THE KNOWLEDGE SOCIETY, LIBRARIES AND USERS’ EXPECTATIONS ON INFORMATION SERVICE DELIVERY

ANY PARADIGM SHIFT?

Abstract

The introduction of information and communication technologies has brought new divergent and alternate ways of seeking and obtaining information easily irrespective of time and place. The development has propelled a great debate on the future of libraries which have traditionally collected and
provided access to information to the society. The paper is a review on the effect of technology on the library institution. The paper reviewed users’ expectations of libraries in the digital era and presents divergent opinions on the role of libraries in meeting the information needs of the new generation users. While some authors argue that the libraries’ relevance is diminishing others see the library as a culturally relevant institution that is needed to facilitate the knowledge society. The paper concludes that understanding users’ expectations on information service delivery and meeting these expectations are the only way for libraries to remain relevant way into the future.