The Long Tail and the Library World

When this book appeared on my reading list, I wasn't really sure how it would be relevant. Yes, I had heard of the book and was familiar with it content. During 2004 I was a subscriber to Wired Magazine (still am) when I first read about Andersons "Long Tail". However, I had always thought of it as a "business book" related to marketing and not really applicable to the LIS world. So, throughout the reading I am trying to relate the concepts to LIS perspective and I'm finding it to not be such a leap after all. 

How do we survive in a world that is truly 24/7 with everything available all the time? How do you as a brick and mortar business/library plan to service the needs of a clientele that is growing accustomed to this type of consumerism? We have more choice now then our parent's ever did and we have more freedom as to what we purchase. In one night online we can visit Amazon.com, then JCrew, and even Drugstore.com (to cure those late night LIS reading headaches). How does a library compete with this type of "all-access-pass"? Firstly, I think they are trying. More and more librarys are having richer online components, allowing patrons to do more online, even offering e-books and videos. They brick-and-mortar libraries themselves can never offer the selection that Amazon can provide, but what it can provide is customer service. Libraries themselves should try to focus on what these digital entities cannot provide and give that to thier patrons. They should try to stay abreast with the changes, but not run out of breath trying to keep up. They should instead examine those changes to then give the patrons what the "new-fangled-what-not" isn't. Be innovative, instead of just following along several paces behind. 

Our new digital society allows us to only consume what intrests us rather than lumping us all in together, in turn "shattering" as Anderson says the approach businesses have been taking thoughout most of the 20th century.  Are "hits" dead? Well, I don't think so, but at least now I feel like I have more of a choice on wheter or not to consume them. I am able to seek and find other items that interest me, leaving me less time for that "blockbuster". 

The ability of Anderson to explain our current state in this new, all digital, society was refreshing .  The more I read the more it seemed relevant to the Library/information World.  I honestly, wished I had more time to read it slower to let some of the more meaningfull sections really sink in.