries are already engaged in making use of technology to upgrade facilities, increase productivity, and provide better service to users. They offer, for example: o Online catalog access via modem or computer network o Access to periodical indexes, full text databases, and other data sets through the catalog or CD-ROM systems o Coordination of other libraries' holdings records and bibliographic utilities in order to extend available resources and facilitate their exchange o Management information systems (MIS) for improved library management and planning As the digital electronic library emerges, it will become increasingly attuned to the information needs of its users. Electronic resources will supplement traditional print resources, and the library will be a center for access to new information services and products. Some areas of study and development for the near future include: o Development of technology for management and communication: - email for internal and patron use - access to Bitnet/Internet mailboxes and other networking tools currently available only to academics or some corporations o Development of technology for question answering and information retrieval - expert systems for reference questions - email access to specialists, with cooperation among libraries to maximize the expertise available to users - gateways to commercial information providers - systems to help users to choose the best information resource for their needs o Investigation of the impact of technology on users - ongoing study of the impact of technology on users; assessment of technology effectiveness - competition with commercial information services and the entertainment industry for some information services, such as public access to a wide range of commercial databases, or electronic "shopping" - training of users for new technology - rejection of technology for technology's sake, but openness to changes which better meet the needs of users The upgrade of existing services and implementation of new services can not be accomplished without some difficulty. Of primary concern is insuring that technological solutions really meet the needs of users. It is also important to maintain reasonable cost, and reasonable payoff, for these investments. The library has the opportunity to be a leader of innovation for information resources. The digital electronic library of the future is not just a place to get a book or ask a reference question. It is a vital part of the information society. ----------------------------------------------------------------- Some Project Ideas for the Library of the Future 1. The Hyper-Library. A system for browsing the library. The user starts with a schematic of the library building, and then can "walk" from section to section. Shelves can be selected for browsing, and titles from the shelves may be examined. The "library" can be reorganized to meet the needs of individuals or groups of users. 2. Expert Systems for Library Reference. Many reference questions are routine. An expert system for reference questions would enable rapid treatment of common questions, and also encourage exploration by library users. Coupled with an email system for more detailed questions, this would enable a very high quality of reference, and allow reference librarians to spend more time with users who need it. 3. Virtual Reality for Learning and Entertainment. The information flow in the library does not need to be in one direction only. Computer technology allows for interaction with "books," other users, virtual terrains, etc. Instead of reading about Barcelona, the user could be transported there through technology. Users can act on and shape their virtual environment. 4. MultiMedia Literature. The book is no longer limited to ink and paper. Print, audio, video, and user interaction provide for an experience potentially richer than text alone. 5. Cooperative Literature. Stories are created collectively using a variety of input and output devices. From simple text to a full virtual environment, from a single "author" to hundreds. The creativity of users is encouraged and supported. 6. The 24-Hour Electronic Library. Many of the information resources for the 1990's could be made available online for access by modem or computer network. What work needs to be done on interfaces and standards to maximize the availability and use of these resources? 7. Way-Finding in the Library. With the increasing variety of tools and resources for accessing information, it is important to extend our conception of bibliometric resources, and to provide mechanisms for helping users to select resources that best meet their needs. Two aspects for this work are the development of systems to help a user choose among resources, and the implementation of electronic guides to the available resources. Guides will become more important as resources become dispersed geographically or decentralized. 8. The Library as a Store for Community Information. By providing access for users to input their own information electronically, the library can provide a low-cost avenue for community involvement. Local authors, newspapers, histories, announcements, and so forth can all find a home in the library of the future. Shelf space and printing cost need not be considered. 9. The Library as a Meeting Place. Whether by email, virtual reality, or in person, the library can act as a meeting place for people with similar interests. Data on usage, personal profiles, and special interest groups are all low-cost add-ons to electronic systems described above which can be used to introduce or gather users with similar interests. 10. The World Library. Electronic resources, unlike books, can be easily used remotely. Cooperation and resource sharing among libraries of all sizes and geographic locations means both a savings in cost for individual libraries and an increase in the information empowerment of users. The library of the future extends beyond its walls to deliver worldwide knowledge and expertise to everyone's fingers.