The Public Library in the Future: A British Reaction to Buildings, Books, and Bytes

THEw r L w OF PYKLIC IJBRUUES HAS BEEN a matter of earnest debate in the United Kingdom as well as in the lJnited States, spurred by financial problems and government policies as well as technology. Many of the same issues are raised in Buildings, Books, and Bytes, and similar public support for public libraries is evident. Macro trends with implications for public libraries are globalization, social instability, lifelong learning, and selfdirected learning; support for these last two ought to be a main function of the future public library. The provision of books will remain libraries’ core service, but the principle of equalizing access to information must be applied also to electronic materials. They can serve also as community information centers. They will still have importance as places but should become increasingly centrifugal. The crucial problem of financing may be alleviated by close partnerships both with other local services and with the private sector but is unlikely to be solved.