Five prominent consultants project technological advancements that, in some cases, will enhance current library systems, and in many cases will cause them to become obsolete. Major trends include advances in mainframe and microcomputing technology, development of inexpensive local area networks and telecommunications gateways, and the advent of…

On the eve of a major change in communications media (from printing to widespread electronic publishing), this article reexamines and projects into future the library's fundamental role as a social institution. Discussion covers three environmental trends, library as an institution, and public policy and economic choices. Twenty references are…

This paper examines the likely effects of technological developments on the planning of American academic library buildings during the 1980's and shares Richard Snyder's experiences in the design and construction of a new library building at Drexel University in Pennsylvania. Descriptions of general, economic, policy, psychological, and…