I had a rare chance last week to catch up with world-renowned futurist, Peter Wilk, to discuss the future of libraries. In all honesty, before the interview took place, I was of the opinion that libraries would no longer exist in 30 years. I personally didn't see a need for them anymore, with the Internet so readily available to access any information needed. But I was wrong. I had no idea the direction that libraries of the future would take. After reading this article, you may also be surprised to discover what the shape of libraries will be in 30 years.

Kerry: Peter, will we still see library buildings in 30 years, or will all information be accessed online?

Peter: Libraries will never go away. With the fast growth of technology, the function of library will change, however, it will still exist to serve the public. Thirty years from now, there will be fewer libraries in existence, but the ones that remain will be larger facilities. Basically, they will become giant information centers for the public, but in a different sense than we see today.

Kerry: How will these libraries operate?

Peter: First of all, libraries, or cybraries as I like to call them, will no longer house books or microfilms. It may sound strange today, but cybraries will not even use paper at all. Information will be stored and distributed electronically via e-mail or personal laptops. Cybraries around the world will be connected to a main information server. This main computer will contain all the data within it. Cybraries will access data from the "master," and will be continuously updated with new information. Although people will be able to obtain this information from home, there is an access fee attached to it. This is a fee that you would have to pay each time you wanted to access information. However, with the annual fee you pay to the cybrary, you can access the same information whenever you need it. The copyrights will always be there, and information will always have its value. So of course, the cybrary fee will cost more than you might pay today for a library card.

Kerry: How do you think the public will react to an increase in fees?

Peter: It seems only fair, considering the information and technology that will be available. It will not be as easily accessed anywhere else without paying a fee far higher then what the cybrary will offer.

Kerry: What will "cybraries" look like, and what will be available that might to motivate people to spend time there?

Peter: Cybraries will be larger, and far more diverse. What I mean by diverse, is they will offer a variety of facilities that are not yet offered today. For example, the cybrary will be divided into separate rooms, with each room equipped to meet the needs of the client. You will see quiet areas, like you see in libraries now, but you will also see soundproof meeting rooms and meeting places for group research. Within most of these areas, the atmosphere will be more relaxed and casual. Coffee shops and cafeterias will be prominent in these rooms. This is meant to create a sense of comfort, considering people will be spending a large portion of there time there. Another fascinating addition to the cybrary will be the virtual rooms. Within these rooms, people can experience historical events, or visit exotic locations around the world by using the virtual headsets provided. This feature will be especially inviting to children who are interested in researching history. All of these features will replace traditional bookcases. In 30 years, books will be obsolete, and they will be archived in museums. If someone was interested in seeing a "book" they wouldn't find it in the cybrary.

I must admit, after years of using the Internet to access information, I thought that I would never step foot in a library again. But after speaking with Peter, I am not only convinced that I will use libraries again, but I am anxiously awaiting the arrival of the these so called "cybraries."

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