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SCOPE

Issues dealt with in this guideline include:
Broadband
Satellite Internet
Wireless networks
WWANs, WLANs and PANs
Mobile phones
Kiosks
Digital and interactive TV

POLICY ISSUES
This guideline covers emerging and identifiable future technologies relevant to public libraries. Technology has always affected public libraries. Adoptions of technologies in the recent past such as the compact disc, Internet, audio books, computerised databases, multimedia and videocassettes have driven change and improvement in the delivery of public library services.

Newly-emerging technologies now provide a more fundamental challenge for public libraries and other cultural institutions, whilst offering opportunities to extend and improve services and to reach wider population groups. They are central to the future development of and innovation within public libraries, in their role as providers of digital services to citizens in fields such as health, business, culture, education employment and training, tourism and local government and in support of the e-Europe policy to place the individual at the centre of future developments for an inclusive knowledge-based society across all of Europe.

Some technologies which are already available have yet to be adapted for use by library services; others have some way to go before they can be considered for adoption. A substantial part of this guideline is therefore concerned with ‘futurology’. Any such exercise runs the risk of predicting incorrectly what may happen!

Internet penetration in Europe continues to grow rapidly and during 2000 rose by 76% to 116 million people, with almost one in three Europeans using the Internet regularly. However, Internet penetration across Europe varies greatly, from six per cent at the lower end of the scale (Greece) to 48 per cent at the higher end (Sweden).

Despite this growth, most people still do not have direct access to online services. Many of those who do are insufficiently skilled to take full advantage of the potential of the Internet. The Internet itself is still in many ways an unsatisfactory device for discovering and using information services. There remains a strong need for public institutions to support people in gaining access and to develop user-friendly services on their behalf.

The removal of physical barriers, such as the need to travel long distances and at inconvenient times in order to access electronic services provided by public libraries, is one of the main potential gains from new technologies.

However, the wide acceptance of the Web is raising people’s expectations of service, availability and choice, especially from information-based services. In response, public libraries are beginning to offer ‘teleservices’ which will extend the educational, social and recreational roles of a public library just as digital reference extends the informational role. (See also resource description and integrated library systems).

The range of devices – or ‘delivery channels’ – other than the Web, which people could use to access these services is increasing. Small, often portable devices can now deliver information and integrated personal services in an electronic format. Public libraries will need to address the need to deliver information and services through a range of new delivery channels such as mobile phones, Personal Digital Assistants (PDA), kiosks, digital and interactive TV and digital media players.

Although PC-based Internet access enjoys a higher penetration than interactive TV (iTV) among European households today, a potential shift is on the horizon. According to one prediction, by 2005, 74.4 million European households will subscribe to digital TV-based iTV services, compared with 71.6 million PC-based Internet subscribers. Interactivity for the user will enable libraries to develop services which allow the user to order, reserve and pay for things as well as to express opinions.

Europe is shifting to broadband. It is predicted that 38 % of European online households will be using broadband by 2005. Cable companies currently provide 85 per cent of European broadband connections. Partnerships with such telecommunications access providers are likely to be an important ingredient in putting public library infrastructure in place.

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