The Transformed Library: E-Books, Expertise, and Evolution

Woodward (principal, Wind River Nonprofit & Library Consulting; Nonprofit Essentials: Managing Technology) argues in this short book that although futurists and prognosticators as a group make faulty assumptions when predicting the future, they do sometimes get things right. Are librarians and libraries facing oblivion as some prognosticators claim? Woodward outlines the technological forces that have coalesced to "threaten" the future of libraries including financial constraints, digital books, ebook-publisher approaches to libraries, outsourcing, downsizing library space, and librarians' reaction to perceived threats. The author offers "Survival Strategies" for academic, public, and school libraries. As the title suggests, many forces beyond librarians' control have already transformed the library. Evolution occurs in a changing environment (i.e., today's libraries) if an organism (i.e., a library) is able to adapt. Librarians and libraries have it in their DNA not only to survive and avoid extinction but also to thrive, says Woodward. In addition to endnotes, each chapter has references for further reading.