Challenges and opportunities for libraries in the 21st century

Many libraries have been getting closed down due to many factors including drastic technological advancement that has affected the 21st century. Focus on the purpose of libraries in the community for the past (Dekkers, 2017). The challenges and opportunities which are facing the libraries and an overview of tactics employed to minimize them. Two popular libraries were selected to study the challenges and demonstrate how public libraries should be in the modern century. The Malta Central Public Library the State Library of Victoria (SLV) were evaluated and used as an example of what other libraries are struggling in this digital time. The modern libraries have developments like expert systems, virtual collections and references, interactive web interfaces and wireless networks. Unlike the traditional libraries which were not equipped with this digital advancement of computerized OPAC system and interface functions.

i. e. Graphic user interface (GUI) Procedures Multiple sources of data were collected from two different libraries; The Malta Central Public Library and the State Library of Victoria (SLV) whereby interviews (follow up an interview) for different library attendants and users and institution managerial staff. Managing the continuous transition from print to a digital-based collection is another challenge conversation to solve in the library. Better collaboration and accommodation in the libraries should be fostered and transformed in the physical spaces in the library. Librarians face the challenge of complex scholarly publishing network which is coupled with an increased pressure to accommodate and demonstrate library values and its management operations. Poor funding to the libraries by the government whereby funding is the tendon that attaches the academic library to the effective provision of information service to the society.

For the acquisition of information and communication services, staff training, internet subscriptions, and emolument money is needed (Salmi, 2001). When the libraries are facing a challenge of addressing the reconciliation of different timescales in making divergent timescales in establishing a strategic and resource decision there is always a need to cater for that. The pace of technological advancement which calls for rapid strategic response should be put into consideration to minimize the challenges of obsolescence. The 21st-century libraries though are more equipped with technology advancements, librarians are faced with challenges which transform to the dwindling and low serving of users by not being not having relevant training due to lack of funds. The libraries should have a well-trained staff that can be able to handle all the operations needed.

Digital training skills should also be part of the package they are trained to help them deal with solving the modern library technologies. An empirical study in different areas, which includes researchers to identify and examine the relationship between researcher, respondent and the achievement, got. Limitations The readers of the study are able to judge the appropriateness of the results to other settings. It focused on two case studies whereby the researcher used a science education framework as a way of teacher question examination. Other methods could be used like focusing and funneling which would explain different perspectives of interviewing. The gathering of a pool of participants was another challenge due to inability to observe diversified participants who could take part in the interview (Xiaolin, 2000).