The old-timers among us, working in libraries for 25+ years (and I count myself among these) have seen a lot of change, from online cataloigs, to internet, digital publishing, and changing user expectations (or lack of any expectations) in the library’s offerings.  It is a tired saying, but too true and accurate so many times – the more things change the more they stay the same.  A library director who just happens to be sharp as a surgeon’s scalpel, came across this article from 1966 that describes the changing role of the library at a time most of us do not associate with a lot of change.

Though a little hard to read and rather quaint in appearance, typed on an old manual typewriter, this scanned masterpiece describes precisely many of the same challenges libraries face today: a changing user population, use of multi-media, librarians and pedagogy, instructional services, and physical design.  It really is a remarkable document.  If nothing else, it reminds that while we sometimes think of our predecessors as a bunch fogey-ish catalog card filers, they faced difficult challenges in trying to redefine the role of the library in a changing environment.  And what will the librarians 40 years from now think of the current crop of fogies?

Eric C. Shoaf

Editor, LL&M

  • Share/Bookmark