Book contents
- Frontmatter
- Contents
- Acknowledgements
- About the contributors
- 1 The digital consumer: an introduction and philosophy
- 2 The digital information marketplace and its economics: the end of exclusivity
- 3 The e-shopper: the growth of the informed purchaser
- 4 The library in the digital age
- 5 The psychology of the digital information consumer
- 6 The information-seeking behaviour of the digital consumer: case study – the virtual scholar
- 7 The ‘Google Generation’ – myths and realities about young people's digital information behaviour
- 8 Trends in digital information consumption and the future
- 9 Where do we go from here?
- Index
9 - Where do we go from here?
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 08 June 2018
- Frontmatter
- Contents
- Acknowledgements
- About the contributors
- 1 The digital consumer: an introduction and philosophy
- 2 The digital information marketplace and its economics: the end of exclusivity
- 3 The e-shopper: the growth of the informed purchaser
- 4 The library in the digital age
- 5 The psychology of the digital information consumer
- 6 The information-seeking behaviour of the digital consumer: case study – the virtual scholar
- 7 The ‘Google Generation’ – myths and realities about young people's digital information behaviour
- 8 Trends in digital information consumption and the future
- 9 Where do we go from here?
- Index
Summary
The book has comprehensively examined the digital space and its consumers, from all disciplines and angles. It has been undertaken from historical and futuristic perspectives. We have identified the problems and challenges in a direct and earthy manner, and have sometimes been hard on the information professions, and rightly so given the perilous situation they find themselves in. But where, if anywhere, do we go from here? What can be done on a practical basis to ensure, for instance, that consumers consume more in ‘our’ information space and do not continue to fly into the arms of others, or, indeed, do it all themselves? All the book's contributors were asked to provide one suggestion and readers will be pleased to learn that nobody said ‘the last one out turn the lights off’, although a few were close to saying this. Also, the fact that this is the shortest chapter, by a long way, should send out the important message that there are not that many ways out of the current situation – between a rock (Google) and a hard place (the e-shopper). On the other hand, with so few solutions on offer they should be easy to remember and, hopefully, easier to achieve, especially as they require very little in the way of resource. In most cases, they simply require a new mindset. The suggestions offered follow in order of priority:
1 Live with the prospect of constant change. As consumers are the drivers of change, this entails getting very close to the digital consumer (especially the younger ones) and remaining close – connecting in other words. This is a continuous, ongoing and mainstream process, and should not be undertaken just when there is time or a problem. A great start can be made by monitoring digital transactions (the logs) and following up the questions raised in questionnaire and interview. Establish user monitoring units, experiment and introduce change; do not let your services become stuck in digital concrete. As far as we are aware, no one has yet done this.
2 Establish a link with information provision and access/outcomes. Demonstrate that the professional information investment delivers benefits or outcomes (e.g. health, scholarly). Access is not an outcome in itself.
- Type
- Chapter
- Information
- Digital ConsumersReshaping the Information Professions, pp. 213 - 216Publisher: FacetPrint publication year: 2008