How today's technology affects libraries' collection choices

Volume 20, Number 6 • June 2000

How today's technology affects libraries' collection choices
by Ana Arias Terry

Examines how the latest high-tech trends are affecting librarians. Discusses the methods librarians use to choose appropriate technology solutions and how publishers, intermediaries, and subscription agents offer these solutions to make the collection development process easier for the librarians. Adds that the technology that information is packaged in today has implications that stretch nautical miles beyond the medium itself, including issues such as archiving and the obsolescence of current technology. Maintains that while technological implications do affect decisions about buying content, collection development processes remain fundamentally unchanged. Concludes that what libraries really want is the promise of stability and effective preservation.