Article Annotation: L&M from 2000 through 2008

Yasar, Tonta. (2008). Libraries and museums in the flat world: Are they becoming virtual destinations? Library Collections, Acquisitions & Technical Services, 32, 1-9

Inspired by the suggestions put forth in Thomas Friedman's book, "The World is Flat," Tonta Yasar, a professor of information management from Ankara, Turkey, attempts to describe how the emergent information landscape affects traditional libraries and museums. While today's libraries and museums have successfully become "virtual destinations," they are not yet playing by the same rules set forth by competing information sources available on the Internet and the World Wide Web. Libraries and museums may still offer the best and most authoritative resources and services, but they are no longer the first stop for users seeking information. The Internet has altered the information-seeking and learning behaviors of people. Today's information users expect the simplicity and instant gratification of Amazon, Google and their ilk and these are the standards by which libraries and museums are now judged. If libraries and museums fail to offer as much information about their materials as these upstart competitors can, users may no longer consider these institutions as worthwhile information providers.
One way that libraries are addressing this trend is through the Open WorldCat catalog. Developed by OCLC in cooperation with Google, libraries can move their catalogs to this system and expose their data to major search engines. Museums can participate in this phenomenon of "flattening" information by making digital records of past and present exhibitions available to viewers online. In terms of the reciprocal relationship between libraries and museums, the institutions can become worthy competitors on the new information playing field by continuing to build on the relationships of the past. Libraries and museums can sustain each others' existence in the digital world by sharing and consolidating data, services and innovations.