These needs have been well documented in universitywide and campus studies completed in the last five years. 2 Many units at the university are already making excellent use of this new technology. The introduction of new technologies must be coordinated and supported within university units as well as with centralized resources. Information technology is becoming increasingly critical to economic and personal development.
Electronic communities are already a reality for scholars around the globe.
As we upgrade our own systems, more members of the Rutgers community will be able to participate in these electronic networks. The speed with which new information is becoming available has fundamentally challenged our assumptions about how we use and share data. Efficient access to information is critical to academic endeavors. While computer networks and new communication methods will greatly enhance our opportunities, the complexity of the Rutgers library system, structured in part as a response to the distances between our campuses and the specialized needs of our students and faculty, works against its rapid transformation. Our library system will play a key role in the provision of electronic information throughout the university.