Library 2020: Today's Leading Visionaries Describe Tomorrow's Library

by Joseph Janes (Editor)

Thinking about the future of libraries, librarianship and the work librarians do is as old as libraries themselves. (No doubt seminars were organized by the Alexandria Librarians Association on the future of the scroll and what to do about the rising barbarian tide.) At no time in our memory, though, have these discussions and conversations been so profound and critical.

Here one of today’s leading thinkers and speakers about the future of libraries brings together 30 leaders from all types of libraries and from outside librarianship to describe their vision of what the library will be in 2020. Contributors including Stephen Abram, Susan Hildreth, Marie Radford, Clifford Lynch, and Library Journal’s The Annoyed Librarian were asked to describe the “library of 2020,” in whatever terms they wanted, either a specific library or situation or libraries in general. They were “be bold, be inspirational, be hopeful, be true, be provocative, be realistic, be depressing, be light-hearted, be thoughtful, be fun…be yourself, and for heaven’s sake, don’t be boring.” Not that they could be.

Broadly representative of important perspectives and aspects within the profession as well as featuring important voices beyond the professional realm, Library 2020 presents thought-provoking and illuminating visions from many points of view. It is both required reading for library leaders and trustees as well as an ideal supplemental text for LIS classes looking at the future of the profession.

Genres: Library Science, Nonfiction, Leadership, Books About Books, Adult, Librarianship

168 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2013

Reviews

[Rose Alexander · Rating 2 out of 5]

Predicting the future, especially the near future, is a brave thing to attempt since it often results in comically erroneous projections. I found the majority of the articles in this compilation to be either overtly optimistic or curiously pessimistic. Very few of them seemed grounded in anything realistic. But to be fair, I doubt many could have predicted the unique challenges that would have accompanied 2020.

While there were some really insightful entries, they were vastly outnumbered by articles that came across more as embittered rants concerning the dilapidated state of the profession. I also found a lot of the articles to be repetitious, with the contributing authors offering similar forecasts that did not offer anything new to the discussion.

The few good contributions were definitely worth reading, but navigating through the labyrinth of not so good ones was an effort.

[Bethany · Rating 4 out of 5]

Why yes, I AM using my grad school reading to add to my goodreads 2016 reading challenge.

[K · Rating 2 out of 5]

If you haven't been paying attention to any library blogs (or, to a lesser extent, professional journals) recently, this book could be a great way to get yourself up to speed. If you're already paying attention, though, I didn't find a lot that was new or different from what's being said all over the internet, already.

[Specialk · Rating 4 out of 5]

A few flops in the individual essays (like get out of the 90s. Please. And stop talking about makerspaces), but overall, really interesting and some great ideas of where the library world is going in the future.

[Abby · Rating 4 out of 5]

Twenty four "library people" weigh in on what they think is in store for libraries in the year 2020. While most of the essays focus on public libraries, the themes can be applied to academic and school libraries as well.

As some of the other reviews mention, if you keep up with library trends and read the journals, a lot of this won't be revolutionary information. However if, like me, you are looking for a broad overview of library trends and are looking to get your feet wet on the subject, this is a valuable resource.

The tone is positive overall and while there were some essays that fell flat, there were also some real standouts. I should have written down the authors of my favorites but I already returned it to the library so you'll just have to decide for yourself.

[Ellen · Rating 3 out of 5]

I gave it three stars because there are five star chapters and some one star chapters. I think it was a challenge to write about the near future. There are bleak chapters which are inspirational, and some optimistic ones which are not. Some chapters describe the future but are really describing what should be happening now. Well worth reading, but some chapters are more likely to be skimmed.

[Frank · Rating 2 out of 5]

Sure, okay, makes sense, we'll see. Whatever.

[Anne · Rating 2 out of 5]

Some good chapters, some not-so-good chapters.

[Moni Cannon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Published in 2013, the publication does show its age, but provides careful insight into what libraries are evolving into. It is a collection of various essays from librarians in various fields and tries to give opinions from those backgrounds. "Library 2020" is an interesting read into tomorrow's phase and what will come of libraries and their people in the near future. Does seem to focus on academic libraries and public libraries.

A/N: I don't think anybody really foresaw the year of 2020, haha.

