Students are in a university to learn competencies, skills and critical thinking that will prepare them for the workplace and to lead useful lives. Distance learning must play an ever greater role in course provision. The more flexible we can be with that the better. Everything from using interactive television and multimedia, to actually coming back to campus, is very important. She sees in the future the graduate of Georgia Tech coming back for courses every two years, for a couple of weeks of recycling .
Drake recognises that libraries also have other constituencies to serve.
We have a responsibility to the needs of our universities' administrations, and a role to play in bridging the gap between higher education and the surrounding industrial and commercial communities. Drake agrees, with typical pragmatism. But they usually don t come to us because they can t find a parking space. The future of the Web service lies in access to key articles and book chapters. Already an electronic reserves facility is available.