Domsa Károlyné, Fekete Gézáné, Kovács Mária (szerk.): Gondolatok a könyvtárban / Thoughts in the Library (A MTAK közleményei 30. Budapest, 1992)

KÖNYVTÁR ÉS KORSZERŰSÉG – LIBRARY AND MODERNITY

Libraries and technolagy: the humán factor have it and we were not hampered by economic constraints, bureaucratic demands and political imperatives. The stage would be set for excellence in information service. In this perfect world, the only factor to upset our perfect order would be the humán factor: the limitations of the humán mind, the limitations of the humán system to keep pace with rapid change, and the instinctive reluctance of humán beings to unlearn old habits and develop new oncs. These are the aspects of humán behaviour that affect the future of libraries, particularly in a time of rapid technological development and challenging sociopolitical upheaval. If these humán factors are ignored or not taken into account, the resulting cost is exorbitant not only in humán terms, but in economic payoff as well. No matter how good a technological system, no matter what it can produce, it will not work if the people involved can't make it work. In order to understand the importance of the "humán factor" in the technological system, it may be useful to look at analogies from areas other than libraries. For example, during the events of the Gulf War, we were impressed by the sophisticated weaponry available for combat, technological developments remarkable for their accuracy, dependability and speed. But we were alsó informed that somé of those weapons had not been tested under fire, and no one could really be sure that they would function as intended. There were many factors at issue, not all of them technological. One such example is the F-16 fighter pláne, the most advanced flying machine that the United States had yet produced. The F-16 can fly at a remarkable twelve times the force of gravity. This factor is called "12-G." During its development and early testing, however, there was one major problem. Even the best pilots with the best training are unable to function at more than 9-G, nine times the force of gravity. The 3-G difference is called the "humán factor," the gap between what the machine can do and what people can do. Until this incompatibility is reconciled, either the machine or the people won't be able to function. The gap between people and machines is not, however, always psychological. There are other gaps - economic, ethical, legal and political. The cost of this factor is inestimable, yet it is these gaps that often define the success or failure of a technological system and determine whether the cost will be offset by the benefits to the organization. There is another humán factor that seriously affects the intent of the organization to progress into new methods and structures. The behaviour of humán beings is to a great extent a function of habits and familiarity, and changing those habits often causes alarm and decreases competence. For example, an American businessman went to London recently and rented a car at the airport. As he pulled out of Heathrow onto the highway, he carefully ,, Gondolatok a könyvtárban " 135