I work in the Richmond, VA public library system and have been helping the
Business, Science, and Technology department become familiar with the
available on-line resources. Unfortunately, some people in management,
specifically budget geeks, have decided that with the rise of online media,
libraries will soon no longer be neccessary. This is a wonderful ploy to
cut funding, but I don't buy it. My direct boss, Alice DeCamps
(adecamps@leo.vsla.edu) has asked me to come up with information,
statitistics, and counter-proposals debunking the common myth that libraries
(paper-based), are going out of style. My question is this: Do you think
that the Internet will take the place of hard media, and if not why. If you
have any references to other locations on the net, I would appreciate the
help, and if you can't help me at all, fine.
Ironically enough, this budget crunch is coming specifically at the time
when we are considering launching a systems upgrade for the library including
high speed access to the Internet for all patrons. Any help you can give me
to keep this library alive would be appreciated greatly.
William B. Willaford IV
csc5wbw@cabell.vcu.edu