POTENTIALS OF FOURTH INDUSTRIAL REVOLUTIONS ON LIBRARIES AND INFORMATION SERVICE SECTORS: IMPLICATIONS, EXPECTATIONS AND CHALLENGES

Abstract

The paper advocates for harnessing of the potentials of fourth industrial revolution (4IR) for the transformation of library and information centres. The various components of the fourth industrial revolutions that will drive library service delivery were identified. It examined the current situation in some African libraries, the implications of 4IR for African libraries such as loss of jobs, changes in information service delivery, revisiting of curricula used in African library and information science schools, demands for skill and competency, need for added value services. The various areas of needs for libraries to drive sustainable library practices in 4IR era were articulated, which include need for infrastructural development in libraries, creativity and innovative skills, collaborative initiatives, functional and reliable exchange programmes, viable digital policy and retraining of library and information science professionals.