Jan Novák
Virtual Libraries: Service Realities
Queensland University of Technology
global environment local information communication technologies changing lives changing way libraries business longer libraries arcane world every major trend impacting todays society also impacting libraries todays environment one paradox decentralisation within globalism fragmentation within mass culture customisation within mass manufacturing boundaries breaking disciplines among industries suppliers customers dominant functions processes information age increasingly organised around networks enables virtual services come together partnerships alliances process become important product knowledge era increases emphasis abstraction age dominated ideas concepts experienceand services form processall factors combine create new market library services new style client result demand sense libraries never experienced word high quality services quick convenient reliable historically last terms characterised libraries interactions clients information centre peoples lives shifts home work environments instead remaining directly libraries challenge produce integrated customer designed services based fluid flexible processes integrated services require integrated infrastructure nothing short systemic view create services capable meeting evolving needs clients knowledge age