Into the Future

This work is a general and synthetic study of the post-industrial era and its implications for library and information services in the United States. Since Daniel Bell promulgated his post-industrial metaphor in the early 1970s, it has become one of the most dominant metaphors in contemporary America. His ideas on the nature of the era, especially his articulation of what he refers to as the information society have influenced the ways in which government officials, corporate leaders, and citizens think about the future of political, social and economic life in America. This text examines how this influence has also been felt in the library and information field. Updated from the first edition, this work is designed to help libraries adapt to the new electronic age. Although written from a US perspective, the arguments should be of equal validity for libraries and librarians working in all post-industrial societies, as well as in newly-industrialized countries.