I spent most days between 1990 and 2005 thinking about the future of libraries. My career then focused on the planning, development, and management of digital libraries. A major topic for librarians throughout the 1990s was understanding the future role of libraries, partly by attempting to understanding what business were libraries really in. Much of the current discussion regarding e-books and publishing parallels these same concerns for libraries.
Indeed, many may think that libraries are in even more perilous condition than publishing and booksellers. But, at least at the academic library level with which I am most familiar, that is far from true. Academic librarianship - which has the clear purpose of serving the research and educational mission of its parent college or university - benefited from strong professional leadership that shared a common concern for shaping a strategic response to the emerging digital landscape.
Why are academic libraries not endangered? While not everyone is onboard, it’s safe to say that the overwhelming majority of the leadership in academic libraries share a common understanding:
* Libraries are not buildings.
* Libraries are not warehouses of books.
* Libraries provide a service to the academic community, which includes the provision of books (print as well as digital resources) but also includes other services (e.g., training in information literacy and digital media).
* Libraries have long known that no library can afford a book collection that meets the needs of everyone, which led to resource sharing agreements such as interlibrary loan and cooperative collection development among institutions.
Libraries realized that they serve the information needs of students and faculty regardless of media. An essential part of that service is “library as place”, providing a space for students to study, work collaboratively, and - yes - even socialize.
I could go on and on about strategic issues for academic libraries, but that’s not the purpose here.
Publishers - unlike academic librarians - don’t share a common vision or even goal. The variety of publishers mean that there’s no solution that fits the entire industry. Some publishers will determine that they are, indeed, in the information industry. Other publishers rightly will decide that they are, indeed, in the book business. Yes, the publishing of print books will survive throughout our lifetimes, but - of course - it’s will be very different for certain classes of publishers.
I think that libraries need to adapt to encourage the next generation. Libraries before the internet were always going to attract a big proportion of people but now with the digital age knowledge is easily accessible online. Creating as you say a more social environment to renew the libraries attraction is a good way of thinking of its future.