From caretakers to engineers of knowledge: the evolution of librarians' profession

The role of libraries and librarians has evolved from collection and conservation to take a new much more dynamic and active role.  Information technologies and telecommunications have contributed to change our concept of libraries which are not now individual collections enclosed within the walls of institutions because electronic networks allow
acces to a wide variety of information resources. The future of the profession is open to new professional possibilities and specialization, in
which the figure of librarians is evolving to encompass that of intermediary or consultant in the field information and is every time more involved in the design and construction of new information systems and services which
contribute to the improvements in information retrieval tools: interfaces, databases, online catalogues, document supply, expert systems, etc.