What are the biggest challenges to libraries, and librarians jobs?
How can they be overcome? Technology, technology, technology! Right now, this is the biggest challenge for libraries and librarians. Many librarians lack the proper training with today’s technologies (either through their own fear or through the lack of funding available at their library) and this causes all kinds of barriers between our patrons and us. There are community leaders out there writing to their local papers to say that libraries are not necessary – that average people using internet cafes can do everything we (librarians) can. We need to get out there and show the world that libraries are not just about information and books; we are about finding the right information – trustworthy information. Technology also has to be incorporated into our work lives in such a way that it doesn’t eliminate the most important part of libraries – the people; us – the librarians. We need to get where our users are but keep that human touch because I think that’s our biggest strength. Librar
