Students, parents and staff have access to information which is as convenient as the automated tellers provided by banks. But never mind the Internet and the reality described above. Given the kinds of products and services predicted by Thornburg, by 2005 they may well be sailing and navigating through something more like CyberNet. Internet will be remembered as the horse and buggy of the global information sharing system. The new technologies promise to deliver information far from what we have called libraries.
Many students already navigate online databases and explore CD-ROM encyclopedias at home.
While this may liberate students and other information consumers in many respects, King is quick to point out that increased access does not automatically lead to insight or increased understanding. Fortunately for library media specialists, King sees their role as critical to a healthy future. While new technologies promise to deliver more information in less time, the challenge of developing insight from all this information may be compounded by an overabundance of data. King cites an example of one researcher whose electronic search identified 1000 articles on the question being explored - of which only three proved useful and illuminating. The media specialist who sharpens her or his searching skills will prove an invaluable team member and consultant as classes venture out on LANs and WANs and Internet.