The document summarizes a panel discussion from the 2010 Charleston Conference on the transition from print to electronic resources in libraries. In 3 sentences: The panel discussed whether print collections will be replaced by e-resources within 20 years, with librarians noting that smaller libraries cannot afford databases, people are drawn to physical browsing, and e-books cannot replace all physical book functions. Survey results showed most students still prefer print and have not widely adopted e-readers. The panel debated why a full transition has not occurred yet, citing issues around format standardization, content discoverability, and business models still tied to print, as well as a need for more globally accessible digital content.

1. The E-Brarian Revolution:
The Collapse of the Traditional Librarian
and the Dawn of the E-Empire
2010 Charleston Conference
Charleston, South Carolina
November 5th, 2010

2. Panel Chair::
Dr. Mehdi Khosrow-Pour,
President and CEO
Panel Members:
Mirela Roncevic,
Director of Library Relations
Lynn Silipigni Connaway,
Senior Research Scientist
Rick Anderson,
Assoc. Dir. for Scholarly
Resources
& Collections Marriott Library
Kevin Sayar,
President
Marcus Woodburn,
Vice President, Digital Products

3. The future of libraries

4. Will print collections be
replaced by e-resources
within the next 20 years?
Mirela Roncevic
mirela@igi-global.com
Director of Library Relations, IGI Global
Editor-in-Chief, “Advances in Library &
Information Science” Book Series

5. Librarians
 No, smaller libraries still cannot afford databases
 No, people are drawn to libraries, in part, for the experience
 No, it’s impossible to replace serendipity made possible by
physical browsing
 No, you cannot use an e-book to stabilize a wobbly table leg

6. NACS Survey
 627 students surveyed at campuses across the U.S.
 76% would pick a printed book if left up to them
 13 percent purchased an ebook in the past three months
 8 percent owned an e-reading device
 Most popular device: iPhone
 An increase of 10 to 15 percent expected by 2012

7. Why can’t it happen now?
 We are still talking about standardizing the format
 Content remains largely undiscoverable
 Old business models still reinforce inefficient practices
 Content is born digital but not global

8. CONTENT vs. FORMAT
 Format is in the spotlight
 Evolution of content is trailing behind
 A-Z no longer applies
 Reference has morphed into nonfiction (& vice versa)
 The word “reference” has become irrelevant
 Review media’s leadership role in the process is changing

9. Discoverability
 Lake vs. river (Static vs. dynamic)
 Re-purposing and re-organization of content
 Finding your niche
 True access: print availability

10. Born global
 English-language research reigns in
non-English language territories
 Globalization of perspectives is imperative
 Publishers of fiction and creative nonfiction
remain “local” with global potential
 Publishers of research materials serve the needs
of a global community from the onset

11. 20 years ago >>
Content = Format

12. 20 years from now…
 After the storm (the present)
 Coming full circle
 Format is no longer an issue
 Content flows globally