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…

Three major topics are discussed in this essay conveying a vision of what the university library should be like in the twenty-first century: (1) librarianship as a scholarly discipline; (2) politics and the university library; and (3) the library as an active agent in the life of a university. (EJS)

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…

Reviews key developments in information technologies, and describes the possible convergence of these developments in the creation of a new publishing and communication medium. The impact of this technology on the organization and role of libraries is discussed. (4 references) (CLB)

Presents eight responses from individuals reacting to Suprenant's and Perry-Holmes's article entitled "Reference Librarian of the Future" (RQ, Winter, 1985). Topics covered in the responses include the information poor, information consultants, information interpretation, library education, the human element, revitalizing reference…

Discusses current problems in professional education for school library media specialists, including the closing of programs, declining enrollments, and a lack of intellectual focus. A model is proposed which defines three purposes of school library media programs and provides a template against which specific professional programs can be…

This paper describes the use of a microcomputer model program to predict library collection growth at Cornell University, particularly in Olin Library, which is Cornell's central research facility. The possible effects of increased online information retrieval and microform or videodisc usage on library storage needs are also briefly discussed. A…

Predicts the status of library services to young adults in 1997 by considering various forces, including the changing nature of adolescents and early adolescents, future demographic trends, prospective job markets, and library education problems and possibilities. (EM)

Discusses the design, methodology, advantages, and disadvantages of the Delphi technique and describes a case study to demonstrate its use. The case study explored the nature of future media services in higher education to obtain long-range planning information for educational technologists and academic administrators. Recommendations of the study…