Lately I’ve been thinking about libraries from the widest possible view, trying to determine what I want my focus to be after getting the MLS (in a few weeks… yay!), and I’m starting to think that I can’t help but focus on an online existence for libraries and their materials… I think a lot about how to help students without making them come to us:  How do we put more content out there?  How do we make that content exceedingly easy to use?  How do we incorporate learning technologies into online environments so that people can get instruction at point of need?  I think a library focusing on these issues will continue to remain relevant, even as people ask about why we’re around when the internet “has everything.”

Of course, we’ll still be needed. Some people prefer working with people, some questions are nuanced enough that a human reference librarian is needed.  Some times a more theoretical understanding of information literacy skills is necessary (as I’ve been discussing over at Blended Librarian).  But I think that libraries can take a two-pronged approach, providing the in-person customer experience as well as the fully functional online environment.

So, I still haven’t completely found my focus, but I’m starting to sense a direction.  And I think there are some exciting possibilities here!