Books and Technology - The Perfect Partnership

Libraries are part of a national campaign to link up every library in the country to an electronic communication network. This will give everyone in the UK free access to local and international information.

This means for YOU - the user, and for all citizens of the UK the world is at your fingertips. You would be able to enter your local library, sit at a computer terminal and access information on almost any subject from around the world or around the corner.

People of all ages and from every community can use the technology. Helping people to learn new skills has always been a key role for libraries, and guiding library users through the Information Superhighway is simply an extension of this.

Computers in libraries will not replace books. The simple pleasure of looking at, or reading, a book can not be replaced by electronic information. It can however, complement the printed text and users will have access to the maximum amount of information about almost anything whenever it is needed.

Technology in libraries is not a new concept, it has been a part of public libraries for many years although many of us have been unaware of its contribution. [Insert examples of technology used in your local library e.g. issue and return systems/ CD-ROMs/ Internet access].

It is important that we recognise the benefits of new technology not only to the individual but also to society as a whole. "If we want a healthy, competitive society in the next century everyone has got to have access to the information that will now be carried electronically" says Sir Charles Chadwyck-Healey, Chairman of Information For All.

The USA has committed to connecting every classroom, library, hospital and clinic to the Information Superhighway by the year 2000. Information For All recognises that it is important for all UK residents to have a similar access but feels that it is unrealistic to expect everyone to have access through their homes or workplace.

The public library is accessible and provides a neutral, democratic learning environment for all people. The local library is the obvious place for a connection to the Information Superhighway to be installed.

© Information for All
For questions or comments, please contact informall@la-hq.org.uk
URL:http://www.ukoln.ac.uk/informall/why/bookstech.html
Last revised 31-Jan-1997

Website by Sarah Ormes and Isobel Stark of UKOLN