Collection development for the "chip" generation and beyond.

Purpose - Explores the question: "How am I, as a baby-boomer collection development specialist, to prepare myself to collect the library resources over the next few decades?" This question was posed partially because the author is one of those "aging" librarians one reads about in the literature. Design/methodology/approach - A collection manager explores resource formats that may be in demand to meet changing user expectations. Findings - Many of these expectations are driven by technology and the advent and popularity of computer games. Librarians will need to look first at the functions users seek and then help them to match the format(s) that best meet these needs. Collection managers will have to identify a variety of resources, offer access across disciplinary lines and provide access, as much as possible, on a 24/7 basis. Originality/value - All of the formats discussed, and more, will be part of future libraries' collections. Not all formats or functions will be required by all of our users. However, there cannot be any doubt that function, rather than format, will dictate the look and feel of future library collections. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]