NEW TECHNOLOGY - FRIEND OR FOE

The developments in the world of information technology are bringing together librarians and archivists working with paper-based materials with those working with sound and image recordings. The article is not an attempt to explain the intricacies of the wide range of new technological developments. This task is performed by the many technical magazines and journals that cover this field. What this article tries to do is to explore the potential of ''New Technology'' to be a help or a hindrance to a text library - a Friend or a Foe. Many librarians are considering using these new systems for the storage of traditional printed materials and a number of questions are discussed. Underlying the article is the clear perception that the sheer quantity of decaying material in storage makes a full examination of the benefits and drawbacks of new technology by all custodians of collections imperative.