From Gatekeepers to Guides: Librarianship in an Era of Self-Directed Information Seekers (Published)
The role of the librarian has undergone a profound transformation globally, moving from the classical identity of gatekeeper, that is, the authoritative custodian and filter of information, toward that of a dynamic guide and research collaborator. In the Nigerian academic library context, this shift has been uneven, marked by professional inertia and inadequate digital adaptation in the face of rapidly evolving user behaviours. This paper examines the conceptual and practical dimensions of this transition, drawing on Kurt Lewin’s Gatekeeping Theory (1947), Malcolm Knowles’ framework of self-directed learning (1975), Thomas Wilson’s Information Behaviour Model (1981, 1999), and Marc Prensky’s concept of the Digital Native (2001). Through a qualitative conceptual review of relevant scholarly literature and policy documents, the paper interrogates the gap between the information-seeking realities of modern Nigerian university students and the professional responses of their librarians. It argues that survival and sustained relevance demand a deliberate, courageous reimagining of the librarian’s professional identity, from custodian to collaborator, and from gatekeeper to guide.
Keywords: Information literacy, Nigerian academic librarianship, digital natives, embedded librarianship, gatekeeping theory, professional transformation, self-directed information seekers