A Review of Fifth Industrial Revolution as an Opportunity for Rebranding Libraries and Librarians in Nigeria (Published)
In recent time, the centre of discussion on global development and environmental sustainability hedges on the fifth Industrial revolution (5IR) that aims at seeing man working with machine as partners without a dent on the environment. To the developed nations of the world, their libraries are already navigating the landscape of this revolution but same cannot be said of developing countries like Nigeria. This paper therefore a review of Fifth Industrial Revolution (5IR) as an opportunity for total rebranding of libraries and librarians in Nigeria. The paper based on its objectives, employed interpretive content and document analysis method. This was adopted as it aided the author to carry out a comprehensive literature review of the topic discussed and to completely analyze materials collected from different sources ranging from journal articles, databases to different websites. Apart from the conceptualization of 5IR to the understanding of libraries and librarians in Nigeria, the paper through the reviewed literature, identified skills to be acquired by the librarians if they are to successfully navigate the landscape of the revolution in ever evolving world of technology which include skills that can facilitate interdisciplinary collaboration and the cross-fertilization of ideas; impact of 5IR on libraries as well as the conundrums ahead of libraries and librarians in Nigeria as they navigate the landscape of the 5IR and the implication of the revolution for librarians of which the issue of transition to full Digital Libraries is one. While the implications among others include that librarians must embrace entirely new roles such as data management, digital preservation, and technology training in this digital era. The conclusion inter-alia is that 5IR has set aside an era that brings reconciliation between man and machine putting into consideration environmental sustainability. In that man and machine are seen as partners in progress therefore should work in unison for the wellbeing of man and the global digital ecosystem without endangering any specie.
Keywords: Artificial Intelligence, Library, Technology, fifth industrial revolution, librarian, technological development