Responding to the information needs for research success : the role of the research librarian
Paper presented at the Annual LIS Research Symposium, 24-25 July 2014, at UNISA Science Campus, Florida
Librarianship in the 21st Century–Crisis or Transformation?
The author argues that the profession of librarianship is in crisis. She seeks to identify the characteristics and analyse the qualities of this phenomenon in order to draw conclusions about future trends and directions for the profession. It is argued that this crisis is an outward sign of a deeper transformation which is taking place and which affects the discipline as a whole including education and practice. The recent evolution of the profession is traced against the background of the broader transition from the modern to the postmodern era. The object is to reveal how the widespread social, cultural and technological changes of the 21st century are impacting on the library, the librarian, the customer or client and the fundamental nature of information itself.
Digitization of Library Resources: Challenges and Implications For Policy and Planning
This paper examines the concept of digitization, it’s purposes and the process of digitization of library resources. The cognitive flexibility, relational communication and non-verbal immediacy communication theories were used for illustration. It also discusses the challenges often encountered during digitization and the implications for planning and policy. Digitization implies conversion of documents and art works into digital images. Digital images here mean electronic copies of documents. Digitization is a process in which materials are converted from the hard copies to electronic copies. The major purposes of digitalization are: to enhance access and improve preservation of library materials. A number of challenges are encountered in the process of digitizing library materials. These challenges include human and technical problems, which have implications for planning and policy. It was concluded that digitization is an essential task in modern day libraries, because of the current challenges, and the need to go digital, that is, provide online services.