Envisioning the future role of librarians: skills, services and information resources
| Published date | 08 January 2018 |
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1108/LM-01-2017-0001 |
| Pages | 2-11 |
| Date | 08 January 2018 |
| Author | Philomena W. Mwaniki |
| Subject Matter | Library & information science,Librarianship/library management,HR in libraries,Library strategy,Library promotion |
Envisioning the future role of
librarians: skills, services and
information resources
Philomena W. Mwaniki
Egerton University, Njoro, Kenya
Abstract
Purpose –The purpose of this pape r is to conceptualize the future of acade mic libraries in the era of new
user needs, new skills for staff and services offered. The literatu re shows the evolution of new tech nologies
and the implications they hav e on the staff, library services an d new user needs. The discussions in t his
paper are surrounded by conceptualization o f what the library produ cts and services will be i n future
academic libraries. I t also looks at future studies that explore o pportunities for librarians to advanc e their
professional role.
Design/methodology/approach –This is a literature-based conceptual paper that draws on a wide range
of literature that hypothetically looks at the future roles of professional librarians, the collection, services and
the evolution of technology on the new user needs.
Findings –The library today will give the basis for the future librarian’s role, the emerging user needs and
impact of service delivery. Technological advances have also affected the establishment of library systems
and services offered. The emerging future roles will generally depend on how advanced the libraries are in the
region or country including Kenya.
Originality/value –This paper adds a flexible approach to the skills, services as a role of future librarians.
Keywords Kenya, Academic libraries, Library education, E-resources, New user needs,
Technology/librarian roles
Paper type Conceptual paper
Introduction
Traditional academic libraries for many years were about physical space, users
and print collection on the shelves. Hence, an academic library was defined as a building
that stores books and other collections for users to access. These collections were
permanently found on the shelf stacks of libraries. This physical status of the collection
is evident in many university and college libraries in Kenya; they still have stacks
containing thousands of print books. The progressive trend of library collection shows
that the format of information resources has progressively changed to other electronic
formats. Librarians urgently need to research on the future outlook of the library
collection both in print and electronic format and new services to be offered going
forward. The futurist theories of Berry et al. (n.d.) state that in order to look at the future,
people have to look into the past, present trends and directions leading to the future. That
is very true of the library system in Kenya where librarians have to seriously look at
traditional library systems and what they entailed, then review the modern library system
and the changes or improvements that have been achieved and finally project what
isthereforthefuturelibrarysystem.
Long before the establishment of the internet, most information was only availed in
print books and, hence, the library was seen as the main source of information. That is not
the case today, where information is available in a variety of formats within and
beyond the library. This has generated new roles for librarians in academic libraries that
include organizing and enabling access to electronic information resources and offering
more interactive user services. This paper explores what new skills, information resources
and services are currently offered in the academic libraries in Kenya looking into
the future.
Library Management
Vol. 39 No. 1/2, 2018
pp. 2-11
© Emerald PublishingLimited
0143-5124
DOI 10.1108/LM-01-2017-0001
Received 5 January 2017
Revised 14 July 2017
Accepted 27 July 2017
The current issue and full text archive of this journal is available on Emerald Insight at:
www.emeraldinsight.com/0143-5124.htm
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LM
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