Digital World @ SWFLN Annual Meeting

After our Orlando team meeting, on Thursday morning, Nov. 5, 2009, I zoomed down to a library at the bottom of Naples (near the Everglades!) to attend the annual meeting of the Southwest Florida Library Network. Fortunately, "tourist" Sara was my companion during the long drive.

Both of us enjoyed hearing the meeting's guest speaker, Arnold Hirshon. He is the chief strategist and executive consultant at LYRASIS, and former executive director of NELINET. His speech was titled "Where is the Library Field Going????"

("Created in April 2009 by the merger of PALINET and SOLINET and joined shortly thereafter by NELINET, LYRASIS is the nation’s largest regional membership organization serving libraries and information professionals. The primary service area is the Mid-Atlantic, Southeastern, and New England regions.")

First, Mr. Hirshon showed the following video:



Afterward, he asked if the audience thought that the video's "predictions" will be positive for society. Many people raised their hands. But several people also raised their hands when he asked if the "predictions" will have negative ramifications for society. I am sort of conflicted! How about all of you?

Then Mr. Hirshon basically talked about how print books are going the way of the dodo bird. Period. Full stop. No ifs, ands, or buts. He totally endorses digital readers 1000%. But when one librarian said she has concerns that people will take them to the beach and drop them in the sand (good question -- remember -- this is Florida!!!), he really didn't have an answer...