From the Taiga Forum 2006 . . .OUR Future Scenarios: RSR readers respond

Abstract

Purpose - The purpose of this article is to present a series of reflections on future scenarios distributed to Taiga Forum participants in March 2006. Design/methodology approach - Permission was obtained to reprint the scenarios, and select national library leaders, seasoned professionals and mid-career librarians were invited to respond to these scenarios. Findings - Taiga scenarios focus on broad areas - internal organizational structures, advances in information technology, changing user expectations. Local engagement with these scenarios will help staff prepare for the future. Scenarios lend themselves to a variety of uses, including in-service training, staff development, team building. Scenario planning can easily be tailored to the specific needs of an institution. Originality/value - The Taiga Forum was an invitation-only event. Broader dissemination of the scenarios provides others not only with the opportunity to move beyond their borders in technical services, public services, collection development, or information technology, and transcend the traditional library organization, but also with the opportunity to develop new solutions.

Purpose - The purpose of this article is to present a series of reflections on future scenarios distributed to Taiga Forum participants in March 2006. Design/methodology approach - Permission was obtained to reprint the scenarios, and select national library leaders, seasoned professionals and mid-career librarians were invited to respond to these scenarios. Findings - Taiga scenarios focus on broad areas - internal organizational structures, advances in information technology, changing user expectations. Local engagement with these scenarios will help staff prepare for the future. Scenarios lend themselves to a variety of uses, including in-service training, staff development, team building. Scenario planning can easily be tailored to the specific needs of an institution. Originality/value - The Taiga Forum was an invitation-only event. Broader dissemination of the scenarios provides others not only with the opportunity to move beyond their borders in technical services, public services, collection development, or information technology, and transcend the traditional library organization, but also with the opportunity to develop new solutions.