The 21st-Century School Library

Abstract

Libraries have always been an institution in a state of transformation and change. Today this state of change has mainly been brought on by rapid advances of networked digital information technology. The purpose of this literature review is to explore and illuminate current library research and trends, including transformations in the library landscape, impacts on users and higher education, the opportunities and challenges facing libraries, the use of new technologies such as mobile devices, and the dual role of the librarian. Libraries need to be reshaped in order to compete with online technologies and to stay relevant in the 21st century. Recommended areas for further research include ways to gauge user interest, new qualifications for librarians, and the increasing use of mobile technology to access library collections and services.