The first libraries consisted of archives of the earliest form of writing - the clay tablets in cuneiform script discovered in Sumer, some dating back to 2600 BC. These written archives mark the end of prehistory and the start of history. Over the years, things have changed; we had the traditional settings of a library in the form of a physical building that housed thousands of books and resources and now with the changing times, libraries have also started adopting digitisation.To the information professional, the librarian or the information provider, the role remains the same -to develop and maintain the management of a wide range of structured and organised knowledge resources by providing bibliographic and physical access.
The role of libraries and associated information services, such as online providers of various kinds, is to contribute to the education, leisure, and thus to the socialisation processes of our societies. Whether you are at home, at school or in the workplace, you may realise that digital information is beginning to rival print as the primary format for information. The ability to locate, evaluate and ethically use that information -- is fast becoming a skill as essential as traditional print literacy has been. This skill is important for the librarian as well as the user/ patron.
The marriage between the traditional settings of a physical library and the ability to also have the information available digitally is an ideal one. One does not need to be present in the library physically instead a user can benefit from the use of technology in searching for the information from any location provided that they have an access to the Internet. Like all archives, museums and libraries, the digital library also serves the same function, to organise and manage the information according to a purpose. The access is of no use if the information is not organised.
The important thing that we have to remember is the purpose of the library. A library houses an organized collection of resources made accessible to its users either for reference or borrowing. The materials can be accessed physically or digitally. The end product should be that the user manages to find the information that they are seeking either way. The librarian is the important key that links the users to the materials. In the digital age, a librarian has to be equipped with the necessary skills in order to guide and navigate users through the maze of the digital world.
References:
1. Ingwersen, P. (1999). The role of libraries and librarians in organising digital information. Libri, 49(1), 11-15.
2. Kochen, M. (1974). Principles of Information Retrieval. Los Angeles: Melville Publishing Company.
3. Retrieved October 28, 2012 from http://21cif.com/resources/difcore/dif_faqs.htm
4. Retrieved October 29, 2012 from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Library
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