Library Futures Institute

June 26 & 27, 2002
WPI Campus Center - Worcester, Mass.

Sponsored by the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners and WPI

Please visit the official Futures Web site!

The Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners (MBLC) will offer a Futures Institute to be held at Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI), June 26-27, 2002. As central information providers to community constituencies, libraries are struggling to stay abreast of how to best serve their patrons in this changing world. Technological developments of the last few years are totally restructuring nearly every aspect of our daily life. Libraries must stay ahead of the game and at least anticipate certain trends to serve their patrons. Activities are becoming more complex and global community paradigm shifts suggest conditions will be very different from the last century. It is not enough for libraries to merely play catch up as each technological innovation brings in waves of interested customers requesting the most current information. Libraries must gear up to be relevant to constituent needs. This institute will examine the technological, governmental, societal and educational trends in the world at large and discuss their implications on the future of library service. Although libraries are not in the business of forecasting the future, they would be well served to assess the impact of future trends and how it will affect the information and library service delivery system.

The Futures Institute, which will be cosponsored by WPI, will provide a forum for librarians to discuss the implications of these trends for their own future planning. This institute will reach about 150 staff from all types of libraries. The MBLC will offer a follow-up grant round for qualified participants which will allow them to examine new approaches and services for their constituencies.