What Will Become of Us? Looking into the Crystal Ball of Acquisitions & Serials Work Rick Anderson Director Of Resource Acquisition Univ. of Nevada, Reno Libraries

Three things that have happened already: Information has become much more abundant and accessible Attention has become much more scarce The information world has become a fundamentally online place

One thing that has happened at U. Nevada, Reno: a dramatic drop in circulation

Three Things That Will Definitely Happen in the Future 1. The amount of high-quality information available at no charge to the public will continue to increase 2. The percentage of high-quality information available at no charge to the public will never reach Of what remains, we will continue to purchase the wrong things for our patrons

Three Things That Will Almost Certainly Happen 1. Laptops will replace desktops, at least among students (and cell phones may replace laptops) 2. Something like Google Print will emerge and take hold 3. Journal inflation will continue, and library budgets will not catch up

What do these mean for acquisitions and serials work? More laptops = more remote access = fewer warm bodies in the library More free online info means a harder sell for materials budgets Google Print = OPAC Flight Less than 100% free means that patrons will still need someone to buy access for them Patrons have a need (not just a desire) to get information faster and in a more targeted way

Conclusion More information, more broadly available Less usage of printed materials More remote use of library resources Less use of the OPAC More difficulty justifying staffing and budgets

Rick Anderson Dir. of Resource Acquisition Univ. of Nevada, Reno Libraries (775) x273