ACRL News Issue (B) of College & Research Libraries


334 /  October 1983

A Symposium of a Different Kind

Sarah B arb ara W atstein 
Social Sciences/D ocum ents 

B obst L ib rary  
New York University

On O ctober 28, 1983, members of the academic 
and research library communities fron New York, 
New Jersey, and the D elaw are Valley will examine 
the structure, processes, and control of technology 
by studying a library-oriented case study with so­
cial scientists and their colleagues. The sympo­
sium, “L ife on the Technology Express,” is spon­
sored by A C RL chapters in those areas. Princeton 
University is the setting for the symposium , and the 
mythical Garfield University is the setting for the 
case study.

W hy is G arfield University L ib ra ry ’s fate at 
stake? And what does that have to do with you and 
your library?

G a rfie ld  U n iv ersity ’s new p resid en t, W iley  
Dyer, has recently had a paper accepted for publi­
cation in Future Trends. This paper, “Rethinking 
the University L ib ra ry ,” has been widely circu­
lated on campus. Garfield University librarians are 
fam iliar with the fact that Dyer is a futurist, but his 
opinion that the university’s social function is that 
of an information processor has caused murmurs 
and raised eyebrows.

Dyer contends that as an information processor, 
the university performs the same essential func­
tions as all processors, whether brains, bureaucra­
cies, or computers. These include: input, storage, 
processing, control, and output. W ithin this con­
text, Dyer believes that the library fulfills a m ajor 
part of the university’s information storage func­
tion. C om paring the library to the university’s 
computer system, Dyer questions the library’s pur­
pose, proper functions, and reason for existing. As 
a cost-conscious adm inistrator, he predicts that 
emerging technologies such as microcomputers, in­
teractive networks, and storage devices, promise to 
change drastically if not eliminate the justification 
for the library.

As a librarian at Garfield, you are aware that 
your m ajor constituencies— university faculty, ad­
ministrators, and students— have been forced to 
rethink basic questions concerning the library. 
Must the library be a building or a place? If it is a 
place, is it one place, several places, or m any? 
Should these places be differentiated among input/ 
output, storage and processing functions, in some 
other way, or not at all? If it is not a place, should 
the identification of “library” be retained? Whom 
should the library serve? W hy does the university 
have a library?

As this background reveals, the case is complex 
and the issues it raises have implications for all aca­

demic and research library staff who are affected 
by the forces of technology. The case will be high­
lighted during the symposium and used as a vehicle 
for group discussion.

The symposium will also include a keynote ad­
dress by Irving Louis Horowitz, Hannah Arendt 
Distinguished Professor of Sociology and Political 
Science, Rutgers University; an overview of the 
case study by Karin Trainer, Associate Librarian, 
Yale University Library; general analysis of the 
case in small group discussions with library leaders; 
functional analysis of the case in similar groups; 
and reflections on the case and a closing address by 
James Beniger, Assistant Professor of Sociology, 
Program in Science and Human Affairs, Princeton 
University. The symposium schedule also allows 
for self-guided tours of the Princeton campus, li­
braries and museums, and includes a reception at 
Prospect House.

October 28 marks an exciting departure in the 
design and structure of library-oriented programs, 
conferences, or workshops. A run-of-the-mill day 
for symposium participants? Hardly! The case is 
purposely designed to stir up participants, and the 
symposium promises to be provocative, exciting, 
and stimulating. ■  ■

PIERCY AWARD

T h e E sth er J . Piercy Awards C o m m ittee of 
ALA’s Resources and Technical Services Division is 
accepting nominations for the 1984 citation.

The candidates for the award can be nominated 
by anyone who is well acquainted with the candi­
date’s contribution to librarianship in the field of 
technical services. The award will be given to a li­
brarian with not more than 10 years of professional 
experience who has shown outstanding promise for 
continuing contributions and leadership in any of 
the fields comprising technical services by such 
means as: 1) leadership in professional associations 
at local, state, regional, or national levels; 2) con­
tribution to the development, application, or utili­
zation of new or improved methods, techniques, 
and routines; 3) a significant contribution to pro­
fessional literature; or 4) conduct of studies or re­
search in technical services.

E ach nomination shall consist of a cover form, a 
resume, a statement of qualifications and accom ­
plishments of the nominee, and appropriate sup­
porting evidence. Nominations should be submit­
ted no later than Decem ber 1, 1983.

Nomination forms may be obtained from: Don 
L anier, Chair, Esther J. Piercy Award Jury, 613 
Ball Avenue, D eK alb, IL  60115. ■  ■