– The purpose of this article is to explore the changing skill sets, operating environments and community engagement activities which can create a robust and valued future for libraries and librarians. It is easy to paint a doom-laden picture of the future of libraries against a background of library cuts, professional deskilling and the relentless advance of ever more powerful digital information systems. However, these self-same threats offer new challenges for information management.
– Personal view of the future based on current literature.
– It is better to seek forgiveness than permission. Seize the day.
– Just one point of view among many.
– Librarians need to act.
– The library can remain core to civilised societies.
– Others must judge that.
