Scenarios for the Future of the Book

"ACRL has released a new report, "Futures Thinking for Academic Librarians: Scenarios for the Future of the Book," to help librarians reexamine their assumptions, which may be grounded in the current e-book zeitgeist. Authored by David J. Staley, director of the Harvey Goldberg Center for Excellence in Teaching in the History Department of Ohio State University, the report is a companion to the 2010 report Staley co-authored for ACRL, "Futures Thinking for Academic Librarians: Higher Education in 2025." This new report presents four scenarios, based in part on feedback from academic library directors. It includes scenarios which intentionally favor the continued existence of the printed book as a viable technology, so that academic and research librarians may expand their thinking about the future to include a richer set of environmental conditions."

The report is freely available: http://www.ala.org/acrl/sites/ala.org.acrl/files/content/issues/value/scenarios2012.pdf

Free Webinar: Made in a Library

"What happens when you take a place that has traditionally been about learning and transform it into a place of doing and making? Find out, when we look at how librarians, teachers, students, faculty and communities are turning their focus to creation—whether providing digital tools for game makers, programmers, musicians and authors, or makerspaces for 3-D printing and other “real-life” projects."

May 15 from 12-2 (central)

Register:
http://www.oclc.org/innovation/?utm_source=WhatCountsEmail&utm_medium=OCLC%20Abstracts&utm_campaign=OCLC%20Abstracts

Upcoming Webinar: Libraries and the Era of the Learner: A Vision for the Future

"Join us for a discussion exploring lifelong learning as an economic driver in the 21st century and the expanding role of libraries in this "era of the learner." Building on discussions about 21st century skills and workforce development, we’ll hear from futurist Garry Golden on the changing workforce and the role that public libraries can play. We’re excited to take a glimpse into the future and to hear how libraries can identify changes, explore implications and pave the way for learners in the 21st century. This session will build on discussions from a face-to-face convening to be held in April, but will benefit and be of interest to all working in libraries."
Register: http://www.webjunction.org/content/webjunction/events/wj/Libraries_and_the_Era_of_the_Learner.html

Presented by: Garry Golden, Futurist, Forward Elements
May 16, 2012
Start time: 2:00 Eastern / 11:00 Pacific




For a preview, see A Visitor From the Future