Will the Digital Age Witness the Disappearance of Libraries?

Abstract

This article discusses whether libraries may disappear in the digital age and concludes that technological development does not eliminate libraries; rather, it reshapes their functions and the roles of those who work in them. The article begins by challenging the assumption that the Internet and digital sources can replace libraries, emphasizing that access to information is not equivalent to organizing, documenting, preserving, and providing it through reliable standards. It then presents the concept of the information society and its internal and external sources, highlighting the transformation of the librarian and information specialist from a traditional guardian of collections into a knowledge manager, digital content organizer, and provider of advanced research and advisory services. The article details the skills required in the digital environment, including computer and Internet skills, information organization and retrieval, management, communication, teamwork, and continuous learning. It also identifies emerging roles for information professionals, such as information manager, network manager, systems analyst, web designer, trainer, and facilitator of access to knowledge. The article concludes that libraries will not disappear, but must develop their infrastructure, services, and professional competencies in order to remain central institutions in the production, organization, and circulation of knowledge.