All change? FIL conference, 2 nd July Natalie Ceeney, Director of Operations & Services, The British Library

“Change is inevitable in a progressive country. Change is constant” Benjamin Disraeli, 1867

Picture taken 1957 They have 4 children, aged 17,16,14 and 12 Age 34 Age 45 Change in society

Change in document supply & ILL Zetoc © Secure ‘point & click’ article delivery

Change in document supply & ILL 2010 ?

The needs of users in 2010? Instant information, 24/7, to wherever they work Information tailored to their needs Digestible bites Synthesis and navigation Broader & deeper range of content

Technology in 2010?? High speed, high bandwidth data transfer Mobile accessibility High capability searching and aggregation Decreasing technology costs

Publishing in 2010? Existing publishers still dominate, with more and differentiated ‘e’ products Additional forms of publishing supplement the traditional Fewer publishers, more large corporations? Majority of publishing still paper

Libraries and information intermediaries in 2010? More ‘channels’ to information – particularly for ‘e’ information Libraries providing more navigation and synthesis Core skills include understanding of user needs and excellent purchasing skills Increased public concern about longevity and preservation – increased reliance on ‘the library’

Managing change Commitment to develop user focused services Track record of innovation Strong collaboration & sharing of ‘best practice’ Not afraid of centralising services where it makes sense

“It is change, continuing change, inevitable change, which is the dominant factor in society today. No sensible decision can be made any longer without taking into account not only the world as it is, but the world as it will be….” Isaac Asimov, 1978