The globalisation of information is a fascinating concept, the more so because the debate about the globalisation of human and natural resources is all about economic and therefore political power.
If you want to read an interesting book on the subject try Siva Vaidhyanathan's "The Anarchist in the Library: How the Clash Beween Freedom and Control is Hacking the Real World and Crashing the System." The blurb introduces the book as follows ..
"From Napster to Total Information Awareness to flash mobs,, the debates over who gets to control information and technology have revolved around a single question: How closely do we want the virtual world to resemble the real world? But while we weren't looking, the real world started imitating the virtual world - in some alarming ways. More and more of our social, political, and religious activities are modeling themselves after the World Wide Web, along the lines of either anarchy or oligarchy, total freedom vs. complete control. And battle lines are being drawn."
Librarians, bless us, are by and large idealists wanting to make the world a better place by providing everyone with everything to create a new world order in which there is no ignorance, where everyone is enlightened, where we all agree with each other, where all our thoughts and actions are open and above board. Commendable, but sadly, naive. Like any resource that empowers, information will be fought over to the death, because whoever controls information will control the world. What is the first thing that dictators get rid of? Yep, books i.e. information. What is the first thing the mob gets rid of? Yep, books, i.e. information. Will the next world war be fought over the Internet without anyone being killed? I don't think so!
Of all the articles read, I enjoyed and approved of Dr Wendy Schultz's the most because she sticks to what is our business, libraries. I can't wait for her vision of the future, "the knowledge spa" as depicted in the second paragraph - roll on Library 4.0!
"Library 4.0, the neo-library: Experience This will be the library for the aesthetic economy, the dream society, which will need libraries as mind gyms; libraries as idea labs; libraries as art salons. But let’s be clear: Library 4.0 will not replace Libraries 1.0 through 3.0; it will absorb them. The library as aesthetic experience will have space for all the library’s incarnations: storage (archives, treasures); data retrieval (networks—reference rooms); and commentary and annotation (salon). Available as physical places in the library “storefront,” they will also be mobile, as AR overlays we can view (via glasses, contacts, projections) anywhere. Both virtual and augmented 3D reality will enable us to manipulate data via immersive, visual, metaphorical, sculptural, holographic information theatres: the research and analytic experience will merge with drawing, dance and drama.5
But Library 4.0 will add a new mode, knowledge spa: meditation, relaxation, immersion in a luxury of ideas and thought. In companies, this may take the form of retreat space for thought leaders, considered an investment in innovation; in public libraries, the luxurious details will require private partners as sponsors providing the sensory treats. Library 4.0 revives the old image of a country house library, and renovates it: from a retreat, a sanctuary, a pampered experience with information—subtle thoughts, fine words, exquisite brandy, smooth coffee, aromatic cigar, smell of leather, rustle of pages—to the dream economy’s library, the LIBRARY: a WiFREE space, a retreat from technohustle, with comfortable chairs, quiet, good light, coffee and single malt. You know, the library."
I love the concept of a 'thought leader' as 'an investment in innovation! Wow - that really sums up the possibilities, doesn't it? Can't wait for the virtul library to materialise so that I can retreat to a 'comfortable chair, quiet, good light, coffee and single malt' with a good book open on my knee and the cat curled up next to me. Bliss!
Roll on Brave New World 2.0!
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