[Greg · Rating 2 out of 5]

Assigning one or two of these pieces for a library class would be appropriate, but I would not recommend trying to read this straight through. The themes are very repetitive (digital is the future of libraries) and despite Janes' instructions to not be boring, most pieces are just that.

[Wendy Johnson · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was interesting seeing where librarians thought the library would be in 2020. Unfortunately, with Covid, the libraries in 2022 are still recovering from the shut downs of 2020. No one could have guessed that!

[Rebecca · Rating 4 out of 5]

rather outdated now

[Keith Lord · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting opinions but since it is 5 years old some seem a little dated.

[Matthew Noe]

This was... something.

[Elizabeth · Rating 3 out of 5]

Does anyone really know what libraries will be like in 7 years? No. The library directors who wrote the essays for this book are guessing as they readily admit. Perhaps what I took away from the book was that publishers will really have to SELL ebooks to libraries and not rent them for 24 months or whatever. We know technology will be different and libraries will have to embrace smaller computers- how to secure? Anyway, I would guess libraries will still be the home for both e and print books and computers for the community. Networking will be extreme, and libraries will prosper.

[Tina Grove · Rating 2 out of 5]

I hate to give such a low rating but I did not gain anything new from this book. Maybe I was rubbed the wrong way from the first essay by the "Annoyed Librarian" (Should be called the Annoying Librarian), but I felt setting up a potentially exciting topic with a negative and cynical essay was just the wrong move. I read a few of the other essays (digital content, publishers vs. libraries, maker spaces, etc) and just felt that it wasn't anything new or too interesting. I ended up just skimming the last couple of essays as I lost interest.

[Sara · Rating 4 out of 5]

A must read for anyone in or studying the library and information profession.

2020 is only 6 years away, so chop chop! It's time for us to be strategic about how we approach the future. There are undisputed trends to consider (digitization, the makerspace revolution, for instance) but lots of talk as well about how we interact with our communities. Interestingly, several essay writers believe libraries will continue to play a role in reference work as an explosion of user-generated content makes it increasingly difficult to find accurate and authoritative information.

[Christa · Rating 2 out of 5]

Several leaders and thinkers contribute their ideals about the library in 2020. Great insight with visionary perspectives on what they think will happen to libraries in the next decade. However, if you keep up with the latest information on libraries through webinars, books, etc., you will find that it's the same type of information.

[Diana · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nothing terribly mind-blowing here, if you've stayed in the loop as a librarian, but an interesting read nonetheless. Enjoyed reading all the different perspectives, although I am hoping the more positive predictions are what comes to pass ;)

[Rachel Sides · Rating 3 out of 5]

Yes, libraries are changing, but I don't think any of the "visionaries" completely hit the mark. In reality 2020 is not that far into the future and funding sources don't jump on board with every new trend.

[Dogsandbooks]

DPL e book. Reading it for broad introduction to current thinking about future of libraries. Since I am not a library insider and have not been following library blogs, valuable starting point for overview of big issues facing libraries today. Very helpful.

[Michelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Aside from some obvious typos, this book offers a great variety of opinions on the future of libraries. I took down some notes and hope these predictions are mostly true.

[Mckinley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nothing really new - but all in one place.

[Jeanne · Rating 2 out of 5]

The opinions of 30 library leaders about the library of the near future. Everyone agrees on one thing, libraries will be different than they are today.

[Jessica · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good assemblage of current ideas in the field; as other reviewers have said, there are a few stand-out essays and many that are nondescript or dated (already).

[Kate · Rating 3 out of 5]

"Our patrons may not have clearly spoken, but they are mumbling louder."

"The future is already here, it is just unevenly distributed."

"If you're not paying for it, you are the product."

[Samantha Hines · Rating 5 out of 5]

nice collection of viewpoints that form a good jumping off point for discussions and thinking. Easily readable with much food for thought.

[Cottageunderhill · Rating 4 out of 5]

Some very interesting ideas on the future of libraries...

[Brittnee · Rating 3 out of 5]

None of these essays seemed right on track. They all sort of embraced absurdity in one way or another. This all might be a matter of perspective though. This mostly just read as book of blog posts.