TY - THES
AU - Catherine E. Wilkins
AB - The purpose of this inquiry was to assess how the changing library environment has influenced the role of the librarian.

The review of the literature examined issues and trends and relevant studies pertaining to the changing library environment and its impact on the role of the librarian, categorized under the changing nature of library technology, the changing function of the library, and the changing role of the librarian.

The methodology was modelled on the Delphi technique, which uses the opinions of experts for forecasting future events. Participants for the study were selected from categories of authors, national librarians, directors of university libraries, and directors of education libraries at faculties of education. A stratified sample of 25 named authorities was constructed and seven individuals completed the study. There were three phases to the study. In phase one, a questionnaire was developed that contained open-ended questions pertaining to the changing library environment. In phase two, the questionnaire was sent via the Internet to the study participants. Based on the results of the questionnaire a framework entitled Frame of Reference for the Changing Library Environment (Figure 1, page 48) was utilized to establish some baseline data about the structure of the changing library environment and how its change has influenced the role of the librarian; it enabled forecasts about the future. In phase three the frame of reference for the changing library environment was verified by a feedback process following the Delphi technique principles.

The study results support certain conclusions pertaining to the changing library environment and its influence on the role of the librarian. The library environment will continue to be influenced by technology and users' needs, and it will become a distributed virtual library governed by global policies that will ensure access to information for its diverse community of users. The study results and the literature clearly saw the future role of the librarian as broadly based and focused on the utilization and evaluation of information, and as a client consultant. The librarian was seen as playing a larger role in the development of information services, as an information architect.

The Frame of Reference for the Changing Library Environment created for this study will be a useful tool for monitoring changes in the library environment and the changing role of the librarian. Applying the principles developed in the frame of reference to specific library environments, such as business, research, and education, will assist policy makers in making decisions about the kind of resources and training needed to create the type of information resource centre essential in an information-based society, where strategic advantage based on knowledge is paramount to organizational success.
LA - English
M3 - Ed.D.
N2 - The purpose of this inquiry was to assess how the changing library environment has influenced the role of the librarian.

The review of the literature examined issues and trends and relevant studies pertaining to the changing library environment and its impact on the role of the librarian, categorized under the changing nature of library technology, the changing function of the library, and the changing role of the librarian.

The methodology was modelled on the Delphi technique, which uses the opinions of experts for forecasting future events. Participants for the study were selected from categories of authors, national librarians, directors of university libraries, and directors of education libraries at faculties of education. A stratified sample of 25 named authorities was constructed and seven individuals completed the study. There were three phases to the study. In phase one, a questionnaire was developed that contained open-ended questions pertaining to the changing library environment. In phase two, the questionnaire was sent via the Internet to the study participants. Based on the results of the questionnaire a framework entitled Frame of Reference for the Changing Library Environment (Figure 1, page 48) was utilized to establish some baseline data about the structure of the changing library environment and how its change has influenced the role of the librarian; it enabled forecasts about the future. In phase three the frame of reference for the changing library environment was verified by a feedback process following the Delphi technique principles.

The study results support certain conclusions pertaining to the changing library environment and its influence on the role of the librarian. The library environment will continue to be influenced by technology and users' needs, and it will become a distributed virtual library governed by global policies that will ensure access to information for its diverse community of users. The study results and the literature clearly saw the future role of the librarian as broadly based and focused on the utilization and evaluation of information, and as a client consultant. The librarian was seen as playing a larger role in the development of information services, as an information architect.

The Frame of Reference for the Changing Library Environment created for this study will be a useful tool for monitoring changes in the library environment and the changing role of the librarian. Applying the principles developed in the frame of reference to specific library environments, such as business, research, and education, will assist policy makers in making decisions about the kind of resources and training needed to create the type of information resource centre essential in an information-based society, where strategic advantage based on knowledge is paramount to organizational success.
PB - University of Toronto
PY - 1995
EP - 164 pp.
TI - The Changing Library  Environment
ER -