| Legislators, educational organizations, professional associations, mass media and the American public are recognizing that people need lifelong learning in order to adjust to accelerating change, prevail against occupational obsolescence and relate to new values and life styles. However, when lifelong learning is officially discussed, a role for public libraries is frequently absent.;In this study, Delphi was used to suggest what changes would take place before the year 2000 in both society and the public library, and in what specific time period. Other considerations were the likelihood, impact, importance, and desirability of each change. Finally, panel confidence in these forecasts was assessed, and groups that would promote and hinder each change were identified.;The panel of participants was selected from five interest groups who were considered to have a potential impact on the lifelong learning component of public library futures. These groups were information systems specialists, adult educators, representatives of funding sources, library users, and library practitioners. Criteria for selection included professional affiliation, professional association involvement, geographical distribution, job description, and policy-making capability. An initial panel of 50 persons entered into the Delphi experience.;Utilizing the panel's experience and ideas, data was collected during four successive rounds concerning alternative public library futures. Findings were divided into six major groups, each having two to four sub-divisions. The major groups included: Social and Economic Change, Work and Leisure, Technological Advances, Information-Based Society, Education, and Governance/Funding. Findings for each subdivision were reported in four sections: (1) tabular presentation of all data in per cent; (2) a narrative description of high probability/high impact events; (3) a scenario depicting a possible future, based on the panel's ratings; and (4) a discussion of implications for public libraries.;In an effort to determine potential public library involvement in the lifelong learning movement, this study used the Delphi method to focus on the public library as a provider of lifelong learning in Minnesota. The Delphi method has three major features: (1) anonymity; (2) iteration and controlled feedback; and (3) statistical group response. Delphi uses intuitive expertise in application to problem-solving, requires persons to respond individually to several administrations of the same questionnaire statements, and provides feedback regarding the responses of both the individual and the group.;Six conclusions and twenty-four recommendations resulted from the study. |
