good OCLC reporting

Just put down OCLC’s report Content, Not Containers (pdf here). It’s a really good look at the changing information landscape, particularly the way information is no longer dependent upon the format of delivery, and how this is something that should be on the radar of every library and librarian. This passage called RSS to mind:

More and more, the “format” is a communication device that moves from creator to consumer in channels completely outside of the traditional ones such as the library. Content is no longer format-dependent and users are not dependent on traditional distribution channels for access to content. This is true both in the realms of scholarly communication and popular materials. For libraries and content sellers, this means the processes of acquisition, organization and delivery of content need to change to accommodate the expectations of our communities.

And, of course, the bits about wikis and blogs are worth a quote too:

As forms of social publishing, wikis and blogs are indicators of further change in the information landscape that could lead to a new publishing paradigm. Together with mechanisms to syndicate content — such as RSS and Atom — wikis, moblogs and blogs have enabled ordinary people to gain the power of publishing. Blogs and wikis could be a natural way for librarians and libraries to reach out to their communities — and perhaps more importantly, hear back from them.

At 20 pages, the report isn’t too much of a time-investment, and definitely worth a read if this stuff means anything at all to you.