The British Library Strategic Plan - Case Study Example

Order 98 Topic: Read the British Library strategic plan for 2005-2008. In an essay of between 1500-2000 words discuss to what extent theproposals mark a dramatic change from the traditional activities of a large library service, and to what extent they are a natural continuation; whether you see any missed opportunities or user groups. Introduction: The other name of science is service—or, it needs to be so! Scientific accomplishments in the fields of weaponry and bombs have resulted in wars of destruction but at the same time, science has also contributed to the constructive dynamism in major aspects of the service industry for human welfare. The methodology of science in the service of the society has been extensively used and its impact is increasing day by day. The word library, not very long ago, was mostly linked to education and educational institutions. Today, when the world impacted on all fronts by industrial and internet revolution, the library science is also expanding like the octopus. It has become the all-embracing system, in a sense; the utility of library is felt in every type of industry. Each big organization has organized and developed the library and information storage system of its own. We have succeeded in constructing a materially prosperous global society beyond our expectation, largely due to the splendid technological advances. On the other hand, in keeping with the trend of efficiency-oriented mentality, technology worship and welfare-regeneration of technology, ‘libraries need to change their strategy and activities in a fundamental way. Change is too soft a word for this development; it is total transformation. The functioning in a library set up is no more the same as that was a decade ago. It is the ‘shopping mall’ of books and many other types of products concerning stored knowledge for the benefit of humanity. These ominous developments are harbingers of great benefits to humanity that is ever in search of tangible developments in the area of the library science. “The world has become a ‘space of simultaneous life,’ and humankind a ‘single community of common fate.’ That is, the world has turned into a transnational, cross-cultural and virtually borderless society, where the meaning of national boundaries is rapidly fading and different cultures are blending into one another. That is not all…of the world is also experiencing tremendous transformations through such phenomena as democratization, globalization, humanization...” (Choue, 2000) The British Museum library and the National Lending Library for Science and Technology have established six strategic priorities for 2005-2008. “They are: Enrich the user’s experience, build the digital research environment, transform search and navigation, grow and manage the national collection, develop our people and guarantee financial sustainability. They are critical to the UK research needs.” (Redefining….)The Strategy plan addresses every important issue and the research devolves around all disciplines, and caters to the needs of individuals and business establishments. Over the years, the composition of audience showing up at the Library has undergone substantial changes. The exercise of visiting libraries learning is no more to get a Master’s Degree or the Doctorate in a particular subject—it is the life-long process now, in view of the cracking developments in all areas of learning. Disabled individuals have the special facility to learn through the web. The population of the library visitors has increased substantially, and procedures to save the time of researchers effectively, has been addressed to. The goal set for 2005-2008, though short-term in character, has the scope and setting of the demands of the New Millennium that envisages new thinking, new ideas, and new norms. Research is the important part of academic training. The visitor-student to the library is no more a reader who reads the books with the cursory approach. Mostly he is part of the collaborative projects and teamwork. The ambiance of the Reading Room has taken this factor into consideration. Most of the collection of books and research material is available from any desk to facilitate interdisciplinary research. Entrepreneurs, innovators, experts and service and creative industries such as dress designing, are an important part of the Library fraternity. The British Library has created a centre called Business and Intellectual Property Centre addressing to the needs of all such initiatives. The objective is to “Launch a new online interface to our document and image delivery services – British Library Direct – a portal that will enable pay-as-you-go as well as subscription payment, so that users can seamlessly search, locate and receive the material of their choice.”(Redefining….) The objective of any Library user is to get the maximum information with minimum of inconvenience, which has been taken care of in the form of a single coherent service offering. The common window service helps the customer to identify their needs from one point. The Library is also the focal point for many cultural events, exhibitions, promotional events for books, author-meets, sharing of experiences, etc. The electronic research infrastructure is an important part of the library set-up that supports the national and international partnerships the visitors to the Library need, for meeting the complex challenges of the individuals as well as the business world, for small and big research programs. The volume and variety of information available was unthinkable in the recent past. Digital resources are the unique avenues to gain knowledge related to self-development and personal enrichment and the disabled persons stand to gain much. Such a facility was unthinkable from their purview, in the recent past. The National Digital Library is the foundation for the research infrastructure. Digital Technology is the invaluable boon of the Science to the space-starved libraries or for that matter any institutions in