The Library in the 21st Century

Social, cultural and technological developments are revolutionizing library services. The way ahead for the profession is now generally seen as a practical blend of traditional and electronic materials with integrated support services which fit seamlessly into users' normal ways of working. This is leading to a fundamental rethinking of the role of the library in society.

Drawing on the author's recent research, this timely second edition of The Library in the Twenty-first Century offers a clear new model of how traditional and electronic sources can co-exist in the library of the future, building on the previous work by focusing on the library as a vehicle for encouraging creativity as well as a provider of information resources. It is now commonplace that libraries have a major role to play as expert intermediaries, helping users to gain access to the tools needed for effective acquisition and use of information, within the broader context of the networked information world. But it is beginning to be recognized that they still have a profounder role within their communities, and this book emphasizes that beyond the intermediary role is the vital requirement to promote understanding and engagement.

Written by one of our most experienced librarians and drawing on a range of international research and development experience, this authoritative work offers the following topics:

libraries in the modern worldthe view from the sectorscross-sectoral modelsthe profession's viewdigital librarieswhat is a good library?linking users to resourcesbeyond the intermediarythe library userthe information universe. Readership: This incisive text, supported by an extensive glossary and bibliography, proposes a practical agenda of issues for the information profession to tackle, and is essential reading for both established library practitioners and LIS students, as well as for library managers and administrators across all sectors.