Do libraries matter? the rise of Library 2.0

The question of relevance is perhaps the biggest challenge facing libraries today. While there is no doubt that people value traditional library services, what of the rise of Internet services, such as Google, Amazon and their like? These internet-based services offer high quality, easy to use methods for finding information.

With information now so freely available, particularly through the Internet, do libraries really matter? Ken Chad and Paul Miller argue that the answer is a resounding YES. Libraries provide unique value. A list of links in a search engine, while useful, does not have the same value as the knowledge that a library can provide.

Reports of the demise of the library have been greatly exaggerated. However, the staggering success of sites such as Amazon and Google has shown that, to meet the expectations of the modern world, libraries do have to change quite dramatically. Read more ...