The new library ‐ a hybrid organization: the Delft situation

Abstract

In the last decade technology exploded into libraries. It impacted not only library work processes but imported notions of project management and efficiency and resulted in catalogue sharing. The Internet, with Gopher and Veronica, brought co‐operation in the field of document supply and collection co‐ordination. The most consequential technology, however, is the Web. It combines instant publishing, hyperlinking, interactivity and multimediality and is so easy to apply. Numerous new actors will make their entry into the information chain which, of course, means competition. Libraries need to define their position in this Webbed world. They have to enter the marketplace at least partially, which transforms them into hybrid organizations, both vanguard and debatable.

Citation

Waaijers, L. (1999), "The new library ‐ a hybrid organization: the Delft situation", New Library World, Vol. 100 No. 3, pp. 118-123. https://doi.org/10.1108/03074809910267509