ICT AND LIBRARIES

Traditional Libraries vs Digital Libraries


Are traditional Libraries dead?


Can today's traditional libraries be able to survive the onslaught of digital or visual libraries?  One can answer yes or no depending on the locality, but the majority of African libraries in real crisis and their future seems very bleak. http://digitalcommons.unl.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article.


I disagree that the library or librarians future seems very bleak, both digital and traditional libraries play an important role in the information use.  One will find out that other users prefer using traditional libraries instead of digital libraries especially the elders and those coming from disadvantages communities.  There are also users that prefer to use both methods, printed and electronic format to compare information.


I agree with Ogunsola, L.A. (2004) that although the development of digital libraries means that people don't have to go to a building for some kind of information, users still need help in locating the information they want.


Ogunsola, L.A. (2004).  Nigeria.  University libraries and the challenges of globalisation:  The way forward.  Electronic journal of Academic and special librarianship 43-50


Olauson, M.A (2007).  The librarian is dead, long live the librarian.  A valedictory lecture by Michael Adebayo Olaosun at IIe-Ife, Nigeria