Beyond the Library of the Future: More Alternative Futures for the Public Library

No one can predict the future of libraries, but that doesn’t stop us from speculating. With insightful comments from a variety of sources - and a dose of humour - Shuman builds fictional scenarios to get librarians thinking, What if…? . Eight new scenarios explore such developments as virtual reality, robots, time travel, computer viruses, security, and more - all within the context of the public library (or cybrary, as the author calls it). Written in a conversational tone, the book is intended to stimulate discourse and exploration of issues. Current trends are woven into each scenario as Shuman investigates issues surrounding the library’s role in the future. A list of quotations about the future and an extensive bibliography for further reading conclude the work. This book is a sequel to (not a revision of) Shuman’s previous work, The Library of the Future (Libraries Unlimited, 1989). Like its predecessor, it is a useful read for librarians, library administrators and students in library school.