The future of libraries is bright: a view from the next generation of librarians

The article, by a group of librarianship students, takes a resolutely positive stance in the ongoing debate within the profession on the future of libraries and makes a powerful case that libraries are an indispensable part of the digital society. The traditional remit of libraries will continue, as internet cannot replace their role in conservation and democratic access to culture. The long-standing remit of libraries will in fact expand to include further tasks in the arena of information provision, making them active social and cultural mediators. Furthermore, they are highly visible sites in architectural terms, affirming their symbolic power as institutions that are deeply rooted in the urban fabric. All in all, the authors predict a bright future for libraries.
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