The future of libraries and information services: report of a Delphi study*

Article type: Research Article

Authors: van Trier, Gerard M.^{; **}

Affiliations: RABIN — Netherlands Council for Libraries and Information Services, The Hague, Netherlands

Correspondence: [**] Correspondence to: G.M. van Trier, RABIN — Netherlands Council for Libraries and Information Services, PO Box 95314, 2509 CH The Hague, Netherlands.

Note: [*] Paper presented at the ECLIPS '92 conference held in Amsterdam, 23–25 February 1992.

Abstract: In 1991 the Netherlands Council for Libraries and Information Services (RABIN) initiated a Delphi study to get a picture of the information chain in the year 2000: its logistics and the matching of supply and demand. A questionnaire was sent to experts in the sectors of medicine, law and the general public. The findings were commented upon by three groups of experts, selected from the respondents. The discussions concentrated on the arguments for the answers given. A gradual, not a radical change in the information sector was expected as a result of the increasing importance and use of electronic information. The use of different kinds of information and media was expected to increase 1–4.5% annually. The roles of the parties in the information chain in 2000 will essentially be the same as they are now. In spite of that, communication channels will be shorter, new channels will be used more (author-enduser, publisher-enduser) and increasing competition, especially with regard to the distribution of information, will cause some tension.

DOI: 10.3233/ISU-1992-12302

Journal: Information Services & Use, vol. 12, no. 3, pp. 205-215, 1992