What Place Libraries?

 Libraries have traditional been about information distribution.  As technology is increasingly making information readily available, it is fair to question libraries and their importance to such.  However, libraries are much more diverse and serve additional needs and functions beyond that.  While the role of the library in information dissemination may be deprecated in the future, other needs and functions will arise to replace.
 
How so?
 
Really the role of information storehouses and distributions points arose out of the greater responsibility of libraries.  That of providing the tools necessary for equal access to the fruits of our culture as well as providing a point by which each individual could better their lives.  Information is power, and those that have access to it and know how to use can benefit themselves, and those around them, immensely.  Libraries, through the goal of providing access to that which can better life, entered into the natural task of information handling.  Of course all that is changing now, with so much information so readily available, does a library need to focus so much on information handling?
 
The answer is of course riddled with complexities and over simplifications.  In short, and participating heavily in an over simplification myself, libraries were once passive.  That is you came in, you searched, yes you asked a librarian for help, but we only provided location guidance.  That must now change.   People are electing to do more and more research on their own.  Unfortunately that too often means search result #1 on Google.  Being fair that is often good enough, however it prevents deeper understanding of the topic.  I see libraries becoming more active in the education of research methods.  We become instructors instead of guides.  This is change number 1.
 
Backing up a moment and revisiting the concept that a library provides access to the tools that one can better oneself, let’s address what may be the biggest change to the library in the future.  With information readily available, what commodity does the library provide, or should provide, that is limited.  Similar to becoming instructors of research, libraries will provide tools to construct meaning out that information.  It is no longer enough that information is provided, there being so much of it, but meaning must be extracted from it, and usage must be encouraged.  In short I see the libraries becoming public and local (for the most part) programming centers.  I mean computer programming.  A place where people can come in and use the tools, in systems set up specifically for this purpose, to learn and develop skills that are important, and will continue to grow in importance.
 
But that is not all, it is an over simplification focused upon technology and says nothing about the growing importance of local culture.  Libraries will also increase their role in the handling and promoting of local culture and community.