There are certain things you just can't Google. Even in the digital era, there will always be a "place" for a library.

July 20, 2006 - It's a common perception that the existence of libraries is being threatened by digital technology. Why would anyone travel to a specific location to hunt for information that is instantly accessible on the Web? What question cannot be answered, what researcher's need cannot be met by Google, Yahoo!, Ask, or a quick search on the company intranet?

Oddly enough, it turns out that the digital era is actually sparking renewed interest in the library as a place. The need that can't be met by a search engine or a Web site boils down to a single word: community.

People don't only want access to information, they want to share information. They want to exchange ideas, collaborate, and participate in the experience of learning. That's why the library of the future will be a place that fosters a community approach to research—harnessing all forms of media, physical and digital.

And that's why SunLibrary, an integral part of the Sun Microsystems Laboratories (Sun Labs) organization, is reinventing the library as the focal point of the Participation Age rather than a relic of the Information Age.

"Ten years ago when you went to a library you saw people sitting alone in cubicles or at tables—one person to one space," said Cindy Hill, manager of SunLibrary. "When you go to a library today you see groups of people sitting together, working together. You see a group of teenagers or hobbyists or co-workers, all of them with their laptops open, working on their projects. They're online, using digital technology as a tool, but they're also connecting socially, sharing thoughts and insights. That's human nature, and that's what technology should encourage rather than prevent."

"We Know Who Knows What"

In the digital library envisioned by Sun, the library staff plays a fundamentally different role. "The library staff has always been a great source of information and assistance, but focused mainly on the print medium," said Ms. Hill. "At SunLibrary, library staff are facilitators. They are advocates for researchers and Sun employees, and they help them locate trusted sources of information regardless of the medium on which it resides—a magazine article, an e-mail, an intranet Web page, a user group's bulletin board, a training course, whatever and wherever. They make sure the right people get the right information right away."

What can an advocate or facilitator provide that researchers can't get on their own? Just a few examples:

• Access to analyst reports and other fee-based documents that aren't freely available online.

• Competitive intelligence drawn from multiple sources internally and externally.

• Case studies and detailed comparisons between various companies' approaches to a particular business challenge.

• Access to content that resides in the "deep Web," such as information stored in specialized databases that are accessible only by query. The deep Web is distinct from static, fixed Web pages, which are documents that can be accessed directly. It has been estimated that content on the deep Web may be 500 times larger than the fixed Web.

• Knowledgeable assistance with copyright compliance and other legal issues involving the use of information.

• Help with phrasing online searches to find precisely what is needed. Most individuals use only a tiny fraction of the features and functionality of powerful search engines such as Yahoo! and Google, but with assistance from a SunLibrary facilitator they can become more expert and eventually self-sufficient in performing online searches.

Equally important, facilitators at SunLibrary can draw on Sun's extensive network of connections with major universities, other research institutions, and industry experts. "We know who knows what," said Ms. Hill. "We act as a hub in connecting the people who need information to the people who have the information."

But What Does it Look Like?

The library of the future will look and feel quite different from the traditional library—both inside and out, according to Kevin Roebuck, Sun's Market Development Manager for Libraries and e-Learning.

"Around the world, there is strong recognition of the changing role and new requirements for the library," he said. "There has been a sharp movement away from the stodgy, institutional design that was typical of libraries over the past few decades to a more striking, visually compelling style. The Bibliotheca Alexandria in Egypt is a great example of the type of building design we'll see in the new era, commemorating tradition while accelerating the transition to the modern era.

"And we hope that Sun Library, on a much different scale, will serve as a model for what the library of the future will look like on the inside—fewer books, more space for people and teams, lots of desktop terminals to assist in finding information and learning, lots of plasma screens to facilitate collaborative activities like multi-player games, video viewing, shared whiteboards, and so on."

The Bibliotheca Alexandrina in Alexandria, Egypt

Showcases for New Technology

In fact, SunLibrary provides a showcase not only for the new model of collaborative learning but also for the technology that makes it possible.

On display are the latest productivity products from Sun and many of its software development partners. For example:

• Sun Ray "thin-client" desktops provide instant access to the Web, Solaris Operating System software, Java technology-based software and multimedia as well as legacy applications. The "plug-and-work" Sun Ray appliances require no client administration or upgrades because the user's identity, files, and applications are all stored centrally on a powerful network of Sun servers, not on an individual desktop computer. Users get the unique capability of "hot desking" -- the ability to instantly access their computing session from any appliance -- exactly where they left off.

• Numerous library application packages run on Sun's Solaris Operating System, giving library users access to the innovations of commercial software vendors and Open Source software--all from their Sun Ray appliances. For example, users have access to Grokker, which provides a better, more visual way to retrieve and explore information. "Grokker is one of the most impressive products I have seen in an awfully long time," said Sun's CEO Jonathan Schwartz.

In addition, SunLibrary has strong partnerships with many of the leading independent software vendors specializing in library software, including SirsiDynix and (among others) Endeavor Information Systems, Ex Libris, Innovative Interfaces, and VTLS Inc.

Extending the Web of Connections

The library of the future is about participation, and SunLibrary is fostering participation by extending its connections with major research institutions and universities worldwide.

For example, Sun and SunLibrary has had a connection with Stanford University Library for many years. The Stanford Library has more than 8 million books online and more than 40 terabytes of information stored on Sun systems. From the Stanford Highwire Press electronic journal publishing service to the Java-based LOCKSS (Lots Of Copies Keep Stuff Safe) system, Stanford has engaged with Sun to implement its vision of the library of the future.

In total, Sun has provided infrastructure and/or services to more than 6,000 libraries around the world—from university libraries at Stanford, Cornell, NYU, and Oxford to the National Library of China to the U.S. Library of Congress.

For More Information

The library is transitioning from a center of information to a center of culture. SunLibrary is leading the way with innovative new technology, strong partnerships with software vendors, research institutions and universities, and a leadership role in the Participation Age.

Additional details about SunLibrary and Sun's role in shaping the libraries of the future can be found at http://www.sun.com/products-n-solutions/edu/commofinterest/libraries/. To view a video "Sun News Today" segment about Stanford's Digital Library, visit http://www.sun.com/aboutsun/mediacenter/