Vendor Services in the Information Age

In the next ten years, libraries will look to vendors for more and greater services than in past decades. The vendor will assume a role as member on the library's technical services team and will provide vital operational support, which will enable the library to better serve the end user, with reduced library staff. The relationship between vendor and library will be interactive, evolving from buyer/seller to team approach. The end user will increasingly influence both library and vendor decision-making as the information chain rightens.