1. Libraries and Information Services in the Fourth Industrial Revolution: Current Trends, Opportunities and Challenges

Libraries and Information Services in the Fourth Industrial Revolution: Current Trends, Opportunities and Challenges

Hector J. Mongi¹ and Fredrick R. Ishengoma¹
1 College of Informatics and Virtual Education, University of Dodoma
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Abstract

The Industrial Revolution (IR) is a phase of technological and innovative changes aimed at solving societal problems. Over the centuries, industrial revolutions have profoundly transformed economic, social, and cultural landscapes. The advent of the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4th IR) brings forth a convergence of digital, biological, and physical systems, introducing groundbreaking technologies and trends. These innovations, particularly in Library and Information Science (LIS), have transformed traditional services and offered unprecedented opportunities while also presenting significant challenges. This paper explores the evolution of industrial revolutions, with a focus on the 4th IR's technologies and trends, their impact on LIS, and actionable strategies to harness these changes effectively. The first up to the current phase (4th IR) were triggered by discoveries that spurred massive productions in industries, computer-aided economic and social transformations, and the Internet. Each of these phases had implications for the growth of LIS.

Keywords: Industrial revolution, Library and Information Services (LIS), Fourth Industrial Revolution, emerging technologies, trends, opportunities, challenges, Tanzania

Proceedings of the 6th COTUL Scientific Conference, 11–12 November 2024 at TMDA, Mwanza, Tanzania