THE LIBRARY OF THE INFORMATION AGE
ACADIA COMPETITION 1998
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First Reflections
The library of the information age is a successor of all the other
libraries that have existed before. It cannot deny the traditional
cultural role it has inherited, whatever its new appearance might be.
Libraries do not function merely as information storage places. They
communicate not only knowledge but also an image of the world, a very
important view of how human culture sees itself and its role.
Therefore, libraries have to be conscious of that role and changes in
culture they have to adapt to.
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The Future Library
As there have always been changes to culture and cultural techniques,
it is clear that a new type of library has not only to fulfill current
needs. It has to be aware of future developments, too. The concept will
have to be open to the future, though the future can only be guessed of.
Room has to be given to the unknown...
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The Library of the Information Age
Traditional concepts of libraries come short of fundamental changes
information technologies have experienced during the last years.
The notion of a library as vast physical storage will change (and
already has changed) with electronic communication possibilities.
New technologies will not instantly take the place of traditional technologies,
as with every new invention old and new will coexist and complement
one another. The new library has to melt the traditional with the
new with a clear view to usefulness and specific characteristics
of each medium. It will be built on top of current physical libraries
that already exist and provide traditional techniques.
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The Library - On - Demand
As the most important aspect of modern communication is electronic data
transmission, this will be the first point to be considered. When libraries
in the past were limited to their physical properties and information was only
reachable by physical interaction, the future library will fundamentally
change personal information needs. Modern communication can transmit data
almost with the speed of light, so there is no need for physical interaction
any more. However, this should still be possible.
Accessability of information has to be granted to users and to other libraries
who will work together in establishing a network that will make information
available to everyone. The future library will be mostly concerned
with this network as well as possibilities and modes of interaction.
The architectural solution of this kind of library will be entirely of
hybrid nature.
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