WHAT LIBRARIANS NEED TO KNOW TO SURVIVE IN AN AGE OF TECHNOLOGY

There is widespread agreement that the nature of libraries and librarianship is rapidly being transformed by modem, electronic technologies. The most common projections of libraries of the future assume that the new technologies and services will be controlled and managed by individuals whom we can identify as librarians. Regrettably, we have failed to consider seriously an alternative, equally plausible scenario, one in which there may be competition between librarians and others for control and management of basic information resources and for the right to deliver information services. It is imperative that library education curricula prepare individuals for a new environment, one in which librarians will need to work with other groups and individuals who are also interested in delivering information services to end users. It is argued that in addition to the now traditional bibliothecal and technical competencies, librarians will need well-developed communication and problem-solving skills, and a thorough understanding of management issues, which are not generally stressed in library and information science curricula.