Public Libraries Focus: Lights Out and Silver Boots On

Sarah Ormes     s.l.ormes@ukoln.ac.uk     (Public Libraries Focus UKOLN University of Bath United Kingdom ( web site)

Ariadne 2001
(ReLIS:doi:doiari:y:2001:i:27:p:15)

Abstract:

After five and a half years at UKOLN I’m leaving. I’m having a small career break and will be indulging myself in some lie-ins, a bit of travel and a chance to find out just who are all those people wandering around the shops between 9 am and 5.30 pm, Monday to Friday. This then is my final Ariadne column and it’s a good opportunity to review the last five years and look forward to what the next five will bring.My first day at UKOLN was a very dark experience - not metaphorically but physically. A power failure had plunged the mainly windowless University Library, where UKOLN is based, into near darkness. A security guard with a torch had to physically lead me through the building to my new office which thankfully had a window. I couldn’t help feeling at the time that it was an omen - but what kind? Was this job a mistake? Was I entering a dark period of my life? Or was it a symbolic journey - the darkened stacks representing libraries’ paper based past and the bright UKOLN offices symbolising their electronic future? Or was it perhaps just a sign that the library refurbishment taking place wasn’t going very well?

Note: Sarah Ormes in this, her final Ariadne column as Public Libraries Focus, reviews the last five years and look forward to the next five in the world of wired Public Libraries.
Month: 23-March-2001
Year: 2001

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