The Library Leadership Network Commons

Frankly  Speaking:  Libraries in the Flat World

by Frank Hermes
published: March 20, 2006


I recently read Thomas L. Friedman’s The World Is Flat, and it made me think about the relevance of libraries in the 21st century.  For those of you who have not yet read this important book, a brief summary: The convergence of technology and a variety of events has created a world where traditional barriers to a truly global economy have been dramatically reduced. The result is a “flat” world, one in which we buy a computer that has been made in China, and receive phone support from a person in India who has been thoroughly trained by a company in California.  The drivers of this “flattening” have been, in no particular order, a glut of fiber cable, the availability of very cheap, yet well-trained labor, increasingly powerful computers and, of course, the Internet.  All of this has inevitably led to the rapid growth of outsourcing and off-shoring, as well as the development of new business models and processes that increase the effectiveness, scope and (thus) the growth of global companies such as Wal-Mart and UPS.

Friedman does an excellent job of describing the factors involved in the flattening, making mention of both the economic benefits and societal costs that result from what is in reality a revolution.  He is careful to point out, for instance, that outsourcing creates greater profits, which in turn provide the funds for reinvestment.  This reinvestment can create new jobs at home to balance the loss of jobs that have been moved overseas.  Thus, there can actually be a win/win/win situation where new jobs are created here, standards of living are improved abroad (due to job creation), and the company maintains a successful business! 

The implications of the flat world are many, but Friedman is very clear in pointing out that the “winners” will be the economies with an abundance of skilled and motivated people.  Indeed, Friedman notes that the race is on, and that we in the United States need to shed whatever complacency exists, realize we are in a race, and take action to become much more competitive in the global economy.  The chief ingredient will be to have much greater depth and breadth of quality education.  Where we used to talk about the importance of a high school education, we now need to have a standard that involves tertiary education for all of our citizens.  And it is not so much that we need three times as many “rocket scientists:” the greatest need will be for people with the intermediate skills that can be obtained in, for instance, our community and technical colleges. 

So where is the library in all of this?  Libraries need to be clearly viewed as an essential ingredient in winning the race.  School libraries need to be upgraded to enhance early studies in the sciences.  Public libraries need to be politically positioned as part of our education system, not a parks department appendage.  Academic libraries of all types must continue to have all of the resources needed to effectively complement classroom learning and be integrated with today’s learning systems.  Library leaders need to passionately communicate the critical role that well-funded libraries can play in education.  And in expressing the value of the library, they need to not just talk about the collection, but also highlight the expertise of the library staff in facilitating learning. 

In conclusion, let me suggest you send a copy of The World Is Flat to someone with responsibility for funding your library—a politician, a provost, a president, or a school superintendent.  Attach to the book a note from you that says something like this:
“This book is must reading.  It highlights a growing problem that threatens the future success of our society.  The library can be a very important part of the solution to this problem.”

Good luck, and let us know what happens!


© 2006, Library Leadership Network, LLC.  All Rights Reserved.