Information Tomorrow; Reflections on Technology and the Future of Public and Academic Libraries

by Rachel Singer Gordon (Editor)

In Information Tomorrow, Rachel Singer Gordon brings together 20 of today's top thinkers on the intersections between libraries and technology. They address various ways in which new technologies are impacting library services and share their ideas for using technology to meet patrons where they are. In addition to a preface by the editor, the book's foreword by Stephen Abram and 16 chapters feature insights and opinions from these library leaders, bloggers, and * Lori Bell * Steven J. Bell * John Blyberg * Robert Bocher * Daniel Chudnov * Jill Emery * Meredith G. Farkas * Megan K. Fox * Beth Gallaway * Joseph Janes * David Lee King * Jenny Levine * Tom Peters * Dorothea Salo * John D. Shank * Michael Stephens * Rhonda B. Trueman * Jessamyn West * Alane Wilson Information Tomorrow offers an engaging, provocative, and wide-ranging discussion for systems librarians, library IT workers, library managers and administrators, and anyone working with or interested in technology in libraries.

Genres: Library Science, Technology

258 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2007

Reviews

[Kerstyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

While some of this is getting dated enough to be difficult to get through, a lot of the perspectives were really refreshing even via a skim. Part of it is the way we used to write essays and books about concepts of the internet - scrutinizing this thing rather than it being so integrated into the world that we don't look at it as intensely anymore - and part of it is the way so many of them feel rooted in community and asking questions. Maybe I need to read more things written by librarians.

This is a note for myself - I particularly enjoyed:
- The Future of FLOSS in Libraries by Daniel Chudnov
- Libraries and Privacy by Robert Bocher
- Library 2.0 by Jenny Levine
- Technophobia, Technostress, and Technorealism by Jessamyn West

I'm looking forward to passing this on to a friend who works in a library although part of me wants to hold fast to this little point in time. I found it on a free shelf at a college where I volunteer, though, so it feels like it should keep passing onward.

[Andrew · Rating 4 out of 5]

Taking a book published in 2007 called "Information Tomorrow" and reading it in 2009, it does feel a little bit dated. However, this collection of essays excellently sums up the direction of the library and information industry, from some of our more visionary leaders (at least, from the US).

Reading it now, it's more of a reminder and affirmation of many things that I already hold to be true, as a librarian - and whilst I haven't learnt much that is new from this book, it still reenforces ideas that are easy to be distracted from, or disillusioned with.

[Courtney · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book, written by famous librarians (yes, there are famous librarians), contained lots of good information and insights. I'll be honest though--I skipped around and only read certain essays. Sometimes it just gets to the point where all I think about is librarianship, and I need a break. I felt that near the end of this one, so I skipped a few chapters. But this fresh update is just what academic librarians need to read.

[Alison · Rating 3 out of 5]

There are some good essays in here about the need to integrate technology into librarys, and also essays on how to do so, which is nice.