Bill Gates: "I worry about whether our society will support public libraries"
Public Libaries
Source: The Seattle Times "Investing in libraries connects us to the future"
In a guest column Bill Gates writes, "I am excited about what's happening in my hometown and in libraries across the country. But I worry about whether our society will support public libraries so they can sustain this critical community service. In my view, investing in public libraries is an investment in the nation's future. Library professionals recognized early on that they could help bridge the divide between those who have access to computers and those who do not. However, they could not do it without additional resources and the support of others, particularly in low-income communities." Some important comments from an influential person. However, not only do public libraries need to have the technology but they also need to have trained professionals with the skills to use it along with "traditional" library tools. Don't misunderstand me, having a place for ALL people to go and access the web and other services is essential BUT libraries must be more than places where the public goes to search Google or any other web only engine. Traditional collections are still a must. Simultaneously, libraries should learn to MAXIMIZE the usage of the quality free content that's available. In othe words, the time to take web collection development seriously is now. See Also: "It's the battle between Google and the library -- and Google just might be winning." (via LISNEWS.Com)
The FreePint Family is a family of resources to help information workers be more effective, raise the value of information in their organisations and contribute to success.
'FreePint... provides most of my professional development because it won't come through work and [other resources] just don't cut it.'
FUMSI Forum: Do you have a research question? Post it to the FUMSI Forum, where professionals share Q&A and useful tips on how to Find, Use, Manage and Share Information. It's free.
FreePint Shop:
VIP LiveWire:
