Are Librarians an
Endangered Species?
(and libraries obsolete?)

Prof. Mike Eisenberg© Eisenberg 2011

NO!!

© Eisenberg 2011

This is OUR time!!

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We arefolks!!

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Our world has changed - fundamentally© Eisenberg 2011

Our world has changed - fundamentally

Global Internet traffic
http://internet-politics.andrewchadwick.com/media/T465098Computer_graphic_of_global_internet_traffic-SPL.jpg© Eisenberg 2011

especially in relation to

information & technology© Eisenberg 2011

Parallel Information Universe• Anyone• Anyone• Anywhere• Anywhere• Anytime• Anytime• Any Form

• Any Form

© Eisenberg 2011

IT Game-Changers• 1981 – the personal computer• 1985 – the Internet• 1993 – the Web• 1999 – Wireless• 1999 – Google• 2001 – iPod
• 2004 – Facebook• 2005 – YouTube• 2006 – Twitter• 2007 – iPhone• 2010 – iPad
• 2011 -- Kinect© Eisenberg 2011

IT Game-Changers• 1981 – the personal computer• 1985 – the Internet• 1993 – the Web• 1999 – Wireless• 1999 – Google• 2001 – iPod
• 2004 – Facebook• 2005 – YouTube• 2006 – Twitter• 2007 – iPhone• 2010 – iPad
• 2011 -- Kinect© Eisenberg 2011

IT Game-Changers• 1981 – the personal computer• 1985 – the Internet• 1993 – the Web• 1999 – Wireless• 1999 – Google• 2001 – iPod
• 2004 – Facebook• 2005 – YouTube• 2006 – Twitter• 2007 – iPhone• 2010 – iPad
• 2011 -- Kinect© Eisenberg 2011

IT Game-Changers• 1981 – the personal computer• 1985 – the Internet• 1993 – the Web• 1999 – Wireless• 1999 – Google• 2001 – iPod
• 2004 – Facebook• 2005 – YouTube• 2006 – Twitter• 2007 – iPhone• 2010 – iPad
• 2011 -- Kinect© Eisenberg 2011

IT Game-Changers• 1981 – the personal computer• 1985 – the Internet• 1993 – the Web• 1999 – Wireless• 1999 – Google• 2001 – iPod
• 2004 – Facebook• 2005 – YouTube• 2006 – Twitter• 2007 – iPhone• 2010 – iPad
• 2011 -- Kinect© Eisenberg 2011

IT Game-Changers• 1981 – the personal computer• 1985 – the Internet• 1993 – the Web• 1999 – Wireless• 1999 – Google• 2001 – iPod
• 2004 – Facebook• 2005 – YouTube• 2006 – Twitter• 2007 – iPhone• 2010 – iPad
• 2011 -- Kinect© Eisenberg 2011

IT Game-Changers• 1981 – the personal computer• 1985 – the Internet• 1993 – the Web• 1999 – Wireless• 1999 – Google• 2001 – iPod
• 2004 – Facebook• 2005 – YouTube• 2006 – Twitter• 2007 – iPhone• 2010 – iPad
• 2011 -- Kinect© Eisenberg 2011

Computers today are one
million times more powerfulthan those 20 years ago.

© Eisenberg 2011

In 20 years computers will beone million times more
powerful than today!

© Eisenberg 2011

Increasingly, we will livein

the physical world
and in© Eisenberg 2011

A parallel INFORMATION universe.
• Anyone• Anyone• Anywhere• Anywhere• Anytime• Anytime• Any Form

• Any Form

Dreamstime.com© Eisenberg 2011

Go for it!

To meet information needs
IndividualsGroups© Eisenberg 2011

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Libraries 21st C• People-focused• Active – Dynamic - Adapting• Quality, timely content• Easy, quick access• Virtual – physical – 24/7

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Lessons to Learn© Eisenberg 2011

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How Today’s College Students
Find & Use Information

Project Information Literacy
Alison J. Head, Ph.D. , Research Scientist
Mike Eisenberg, Dean Emeritus and Professor
The Information School
University of Washington© Eisenberg 2011

“Want it just in time,
find it just in the right place.”© Eisenberg 2011

Expectations• Perfect source exists
somewhere - just have tofind it.
• Best approach?
Just Google it.
• On first page of results?
Awesome.
• Up-to-date and current?
Essential.

• But please make it brief.
•Asks for help
For course work:• Instructors (49%)• Classmates (32%)• Librarians (11%)

For personal use:•

Friends/family (61%)•

Classmates (43%)•

Librarians (5%)

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implications© Eisenberg 2011change© Eisenberg 2011

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• Reference desk
• The physical library• Local collection development• Wikipedia – boo!
• Databases – more is better• The catalog• Focus on proper citation format (APA, MLA)
• MLIS as entry degree© Eisenberg 2011

• Understand our constituents (non-users!)• Be comprehensive – meet the needs of all
constituents, not just some.
• Be willing to use all means and eject theold ones/no longer successful (e.g., f2f
reference; traditional “databases”)• Be accountable – how is successmeasured? What measures will be valued
by decision-makers?
• Be highly visible.
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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s9iBSlNICGo© Eisenberg 2011

What it takes© Eisenberg 2011

ManagerManager“the art and scienceof making dreams
Come true”
Leadership = vision + management© Eisenberg 2011

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