The public library in a knowledge-based economy
Date
2010
Authors
Sturges, Paul
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University
Abstract
Paper presented at the Stellenbosch University Library 2010 Symposium / IFLA Presidential Meeting. Knowing is not enough: Engaging in the knowledge economy, 18 to 19 February 2010. Predictions that the printed book, and the library with it, will have no place in a twenty-first
century knowledge-based economy are likely to be premature, if not actually completely
inaccurate. The role of the public library must necessarily be different in many ways from what
we have known, but some things will stay the same. Books seem likely to hold their place in the
mix of formats and content for leisure reading and to support formal education. However, if
the public library is content to limit its role to these forms of book-based activity it will miss
real opportunities to be a socially committed enabler for the knowledge economy. With this in
mind IFLA FAIFE has been promoting library involvement in positive provision of public Internet
access, access to health information and support for transparency, through a programme of
workshops for librarians. The public library needs to widen its welcome and make its premises
even more of a focal point for communities, whilst at the same time reaching out more
effectively to those who may not feel the library provides a suitable offering for them. Outreach
should include dissemination of information to the community and popular technology that can
achieve this, notably the cell phone, must be exploited. Finally, the public library has a responsibility
to promote community-wide information literacy, so as to enable intelligent and
effective use of digital as well as print resources.
Description
19 slides created with MSPowerPoint and migrated to pdf using Adobe PDF.
Keywords
Public libraries, Community outreach, Information literacy
Citation
Sturges, P. 2010, The public library in a knowledge-based economy, Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University.