Pacific Northwest Library Association

PNLA Quarterly, Vol. 62 No.2 Winter 1998

From the Editor: The Way We Were, Are and Can Be
Library Associations in the Next Millennium

by Sue Samson, Humanities Librarian,
The University of Montana, and Editor, PNLA Quarterly

Visioning is defined by Webster as "unusual competence in discernment or perception; intelligent foresight." A successful vision supports the decision-making necessary to implement goals and missions. Latham (1995) suggests that the process of visioning may include information collection, selection of the best ideas, testing these ideas, seeking organization support, and communication of the ideas. In the coming year, PNLA will be seeking a new vision through the general process suggested above. As background, the current mission statements of the Pacific Northwest Library Association (PNLA), Canadian Library Association (CLA), and American Library Association (ALA) are printed here for your review.

The American Library Association (ALA) is the oldest, largest and most influential library association in the world. For more than a century, it has been a leader in defending intellectual freedom and promoting the highest quality library and information services.

The American Library Association's activities are focused in four areas:

  1. Advocating for the public's interest in a free and open information society
  2. Developing innovative programs that support libraries in acquiring new information technology and training people in its use
  3. Supporting libraries as centers for culture, literacy and lifetime learning
  4. Promoting excellence in libraries and librarianship
The past decade has been one of great change in the area of information resources and library services and processes. Technology is blazing a path into the new century that allows libraries and research institutions worldwide to re-think their roles and functions (Fox 1997). Two of the most exciting elements of technology are the possibility for rapid and easy communication and electronic access to information resources previously unavailable. Equity of access has traditionally been at the forefront of the library mission, and technology has strengthened this goal. Historically, libraries have sought to share resources through interlibrary loan and regional consortiums based on a variety of parameters. The National Union Catalog remains an excellent example of early efforts to identify the location of information resources. Consider the state or area-wide periodical holding lists made available in print or microfiche.

A review of the literature identifies examples of the integration of technology into library services through the use of the Internet and the growth of the networking universe (Morgan 1997). Technology has revolutionized the traditional model of networking into an exciting and rapid-fire capability that allows the sharing of information resources instantaneously. One example is the Ohio Public Library Information Network (OPLIN) (Mansfield 1997). The mission of OPLIN is to ensure equity of access to information for all Ohio citizens, who must be able to use their public library to access an ever-increasing amount of electronic information sources. Mansfield states that "the public library has always been the "great equalizer" and must continue this role in the electronic age." Through OPLIN, public libraries in Ohio can communicate with each other and with universities and schools also on statewide networks. Ohio, of course, is the home of OCLC begun in the 1970’s as the first online library computer system designed to combine a national union catalog with an interlibrary loan interface

The mission of the Canadian Library Association is to provide leadership in the promotion, development and support of library and information services in Canada for the benefit of Association members, the profession and Canadian society. In the spirit of this mission CLA aims:

  • to engage the active, creative participation of library staff, trustees and governing bodies in the development and management of high quality Canadian library service;
  • to assert and support the right of all Canadians to the freedom to read and to free universal access to a wide variety of library materials and services;
  • to promote librarianship and to enlighten all levels of government as to the significant role that libraries play in educating and socializing the Canadian people;
  • to link libraries, librarians, trustees, and others across the country for the purpose of providing a unified nationwide voice in matters of critical concern.
Another example of networking in our Northwest region is a cooperative automation project begun in Montana in 1995 between Parmly Billings Library and the Billings school district. All the district school library holdings are available on the Parmly Billings Library's minicomputer. Parmly Billings Library administers the system and charges the schools for time spent on systems administration (Commings 1996). In Juneau, Alaska, a city-wide catalog combining the holdings of the Juneau Public Library, The University of Alaska Southeast Library, The Alaska State Library, and the Juneau Public High School Library has been in existence for over 7 years. The Western Library Network (WLN) is yet another regional example of electronic networking and resource sharing.

Statewide consortiums are now being fostered to access expensive full-text databases. Consortia libraries pay a portion of the expense based on a formula that includes such factors as number of users, acquisitions budget, number of personnel, etc. The development of collections and particularly periodical collections is being analyzed to take into account document delivery options and full-text databases. Catalogers are establishing catalog hyperlinks to electronic resources. Library users access catalogs and electronic database from home and office.

Our library universe is one of exciting potential and absolute change. The mission and goals of PNLA clearly state support of its community through continuing education and regional networking. A new vision must integrate this mission into the changing landscape of information technology that permeates the workplace of Northwest librarians today. The ALA and CLA continue to remain strong associations for their constituents. With librarians throughout our region, PNLA will continue to seek the best way.

Commings, Karen. 1996. "School/public library cooperative project in Montana earns an A+." Computers in Libraries, 16(9):8-10.

Fox, Robert. 1997. "Tomorrow's library today." Communications of the ACM, 40(1):20-22.

Latham, John R. 1995. "Visioning: the concept, trilogy, and process." Quality Progress, 28(4):65-69.

Mansfield, Meribah. 1997. "Ohio's OPLIN: the future of library service? (Ohio Public Library Information Network)." Library Journal, 122(16):44-48.

Morgan, Eric Lease. 1997. "Libraries of the future: from Amtrak to Artemia Salina." Computers in Libraries 17(10):22-24.

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