The future of libraries: how to understand what awaits us

Abstract

On the basis of the provision of the social communication theory - the number of channels increases, but none of them disappears - the following questions are considered: How to develop a library strategically? What the vector of development to choose, taking into account the variety of forecasts, communication and technological possibilities, publishers offers and expectations of the readers-users? From the positions of the succession of communication channels (i. e. libraries of different types), the ratio of their use, as well as redistribution of functions between them, demand for traditional and electronic libraries, perspective functions, directions and forms of work (or, if to use the terminology of marketing approach - the perspectives of their products and services) are projected.