[Genealib] RE: Looking to the Future

[Naukam, Larry]

Sadly, the outlook for 20 to 30 years from now isn't very good. Now, people are coming more and more to rely on computers to "check everything"., which of course is a fallacy. Other have pointed out that merely having something digitally available is nice, but it's not a complete solution.

Probably the scariest outlook is that libraries will be staffed as cheaply as possible, with no experts in the field; and that even now budget considerations are forcing libraries to discontinue access to computerized databases. If that happens patrons will HAVE to go back to using microfilms - but there isn't much money to buy them. And in my humble experience, many librarians are at retirement's door, and there haven't been any young people brought along. I wish that I had a better outlook, but I am nothing if not a realist.

And that's not even mentioning if libraries can afford to buy computers and get net access.