Two key debates on the libraries of the future will be taking place at the JISC conference over the next couple of days and you can follow them as they happen, and add your own comments, through this blog.
On Monday April 14 at 18.00, Revolution or Evolution: the JISC National E Textbook Debate provides a unique opportunity to quiz a panel of experts and to openly debate the future role of the library in the provision of electronic textbooks.
JISC’s Executive Secretary, Malcolm Read, will be chairing the event. The panel of experts consists of publishers and librarians. Representing the publishing community we have Tom Davy, CEO of Cengage and Dominic Knight, MD of Palgrave. Representing the library community we have Sue McKnight, Director of Libraries and Knowledge Resources at Nottingham Trent University and Mandy Phillips, Information Resources Manager at Edge Hill University.
Each will have their own viewpoint, some arguing that in order to meet expectations and demand the institution/library purchase model must continue and some arguing against the institutional/library purchase model of e-textbooks on the grounds of sustainability and diversity of needs.
On Tuesday April 15 at 11.15, From eLib to the Library of the future will present an overview of the long term changes that will lead to the library of the future by highlighting the emerging issues that face libraries and information services today and taking a view into the future.
- Catherine Grout, Programme Director (e-Content), JISC – Session Chair
- Jon Duke and Andy Jordan, Directors, Duke & Jordan Ltd
- Jean Sykes, Librarian and Director of IT Services, LSE
- Lorcan Dempsey, Vice President and Chief Strategist, OCLC
- Ian Dolphin Programme Director (Information Environment), JISC