Next Gen Researchers at the British Library

The London Journal of The New York Times covers the controversy having to do with the British Library’s new generation of researchers, and the philosophical debate over who should be allowed access to the national library. Four years ago the esteemed library opened its reading rooms to anyone with “a relevant research need” - including undergraduate students. These new researchers chat with one another, listen to iPods, log onto Facebook, and answer their cell phones, much to the dismay of the Library’s traditional researchers.

“The library has changed and evolved, and people use it in different ways,” said the spokeswoman, who asked that, in accordance with library policy, her name not be used. “They have a different way of doing their research. They are using their computers and checking things on the Web, not just taking notes on notepads.”

Will the Library of Congress experience the same culture clash between this new more “interactive” generation of library users and traditional researchers? They announced last week that they are now opening their main reading room to researchers age 16 and older.