Parzonka & Pieńkowska, Part 6
Summary
It is impossible to halt globalization, a megatrend dominating in the twenty–first century.
The processes which take place within it are relatively new and change in a dynamic way. Globalization influences all areas of social life, so it also affects library activities. The process makes the community of librarians observe the formation of arising phenomena, investigate their reasons, understand the continuously changing reality and learn continually to find new solutions.
Like other organisations, libraries must comply with market rules. The discussed issues give rise to at least three conclusions:
In view of an increase in the importance of the role of knowledge and education in the contemporary world, libraries should be prepared for some changes in their readers’ expectations and the fact that their present state will no longer be sufficient. A reader, user, customer of the library will be better prepared to use the latest technological developments and thus will be obviously a more demanding one. [53] The question is how to customise the quality and character of the library offer to the changes resulting from the discussed issues;
Economically developed countries put an emphasis on education. Libraries have always been “knowledge warehouses.” The potential of knowledge stored there makes it easier to deal with challenges of the contemporary world. On the other hand, the ubiquity of the Internet and the requirements of economy (basing on knowledge) — as well as the development of an information society — force changes in attitudes towards the roles of librarians. Now the need for continual improvement of qualifications by librarians is unquestionable. The librarian of the future should be able to deal with an increasing amount of information by means of more and more advanced search tools.
Due to the visible impoverishment of our society libraries can and should have one more function: the function of an institution eradicating differences in access to education. This could help many people improve their qualifications and put an end to their stagnation and poverty.
The authors of this paper believe that having undergone some changes forced by the spirit of the time, libraries will survive. This conviction is based on the role and function of libraries in creating knowledge society.
Now a new era approaches. Ambitious and success–orientated people will find fulfillment. They have to be ready for permanent development, learning, changing their specialities and acquiring new skills. In this context the words of the Japanese scientist and futurologist, Michio Kaku become important and are worth memorising. They are not only a message but also as a warning:
- “In any activity, there are winners and losers. The winners will likely be those nations which fully grasp the vital importance of these three scientific revolutions. Those who would scoff at the power of these revolutions may find themselves marginalized in the global marketplace of the twenty–first century.” [54]