The Disembodied Librarian in the Digital Age

Abstract

Four profound historical discontinuities—time and space, mind and body, real and virtual, and humans and technology—are reaching critical thresholds as we enter the twenty-first century. Existing within multiple environments (technological, social, and cultural), these discontinuities are seldom acknowledged, but their influence on the future of our institutions is incalculable. An awareness of them will assist librarians in (1) creating a new virtual space for libraries as physical space becomes less important, (2) adapting to states of disembodiment caused by roles deeply embedded in virtual environments, and (3) developing the new value-added services necessary for survival in this millennium.