[1210] in Public-Access_Computer_Systems_Forum
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daemon@ATHENA.MIT.EDU (Public-Access Computer Systems For)
Mon Sep 14 12:39:39 1992
Date: Mon, 14 Sep 1992 11:18:33 CDT
Reply-To: Public-Access Computer Systems Forum <PACS-L%UHUPVM1.BITNET@mitvma.mit.edu>
From: Public-Access Computer Systems Forum <LIBPACS%UHUPVM1.BITNET@mitvma.mit.edu>
To: Multiple recipients of list PACS-L <PACS-L%UHUPVM1.BITNET@mitvma.mit.edu>
----------------------------Original message----------------------------
FROM: AXPBBGS --UICVMC
From: Bernie Sloan
Subject: Libraries & Networked Info
I was glad to see Bill Arms' clarification of the paraphrased state-
ment attributed to him by the Chronicle. It makes a lot more sense
now!
I think Bill may be on target when he compares the situation (li-
braries and their relationships with networked resources) with the
"tensions between personal computers, departmental computing, and
computing centers that universities saw during the 1980s". Having
worked for a university computing office during the bulk of the
1980s, I do see the similarities.
As Bill notes, as electronic information resources become more de-
centralized, the development and control of these resources also
become more decentralized, allowing the development of information
services independent of the library. He also adds that "coordination
amongst the various groups is informal and pragmatic rather than
centrally directed". It could be that what is going to be required in
the future is not so much centralized control, but some person or
office charged with facilitating or coordinating the growing web of
decentralized resources. I think we're seeing a tendency towards that
in academic libraries with the growing trend toward placing both the
library and the computing center under the "information services"
organizational umbrella. But even if the library and computing center
are controlled by the same information "czar", that person still won't
control the increasing number of resources produced by other departments
within the university, and the dizzying array of resources becoming
available externally (via the Internet, etc.).
From personal experience, I've seen what can happen when the right
people play the role of facilitator. Within the 12 year history of the
ILLINET Online network, I've seen many examples of someone playing the
role of catalyst or facilitator and making things happen, even though
they have no direct control or authority over the agencies that are
actually responsible for implementing what needs to be done. This facili-
tator role will become more prevalent at individual institutions as
they begin to deal more and more with electronic information resources.
While it's going to be important to have someone to play the facilitator
or catalyst, it will probably be difficult to try to formally establish
such a role within an institution. The difficulty comes from the fact
that this role is quite often "filled" informally. The varying personal
and organizational dynamics within different institutions make for
varying "requirements" for the facilitator role. There will be no
one-size-fits-all facilitator.
As Bill Arms notes in the concluding paragraph of his posting, "if my
guess is correct, the role of libraries will be different at every
university". And we can see signs of this already. In some institutions
the library is taking a backseat in the development of electronic re-
sources. In other institutions the library director has been moved
into the role of "chief information officer" for the institution.
To quote Bill Arms one more time: "Any other guesses?"
Bernie Sloan, Director
Illinois Library Computer Systems Office
