I agree with all of the mission statement, however, the part that seems to weigh heaviest with me is the committment to continuous innovation, and connecting a community to theevolving world of ideas, information, and technology.
Looking towards the future
A library's role has had to change, and will have to change as more and more content is delivered digitally, as the traditional mediums of paper and plastic are faded out.
It is my opinion that the traditional role of archiving physical records will be relegated to the largest libraries, especially as more and more companies are trying their hardest to collect and archive information electronically (Google). As movies and books are moved from tangible formats to delivery over the internet, libraries will loose their edge in that area too.
The DaVinci article speaks of two major points in my opinion, the importance of being able to search the plethora of information being recorded, and the evolution of libraries into more of a cultural hub.
My vision for the future of libraries is one where they play the role of fundamental education, connecting communities to the global network, and collectors of a communities rich heritage.
Connectivity
Right now technology already plays a major part in the OCLS, however, as we loose more and more of our physical inventory to the internet it will be increasingly important that we are able to connect our communities to this source of information. Newspapers are loosing ground in their traditional dead tree sense, and have to rethink their business plan to incorporate a larger digital front. College text book publishers are pushing non-resalable ebooks, government agencies and businesses are providing more information and services electronically than ever before. Those people who failed to adapt to the technological revolution, or can't afford the hardware necessary to plug into the tubes will need access, and continual re/training.
Fundamental Education
One of my concerns for my generation is a sheer lack of knowledge concerning the most basic of functions necessary for maintaining any semblance of civilized life. Skills like sewing, knitting, gardening, hunting, cooking, home maintenance are almost non existanct in most of the people my age with whom I have had encounters. For the security of civilization, nations, states, communities, I feel that it is necessary that each library house a collection of materials for the express purpose of training people interested in these essential areas. If the world as a whole, a nation, a state, or a city as a whole ever face an blackout, they would be largely helpless, unable to perform any of the functions necessary for subsistence.
Culture
With the emergence of decentralized new sources, and movement of information to the cosmos that is the internet, it might be beneficial if libraries fosters this growth withing their communities. Encouraging locals to create blogs, journal local events, or even record their own stories may prove to usher in a new stage in our development, and intimacy with other cultures, races, economic classes, etc. Finally, it is said that a person or people who fail to learn about the percieved mistakes of the past are doomed to repeat them. One of the advantages of our modern age is the economical collection and storage of massive amounts of information, it is my hope that libraries could find ways to work intimatly with local, national, and international organizations to fosters learning in a much more engaging way. Operations like story corps, local art museums, history museums, or even nations, or cities could engage in exchange programs with libraries in a community. My vision of such a thing would include the recording of local stories as told by the people who took part in them, photos of the area from the eyes of the people living there, snipits of history, demographics, culture presented in an exhibit form at local libraries, or other community centers. It is my hope that such things would promote curiosity withing the people moving in and out of the area.
This post may meander a bit, but I pray, forgive me, constant interruptions, and extended periods of time between writing have taken their toll.
