These aspects of the use of information are difficult, if not impossible, to codify and consequently will not make into the NIDR tools of the near future. It got me all riled up at breakfast even before I had heard what Louzecky had to say. He began by quoting Fredrick Douglas's autobiograhy and remarked how Fredrick Douglas saw the ability to read and write as fundamental skills necessary for freedom from slavery. He went on to state that without libraries and institutions providing free access to print-based materials, people may forget how to think, especially considering things like television that are so very much visual. Despite the fact that Louzecky said that we are all ignorant about the present and future situation concerning the issue of technology and its impact on society, he did state that he thought libraries will not cease to exist in a networked environment, but they may be much fewer in number and staffed with much fewer people.
Technology does do wonderful things, but technology is no substitute for libraries.
In other words, the court is still out concerning the issues surrounding email. The problem is that email is unlike anything our legal system had to rule on before. At the present time, if I understood what Brady was saying, her office is suggesting that email is more like a business or pubic record and therefore should be maintained in a similar manner as other sorts of records like press releases, public statements, official memos. Brady then alluded to the practical and legal ramifications of such a position. In the late afternoon I got a ride from the hotel staff to Elver Park and I played a round of frisbee golf.