The learning library
Prof.dr. Albert K. Boekhorst
Universiteit van Amsterdam
University of Pretoria
LIDA2001
25 May 2001
Content
Informatisation paradigm
Effects for libraries
‘The Learning Library’
Conclusion
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Informatisation of society
…theoretical perspective for the process in
which information is becoming the
dominant production factor in society,
which is triggered and facilitated by ICT
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Civilizing process
Ongoing control over natural forces
 ‘technologisation
Ongoing social differentiation
 ‘differentiation’
Expanding of interdependency networks
 ‘globalisation’
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Information science
‘... an interdisciplinary science that
investigates the properties and behaviour of
information, the forces that govern the flow
and use of information, and the techniques,
both manual and mechanical, of processing
information for optimal storage, retrieval,
and disemmination’
(Borko 1968)
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3 aspects
Properties and behaviour of information
Flow and use of information
Processing of information
(manual and mechanical)
Implicit:
Restricted till communication between people
Restricted to stored information
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Infostructure
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Effects:
Exponential growth of information,
information media and channels
Growth of technology and tools to
process information
Changes in communication patrons
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… and for libraries
From ‘paper’ via ‘hybrid’ to ‘virtual’:
Differentiation in products and services
Shift from ‘medium’ to ‘network’
Heterogenity of users and demands:
Differentiation of services
Differentiation support
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‘The Learning Organisation’
People are always dealing with a changing
environment:
To cope with and make sense of change, people
have to be able to learn continuously
Learning is behavioural change:
Anticipate and react on the dynamic surrounding
environment
Applied to organisations:
when an organisation can continuously adapt to a
changing environment, it is capable of learning
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‘The learning library’
University Library Amsterdam
University Library Groningen
University Library Utrecht
50% Sponsored by IWI
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Sub-projects
1. 'The learning organisation'
2. 'Information transmission'
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'The learning organisation'
Aims at changing the organization
A policy to inform and involve library
management
A learning route change master towards a
responsive learning organisation
A self-directing workshop for library staff
teams
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'Information transmission'
1. General Introduction: ICT in the University
Library
2. Behind the scenes: concepts of the IT-domain
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
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White elephants?: visions on libraries
Indexing Electronic Sources
Information intermediary in the virtual world
Use of electronic sources
Intermediary in the Virtual World.
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Behind the scenes:
Concepts in the IT domain
 Insight into the meaning of ICT for
library work:
1. consequences of ICT on ‘documents’
2. consequences of the digitalisation of paper
editions
3. implications for employees in a digital
working environment
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Planning
Duration 1-7-96 till 1-11-97
Phase
Phase
Phase
Phase
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I:
II:
III:
IV:
Orientation
Development courses
Try-outs
Transfer to training institute
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Conclusion:
Libraries are organisations like any other
‘Learning Library’ is concept for development
A learning organisation cannot be produced
and/or made:
It is only possible to create and support conditions
favourable to its induction
Commitment of management
Collaboration by staff
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Comments:
Albert K. Boekhorst
Oude Turfmarkt 147
NL-1012 GC Amsterdam
The Netherlands
[email protected]
www.hum.uva.nl/akb
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