The trajectory of U.S. higher education in the next 20 years is portrayed by some as an arc of potential disaster and by others as a slightly upwardly inclined plane that may have some dips along the way. Generally these scenarios focus on the teaching and learning program of higher education institutions and give very little attention to the research or service functions of those institutions. This article asks: With the pace of developments in technology, and in particular those that have implications for higher education, is it sensible to predict the future of higher education, let alone academic libraries? In what ways is the recent past a prelude to the future? To answer this question, Joan Lippincott begins by using David W. Lewis' 1988 article, "Inventing the Electronic University," as a foundation to demonstrate the significant developments that have occurred in higher education and technology. She goes on to identify key developments during the time that has transpired and suggest the trajectory of these trends into the future, focusing on a subset of the issues Lewis identified in his article.