1.

Identify, describe and briefly discuss the primary mission of libraries and some of the primary roles of librarians in todays U.S. society. Libraries reflect the societies they serve (Rubin, 2010) and thus their overall mission has continued to change over the last decade. In the text, Rubin (2010) states that the libraries of today, serve as archives of commercial and historical records; contain religious and liturgical works and interpretations; offer a place for students, scholars, and academics to conduct research; and provide a place for edifying reading and entertainment (p. 68). Though these still hold true today, many of these themes have been adapted to fit the needs of an increasingly diverse and technologically savvy society. As more materials become available online, many of the historical works that were once solely found in the stacks of libraries have become obsolete. Research that was once relegated to academic libraries can now be done from the comfort of a users home. Librarians have adapted to this by creating online environments that organize information in hopes that streamlining the search process will attract a new generation of users. The ability to create useful information systems

will become a core skill required of information professionals and something librarians will need to learn how to manage effectively. As libraries move to a more user-centered (Rubin, 2010, p.111) approach to information services, librarians will be forced to become better acquainted with the tools available to them online and through a variety of information systems. If libraries and information professionals are unable to demonstrate their contribution to the community(Rubin, 2010, p. 68), they run the risk of being seen as irrelevant and their services deemed unsatisfactory, or worse, no longer required. 2. Based on the reading, do you believe that current emphasis on electronic information access leads library and information science professionals to neglect or aggressively pursue obligations such as organizing information, teaching people to use information, promotion of wisdom, etc.? In your response, take into account (mention) political, economics, technological and/or social forces that tend to drive issues pertaining to electronic information access. Based on the readings I have done for both of my library science courses, I would have to say that information science professionals will continue to aggressively pursue obligations such as organizing information, teaching people to use information and promotion of wisdom. I believe that they will also continue to actively pursue

continuing education opportunities, as well as, stay abreast of the needs of society. Librarians understand that they have an obligation to be disseminators of information, but they will also need to become creators in order to enhance the current ERI infrastructure (Rubin, 2010, p.8). Information science professionals must also deal with a wide variety of destabilizing factors (Rubin, 2010, p. 70) including, as Rubin (2010) states in the text, the flood of information, constant innovations in technology, and economic, educational, and political demands and stresses, as well as numerous social problems (p. 70). In the next few decades, libraries will begin to evolve away from the typical brick and mortar model, into more of a library without walls (Rubin, 2010, p. 70). Information will need to be accessible in a variety of formats and the increased use of mobile devices will require librarians to create applications relevant to their users interests. Though information science professionals definitely have an uphill battle ahead of them, they will continue to endure by adapting to societal changes and increased technological pressures.