The world is our lobster: Rethinking traditional attitudes

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this article is to explore the changing skill sets, operating environments and community engagement activities which can create a robust and valued future for libraries and librarians. It is easy to paint a doom-laden picture of the future of libraries against a background of library cuts, professional deskilling and the relentless advance of ever more powerful digital information systems. However, these self-same threats offer new challenges for information management.

Design/methodology/approach

Personal view of the future based on current literature.

Findings

It is better to seek forgiveness than permission. Seize the day.

Research limitations/implications

Just one point of view among many.

Practical implications

Librarians need to act.

Social implications

The library can remain core to civilised societies.

Originality/value

Others must judge that.

Citation

Law, D. (2014), "The world is our lobster: Rethinking traditional attitudes", New Library World, Vol. 115 No. 5/6, pp. 200-210. https://doi.org/10.1108/NLW-05-2014-0054