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ALA Annual 1993 107

ALCTS Preorder/Precatalog Search Discussion Group

Look Into Our Crystal Ball: What Might the Future Hold? was the topic of this well-attended session. Marsha Hamilton, Head, Monograph Acquisition Division, The Ohio State Univer- sity, began with “Pre-Order Search: The Next Generation.” Recent changes caused by accel- erated technological development in the library workplace, economic recession, and the changing workforce has caused many librarians to try to predict the future. Hamilton cited LAPT, v. 17 (1993) as a source of several predictions by librarians and vendors.

Hamilton contrasted the paper order files, carbon paper, and mimeograph machine tech- nology of 18 years ago with the online integrated systems, Internet communication, and fax technology of today. She then outlined a scenario, projected 18 years into the future to the year 2011, in which collection development librarians will use artificial intelligence software packages to perform most collection development, preorder search, acquisitions, and account- ing functions. In this future, staff would “check in” physical format materials upon receipt and send them directly to the shelves because the vendor/jobber will have linked into the local system or consortium to perform all precirculation preparatory work, now referred to as cat- aloging, authority control, binding, labelling, and shelf preparation. The vendor would also load electronic information directly to a campus computer or provide access to remotely stored databases. This future envisioned a library with limited personnel in both public and techni- cal areas, due to the intensive use of intelligent systems coupled with private sector services.

Gail Junion-Metz, Head of Bibliographic Services at Cleveland State University, offered “Prognostications on Publisher/Jobber-Supplied Cataloging.” Junion-Metz outlined assump- tions about the future including: the Internet will be pervasive at all levels in the ordering/cat- aloging process, local costs will continue to rise, and staffing shortages will require libraries to function with fewer people. She described her vision of “one-stop shopping” where, in one

operation, a database is searched, an order is generated in the local catalog, the vendor is noti- fied that an order is being placed, and the bibliographic utility is notified which records are needed for the local system. This one-stop approach would replace the approximately 12 steps currently performed by many libraries in the ordering/cataloging process. Junion-Metz then described in greater detail the responsibilities of the local system, publisher/jobber, and util- ity in this approach.

Teamwork between the library, utility, and publisher/jobber was described as an essential factor in this future system. And what of personnel currently involved in the search process? Their unique expertise will be of great use to overburdened public services areas when they apply searching skills to Internet resource searching and assist patrons in WAIS-based systems.

Margaret Rohdy, Head of the Shared Cataloging Department at the University of Penn- sylvania, spoke on “The Myth of the Paperless Future.” Rohdy began her vision of the future by reviewing information systems of the past. “There is more information about humankind recorded in cuneiform tablets than there is for any period of history until the invention of the printing press,” said Rohdy quoting Dr. Erie Leichty. For about 3,000 years, clay tablets func- tioned effectively to create, store, access, display, and deliver information. In a transition period of nearly 1,000 years, clay was replaced, first by papyrus, then by parchment, and then by paper. Paper in the western world has been in use for less than 1,000 years. Today, the explosion in electronic communication is causing a chaos of information choices.

Predictions that electronic formats will replace paper seem premature. Rohdy commented that this is another period of transition and to predict the date of perfect paperlessness is fool- ish. Indeed, paper shows few signs of disappearing and may be increasing. Rohdy mentioned

108 ALA Annual 1993

examples of how paper in new forms, such as “Post-It” notes, printouts, and faxes is prolif- erating because of its ease of use. Paper is one choice and it is the job of the information pro- fessional to choose wisely among many choices. Rohdy indicated paperlessness will be a result, not a cause. Paper is no longer the best choice for functions such as the library catalog, because it is easier to store and access information electronically. However, paper is often more effective for display purposes. In the 196Os, a computer company representative sup- posedly said paper would be obsolete by 1984. Rohdy observed the transition is incomplete and will certainly be a long one.

The presentations were followed by discussion among the approximately 80 people in atten- dance. This ranged from humorous futuristic predictions to somber thoughts about the future of the library profession. One librarian was asked by an administrator whether printers were still needed because of the erroneous assumption that the paperless future was already here. Other discussion focused on the blurred lines between traditional technical services depart- ments and between technical services performed in the library and by vendors. There was a lively debate over the issue of library staffing in the future, how computer expertise would be necessary for librarians, and how the workforce may dwindle as automation replaces func- tions currently performed by professionals and highly trained staff. The potential for infor- mation inequality, the “haves” with access to the Internet and expensive technology versus the “have-nets” reliant on dwindling paper resources also arose. Whether this future was a depressing decline in traditional librarianship, caused by the encroaching forces of computer and information science, or whether it was an opportunity for librarians to refashion them- selves into a new generation of information professional was the topic that completed the pro- gram. Nancy Boggess-Korekach of Vanderbilt University was introduced as the incoming chair and Mary Konkel of the University of Akron was elected vice-chair/chair-elect.

0364-6408(93)E0019-D Marsha Hamilton Head, Monograph Acquisition Division

The Ohio State University 1858 Neil Avenue Mall

Columbus, OH 43210-I286

Electronic Publishing: Implications for Libraries and Librarians Part I: Two Views - The Commercial STM Publisher and the Library Educator: A Report of ALCTS Electronic Publishing Discussion Group

“Where is the electronic publishing world taking us?” was the question posed by Richard Jas-

per, Chair of the ALCTS Electronic Publishing Discussion Group. Jasper envisions the ques- tion to be the basis of this program, the first in a series of discussions on this topic. Various viewpoints from representatives of the university press, faculty, vendor, and library commu- nities will be heard in future programs.

Bob Badger, Manager of Electronic Media for Springer Verlag, Inc. of New York, presented information about several STM electronic publishing projects, including Red Sage. The first project he spoke about was CORE, a coalition between the American Chemical Society (ACS), Bellcore, and Cornell University. The driving force behind the project was the demand from scientists and engineers for electronic versions of journals at their desks. The first big project began in 1989.