Out Front with Stephen Abram

Compiled by interpersonal networking expert Judith A. Siess and technical systems coordinator Jonathan Lorig, Out Front with Stephen Abram: A Guide for Information Leaders is a guide addressed to all types of library professionals - not just public and school librarians, but also special and corporate librarians, vendors, technology specialists, and more. Out Front with Stephen Abram especially focuses upon the most complex aspects of the twenty-first century information environment. From recent and project future changes is library clientele, to the impact of modern technology including PDAs and Google, and how to communicate the value of libraries to the public, Out Front with Stephen Abram offers statistic-supported research as well as tested, practical advice. "Librarians usually are not nextheads; we tend to be textheads... Today the printed text represents only a small fraction of all stored data and information, and in some markets like business, it represents a very small portion of content acquisition budgets. However, de-emphasizing text has driven a further change that we need to explicitly acknowledge - the dominance of educated persons who decode and internalize 'text' well is ending." A thoughtful survey of current and future challenges to be met by librarians everywhere, highly recommended.