1. Sharing knowledge and information: three views of the future David Bawden City University London

2. A view over the next 20 years based on reality - current trends with some prediction - futurology imagination - science fiction

3. Prediction is very difficult, especially about the future (Niels Bohr)

4. Dangers of prediction failure of imagination failure of nerve (Arthur C Clarke)

5. Current trends economic situation a digital world web 2 new generations the ‘cloud’

6. Economic situation (UK) generally bad for information services but some sectors do well (law, health..) ‘library brand’ flourishes renewed enthusiasm for the ‘real’ and for sharing of knowledge and expertise

7. A digital world digital is now the normal form of information (particularly, reference, business, academic) most information is born digital, and lives and dies digital but the real book and the physical ‘library place’ do not go away

8. ‘Information Commons’ (Sheffield University)

9. ‘Discovery Centre’ (Winchester)

10. Web 2.0 ‘to Google’ is a verb in the English language Amazon.com is ‘the bookshop’ Wikipedia is ‘the encyclopedia’ Facebook, Twitter and blogs are the natural way of communicating information Will all books soon be e-books ?

11. Libraries and Web 2 Fight ? Collaborate ? Copy ? Ignore ?

12. New generations Gen X, Gen Y, Google generation young people’s information behaviour is totally different or is it ?

13. The ‘cloud’ Information resources and software held on networks, with wireless access from any place Where then is The collection The ‘information place’ ‘my’ information

14. Summary of trends a mixed picture some clear trends but also counter-movements the future is not as clear as some commentators tell us

15. Three scenarios Business as usual Changing landscapes Into the clouds

16. Business as usual rely on library ‘brand image’ build on continuing desire for the collection and the ‘information place’ establish consensus (truce ?) with newer forms of information communication

17. Changing landscapes changing image and name Information Commons, Discovery Centre, Idea Store some services close, others expand greater integration with wider institution Business (KM), education, culture creative balance physical / digital

18. Into the clouds new concept of ‘collection’ no physical ‘information place’ preservation ? information specialists become consultants / advisers / educators researchers / ‘publishers’ R Fox, Library in the clouds, OCLC Systems and Services, 2009, 25(3), 156-161

19. Conclusions the future is not certain it will not be as we expect It will be more important then ever to share knowledge effectively library / information services will survive and thrive (but not as they are now) we can influence our future