the metropolitan areas where the space-crunch exists. E-journals have revolutionized the concept of journalism and voluminous and varied information is available at the push of the button. So much has been accomplished by using digital collection methods of storage and management. Hundreds and thousands of pictures and paintings of great artists can be stored and viewed through this process. You can store them in one or more types of classifications, and therefore, the value and utility of such a system turns out to be more than the actual painting exhibition. The British Library Strategic plan for 2005-2008, has addressed to this issue on scientific lines. “Collaborate across the research community to guarantee that both text-based and data-based research outputs are preserved and available for the researchers of tomorrow. Work with partners developing digital information repositories (both subject-based and institution-based) to ensure these are robust and cross-searchable within a framework of common standards.”(Redefining…….) Digital storage of the important and substantial portion of the early British newspaper collection which is the rare and primary resources for the researchers is another important feature. Two million sheets of 19th century newspapers have been digitized. Sound researches have 3,000 hours of stored sounds. Such sounds have access to online interpretation. New information retrieval technologies have made it easy for the researchers and users to get information without loss of time in transmission. Virtually you get anything for the asking free and if not through the paid sites. The proposed integrated catalogue for all the holdings of the British Library, like manuscripts, achieves, sound resources and majority of the early printed books is a gigantic task, but when completed it will be an invaluable and permanent source for researchers. It is stated in the strategic plan, “Our collection is a combination of traditional and digital materials. It’s fundamental to the future of UK research, which in turn furthers the innovation and enterprise that drive the UK economy. We’ll continue to collect to meet the needs of researchers, and will provide expert stewardship to ensure the nation’s cultural and intellectual memory is sustained and accessible forever.”(Redefining….) Some other important aspects of the strategic plan for 2005-2008 are:- Electronic legal deposit, Conserving world heritage materials like those of Dunhuang caves. Physical storage for printed publications that are increasing rapidly all over the world! The Boston Spa storage facility is part of this project. Satellite and digital mapping: Build effective leadership to manage the British Library, which has shaped into an institution demanding high technical skills from its staff. Train them in fast and correct decision-making techniques and procedures. Provide enough opportunities for career development. Build a competent and diverse workforce. Provide adequate employment opportunities to the minority groups. Conclusion: Information plays a crucial role in every major organization; it applies in greater measure to institutions like libraries that ravel in collection and disseminating information. Digital system has taken over the paper system in majority of the areas in the library procedures. The scope and syllabus of the concept of library has expanded to unimaginable proportions. One wonders, whether this could be the function of a library, and yet it is! When any technological innovation changes the first process or procedure in a library, the subsequent processes will have to change. Therefore, we find that the culture of the library as a whole has changed during he last couple of decades. You can’t name it as just the change. It is the total transformation; the ‘ancient library culture’ has actually been wiped out, for the better. The present strategy is different; the current goals are different. Various libraries have no option but to adopt the modern technology and get updated. The user groups have other choices now, other than visit a library. Primary information is electronically available. Full text versions of the scientific journals and rare books are available at the click of the button. A stage has come or can be visualized in the not too distant future that the traditional customer of the library no more visits the library. There is no need for him to do so. The traditional tasks of the library have undergone metamorphic changes. The responsibility of providing information has become more important than other factors related to information. So, the connotation of the word library has become so vast, it doesn’t merely relate to education and universities, as it was two-three decades ago, it is more than mere academic training, something more than mere knowledge of facts, and definitely not mere a diversion. The British Library strategic plan for 2005-2008, has succeeded in addressing in a comprehensive manner all relevant issues related to the library science and hardly anything or any group is left out going by the technological standards as on date. But tomorrow is yet another day. The technology is progressing so fast, that this plan may need major modifications, if it is too cruel to say that it may become obsolete. Any prediction is dangerous. The oncoming developments in the library science may be stranger than fiction, if the happenings in the recent past are any indication. Library has already taken the shape of a multinational company. Some of the traditional tasks are under threat, but this development is for the betterment of humanity. Technological advancement has created similar development in institutions like Banking, Food industry etc. ============= References Cited: Article: Redefining the Library: strategy 2005 – 2008. www.bl.uk/aboutus/stratpolprog/redeflib/index.html - 18k - Cached, Retrieved on January 8, 2008. Chue, Young Seek: Article: A Grand Design of NGOs for the New Millennium, Publisher: Millennium Forum, 22 May, 2000.United Nations Headquarters, New York. Read More