Here's my $.02 worth on the subject:
> Hello fellow law listers....
>
> As I've been reading the issues (and responding to a few
> posts) regarding these newest publishing tools, I have come
> to realize a few things that I have not considered
> before so I thought I'd share them w/you all. Sorry if this
> drones on a bit......
>
> CDROM technology is still in its infancy. New technologies
> come to us so quickly now that we all forget just how
> complex these technologies really are. We see an exciting
> new product and due to the industry hype-spinners, we try
> and embrace these new technologies with optimism - only to
> have our preconceived notions (fueled by those drs. of
> spinology) shattered by a few lousy products riding the
> hype and some poorly represented pricing structures -
> especially when the communication between vendors and their
> customers is NOT clear and NOT concise and with very little
> statistical justification to back the vendors
> pricing.
>
CDROM technology may be in its infancy, but if that's the
case, its been there a long time. CDROM technology has not
come on us quickly, its been around almost 10 years. Why has
it not had a greater impact? In part because CDROM
technology has a bit of the "a solution in search of a
problem" syndrome. Many bright, industrious people have been
searching but acceptance of this "solution" has been slow.
Another reason is the competition. The book is an
amazing piece of technology, one that is difficult to surpass.
Books have positive characteristics and features that
electronic technology will NEVER be able to replicate. Just as
electronic techology has features that will never be
replicated by books.
<some stuff deleted>
>
> The library shelving space issues,
> photocopying expenses, etc... will all be changing
> drastically in the future due to these new technologies BUT
> and this is a big but - the technologies that
> are in their infancy now will soon be growing up at an
> alarming rate. Not only CDROM's but other, far more
> powerful storage devices are just around the corner with
> capacities that equal supercomputer access speeds and
> storage capacities that far surpass our largest file
> servers.
When used to describe technology the phrase "just around the
corner" sounds a lot like "the check is in the mail". The
computer business is full of hype and overconfidence. No
doubt about it, better storage technology than CDROM exists.
But consumers are not going to see it in the near future.
> In the library fields, we have the potential for
> directing some of that change as it relates to the
> business community so lest we all sit and complain
> retroactively about this product or that (though it's fun
> to flame vendors I agree!), I put forth the suggestion that
> we use our collectives (AALL, Norcall, etc...) to pull
> weight and make sure that the future belongs to real world
> decisions and not the spin drs. The fallacy that we need
> both paper and electronic versions of information is
> terribly misguided.
Spin, spin, spin.... In the real world this week, the paper
company with the electronic information division announced it
is SELLING the electronic information division. The spin in
the WSJ was 1) fear of increased competition in the
electronic information market, and 2) desire to concentrate
on the paper business. Anyone have an alternative spin on
this one? (Hint: nine months ago the electronic information
division of the paper company spun out a report that
described, among other things, how the paperless library was
just around the corner).
>
> For the proposed paperless office envisioned decades ago, I
> think that libraries, especially the legal and medical
> libraries that utilize materials that are always updated and
> propagate with the speed of hyperactive rodents, are ripe to
> direct and benefit from these changes.
>
> So.... what do YOU think?
>
> Laurence W. Davidson Information Specialist
> Brobeck, Phleger & Harrison ldavidson@brobeck.com
> One Market Plaza - Spear Tower (415) 979-2747 (Ph)
> San Francisco, CA 94105 (415) 979-2966 (Phax)
>
>
The pace of technological change is almost always
exaggerated. Hardly anyone mentions the widely predicted
paperless office these days. The idea of commuting in
helicopters is relic of the early 60's. So relax and enjoy
the crucial role that librarians will place in determining the
long, slow transformation of the information landscape. Books
and computers will be with us for the foreseeable future.
Scott Finet
CSU Law Library
scottf@valhalla.csuohio.edu
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