Emperor's Latest Fashion?

It's hard to say what is the strangest aspect of our modern world. Is it the rapidity and disposability of culture or is it the need to prognosticate and the announce every ripple on the sea of existence as the tidal wave that will sweep away life as we know it? That question being posed, it seems clear that the world of information and its library subset is spinning if not in a different direction, certainly at an increased speed. 2.0 will certainly change the way we in libraries look at things: yes let's watch out for the bergs and be attentive to the information supplied by our patrons. Uh duh. Collections shrinking? The numbers say yes and nobody has every gone on Fox News to comment about the "smartening up" of the American public. Perhaps it would be okay if that 4 volume study of Old Hickory's time in the White House (R.I.P. Art Schlesinger) need only be owned by one regional library and if demand dictates, then supplemented. Will we be able to spot trends? Sure, but will they be the right ones, how long will they last, and are we neglecting today by looking over it's shoulder at an age that may not come to pass? Questions upon questions. Answeres? If somebody had them he'd eitheer be ignored or hung like a horsethief. "but it's alright ma, it's life and life only"