Review of Reflecting on the Future of Academic and Public Libraries by Peter Hernon and Joseph R. Matthews

Review Excerpt: A book about trends and issues shaping the evolution of American libraries by Peter Hernon and Joseph Matthews is almost self-recommending. The authors have many years of teaching, research, and service to the profession under their belts and are recognized as significant and influential leaders. Reflecting on the Future of Academic and Public Libraries offers guidance to library leaders on how to anticipate and manage change. Hernon and Matthews fear that librarians who are reactive and deal only incrementally with today’s profound challenges will preside over the withering of libraries into little used warehouses of legacy collections. The authors are convinced that we can ensure libraries will play important cultural and educational roles well into the future if we embrace change and employ some tried and true strategic and scenario planning techniques.