The combination of corporate mergers, library closures, and ubiquitous information has transformed librarians into Web designers, content acquirers, primary researchers, information architects, technology analysts, taxonomists, and a whole host of other job functions. Those who still use books in their work, and I know quite a few, are beginning to feel some guilt. Ironically, as more information is digitized, or created in digital form with no print equivalent, the more precarious is its continued accessibility, permanence, and value. Permanence, that once seemed so assured by electronic media, is now more like permafrost that can melt, given our global warming environment. Value may be the most difficult issue of the new millennium.
Value is the most subjective of criteria.
As was pointed out to me years ago, you don't care about poison preventative methods until your child swallows something that is potentially lethal. Then the instantaneous access to poison control is imperative. Once a deadline is passed, the value of the information diminishes to zero. You can make similar arguments for intellectual property, scientific, and technical information. What the new millennium will not do is change the imperatives of online research.