Journal Article

Fourth Industrial Revolution

Lund, Brady

2021

Overview

Does the Fourth Industrial Revolution pose an existential threat to librarianship? No, it does not. Not any more than any other technological innovation (information systems, personal computers, the Internet, e-readers, Google, Google Scholar) did. However, what is very likely is that the technologies that emerge from this era will slowly (but surely) lead to profound changes in how libraries operate. Those libraries that fail to understand or embrace these technologies may, in fact, be left behind. So, we must, as always, stay abreast of trends in emerging technologies and what the literature (i.e., articles in this journal) propose as ideas for adopting (and adapting) them to better serve our patrons. With this column, my aim is to briefly discuss what the fourth industrial revolution is and its relevance within our profession.

• Publisher: American Library Association
• Subject: Academic libraries / Applications programs / Artificial intelligence / Automation / Blockchain / Career Choice / Colleges & universities / Computer Interfaces / Computer Networks / Computer Simulation / Cryptography / Editorials / Electronic Equipment / Electronic Libraries / Ethics / Forecasts and trends / Industry 4.0 / Influence / Information management / Information Needs / Information Science / Information systems / Information technology / Innovation / Innovations / Integrated library systems-ILS / Internet / Laborers / Librarians / Libraries / Library and information science / Library automation / Library Personnel / Library Role / Library Schools / Library Services / Market trend/market analysis / Periodicals / Personal computers / Schools of library and information science / Technological innovations / Technology application