[385] in Public-Access_Computer_Systems_Forum
Future of Automation
daemon@ATHENA.MIT.EDU (Public-Access Computer Systems For)
Mon Jun 1 09:20:09 1992
Date: Mon, 1 Jun 1992 08:16:18 CDT
Reply-To: Public-Access Computer Systems Forum <PACS-L%UHUPVM1.BITNET@RICEVM1.RICE.EDU>
From: Public-Access Computer Systems Forum <LIBPACS%UHUPVM1.BITNET@RICEVM1.RICE.EDU>
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FROM: AXPBBGS --UICVMC
Bernie Sloan
Subject: Future of automation
We all seem to be talking about the bright future ahead for automation
and the provision of electronic information services. This discussion
makes the following quote from the Automation News section of the
March 1, 1992 issue of LJ (p.32) all the more interesting:
"With libraries facing unprecedented budget dilemmas, he feels that
there will be a downsizing of automation and a back-to-basics move
of spending limited funds on books and increased hours".
(Michael Rogers, summarizing a part of VTLS Presi-
dent Vinod Chachra's presentation at the "View
From the Top" program at ALA Midwinter)
Do others agree that there will be a shift of funding away from
automation and back to the "basics"? For years many libraries have
cannibalized acquisitions budgets, etc., to pay for increasing auto-
mation costs. Will the pendulum start to swing the other way?
Just curious about what others think........
Bernie Sloan
