After reading all of the perspectives, I have to agree with the authors. Libraries must embrace new technology as it evolves, and plan the growth of library services to accommodate each leap forward. The library customers, or patrons if you prefer, of tomorrow are already perched in from of our system's computers from 3PM on each day. They embrace each tweak of their favorite sites, and rarely check out a book unless it is required for a school assignment. If the libraries do not evolve with the online content that appeals to the new generations we will cease to be a relevant part of their lives.
I understood what Rick Anderson was saying about the "just in case collection." If circulation drops 55% that is a significant number. However, the 45% remaining are customers that may be unconcerned, or uninterested, or just plain terrified of the technology that bombards them every day. We need to continue to serve this segment of our aging population as we have done in the past. They will probably learn to live with a request list as we continue to weed out collections, some may even come to accept some aspects of technology, but we should continue to offer quality services to that customer base until it is a truly insignificant segment of our users. After all it will just be a few more decades.
Let's not forget that as librarians we are to offer services to all segments of our communities, not just the technologically savvy.
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