The PostModern Library

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The Post-Modern Library

• Wasyl Sydorenko
• Libraries in the Digital Age
• Staff Conference
• May 9, 2005
• St. Michaels College
• University of Toronto Libraries

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• Modernist
• or
• Post-Modernist
• What is the world we live in today?

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The Modern World

• Age of Enlightenment
• 1730s to 1800s
• First Industrial Revolution
• Age of Science
• Second Industrial Revolution
• Modernism (1870s-1960s)

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The Modern World

• World War I (1914-1919)
• First Modern War

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The Modern World

• World War I (1914-1919)
• First Modern War
• Art Deco (1925)
• Exposition Internationale des Arts Décoratifs et
  Industriels Modernes, Paris

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The Modern World

• World War I (1914-1919)
• First Modern War
• Art Deco (1925)
• Exposition Internationale des Arts Décoratifs et
  Industriels Modernes, Paris
• Modern Times (1936)
• Charlie Chaplin

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• Industry
• Technology

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The Modern Library

• Robarts Library
• opened 1973
• card catalogue
• closed stacks
• conveyor belts
• pneumatic tubes
• control gates
• 50 service points
• strongly hierarchical
• separation of functions
• escalators/elevators/stairs

photo Steve Mann
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What is Post-Modernism?

• deconstruction
• post-structuralism
• post-industrialism
• post-humanism
• post-feminism
• post-colonialism
• post-Marxism
• post-Soviet

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What is Post-Modernism?

• onset from 1960s to 1980s
• mass information
• absolute relativism
• ecstasy of communication
• boundrylessness
• virtual reality
• convergence

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Post-Modernism

• Circumnavigating the Sea of Shit (1979)
• Julian Schnabel

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Post-Modernism

• Circumnavigating the Sea of Shit (1979)
• Julian Schnabel
• Deconstructing Harry (1997)
• Woody Allen

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Post-Modernism

• Circumnavigating the Sea of Shit (1979)
• Julian Schnabel
• Deconstructing Harry (1997)
• Woody Allen
• Ontario College of Art Design (2004)
• Will Alsop

photo Shane ONeill
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Deconstruction Bipolarity
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Post-Modern Library

• boundaries are diffuse
• integration of resources
• participate in learning process
• creative information systems
• deconstruction of old hierarchies
• non-permanent resources
• networked relationships

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Organizational Paradigms
Figure 1 Organization c. 1965
Figure 2 Organization c. 1985
Figures 1 2 Giuliani, V. E. (1985). The
Mechanization Of Office Work in The Information
Technology Revolution. Cambridge, MA MIT
Press. Figure 3 Diagram by Prof. Keith
Thomas. (2004).
Figure 3 Organization c. 2005
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Eras of the Computer Age

• 1964-1980 System Centric Era
• introduction of the IBM 360
• 1981-1993 PC Centric Era
• introduction of the IBM PC
• 1994-2004 Network Centric Era
• introduction of the Internet
• 2005 Content Centric Era
• development of content ePublishing

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Libraries and Librarians?

• Libraries were early adopters of computer
  technology.
• data interchange standard (MARC)
• shared cataloguing databases networks (UTLAS,
  OCLC, RLIN)
• mini-computers for circulation and online public
  access catalogues
• users and promoters of the Internet

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Libraries as publishers?
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Library Users?

• Baby Boomers first generation to grow up with
  TV.
• Gen X first generation to grow up with personal
  computing.
• Gen Y first generation to grow up with access
  to the Internet.
• Gen Z first generation that will live in a
  wireless world.

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Analog vs Digital Library

• Analog (Modern)
• linear thinking
• use maps
• mechanical
• COP
• (command-order-predict)
• experience
• specialist

• Digital (Post-Modern)
• nonlinear thinking
• use compasses
• system orientated
• ACE
• (align-create-empower)
• beginners mind
• deep generalist

Abram, S. (2005). Next generation librarians in
the workplace in Staff planning in a time of
demographic change. Lanham, MD Scarecrow Press.
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Future Patterns of Use

• preferred web access from home
• usage of most popular web tools
• single access point using web search engines
• access to all resources wherever they are or
  whoever owns them
• want assistance any way although personalized
  services preferred
• format agnostic use

Abram, S. (2005). Next generation librarians in
the workplace in Staff planning in a time of
demographic change. Lanham, MD Scarecrow Press.
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Convergence

• Rogers Cable Bell Telephone
• TV Refrigerator
• Copier/Fax/Printer/Scanner 4-in-1 Combo

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Publishers with online libraries vs Libraries who
publish online
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Libraries as Publishers

• Medieval Libraries
• books copied by hand manuscripts

National Geographic Society. (1969). The Age of
Chivalry. Washington National Geographic Society.
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Libraries as Publishers

• Medieval Libraries
• books copied by hand manuscripts
• Modern Libraries
• printed index cards, catalogues, finding aids and
  microfilms

photo Plattekill Public Library
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Libraries as Publishers

• Medieval Libraries
• books copied by hand manuscripts
• Modern Libraries
• printed index cards, catalogues, finding aids and
  microfilms
• Postmodern Libraries
• digital publications

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Libraries that ePublish

• Library and Archives Canada
• The California Digital Library
• Library of Congress
• The Networked Digital Library of Theses and
  Dissertations

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Association of College and Research
Libraries 12th National Conference April 7-10,
2005
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Thank you! Available online http//www.library.
utoronto.ca/event/staffconference/ws-resource.ppt