Documenting the Global Conversation: Relevancy of Libraries in a Digital World

Fred Heath’s paper Documenting the Global Conversation: Relevancy of Libraries in a Digital World is written with the purpose of demonstrating the importance of research libraries embracing new technologies with the goal to continue to deliver quality information to the university community; proving that the library is not obsolete. This article was published in the Journal of Library Information in 2009. Fred Heath is Vice provost and Director of the University of Texas Libraries (Heath, 2009)


The paper is kept very personable in tone. Heath writes mainly in the first person which gives the reader the feel of being an audience member at a talk. He sets out this paper like he is talking to us; almost like a storyteller telling us one of Aesop’s fables.

Heath makes interesting comparisons with other industries that have faced similar problems to the library with the rise of internet usage, in terms of the way people access information. Newspaper, music, universities & book publishing businesses all have felt the interest of the public move into online sources, especially free resources.

While telling us of all the things his library has accomplished to stay relevant (e.g. Ask a Librarian) he repeatedly reminds us that research libraries mustn’t forget their purpose – managing information.

Through this very specific case study of his own library, Heath doesn’t really explore his concerns in a broader way. It would have been interesting to hear of changes that have been taking place in other research libraries from different corners of the globe so as to understand what positive changes work universally. He makes some interesting points about the kind of changes that are needed; changes in not only the librarian’s method of assisting and the resources used but also in the layout of the building and location of the books.

Although his personal approach makes the paper easier to read than some studies, it is one sided; more a discussion on why his library is not obsolete and what they’ve done to prepare for the future; but are any other libraries implementing these or other changes? As a case study, it adds to the knowledge already garnered about the relevancy of libraries and could provided a good starting point for those wanting to research this aspect.

For a look at the way future libraries could benefit staff as well as patrons, see:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iLelhZHb3G8