Public Libraries as Community Information Centers: the Evolution of Staff Roles and Patterns of Professional Behavior
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.32461/2409-9805.2.2026.362115Keywords:
information hubs, digitization, public libraries, decentralization, local self-government, citizens, professional behavior patterns, digital content curator, professional roles, library staff, library servicesAbstract
The purpose of this article is to examine the transformation of public libraries into centers for community information services and to identify the new roles of library staff and patterns of their professional behavior in the context of digitalization. It explores the evolution of their functional role from traditional document repositories to multifunctional information hubs. The research methodology is based on systemic, structural-functional, and comparative approaches, utilizing methods of analysis, synthesis, and generalization of scholarly sources, which has enabled a comprehensive examination of institutional transformations in libraries, changes in their functional roles, and the evolution of professional roles and behavioral patterns among staff. The scientific novelty lies in the comprehensive integration of an analysis of public libraries as community information hubs with a study of the transformation of library staff’s professional roles and the identification of patterns in their professional behavior in the context of digitalization, the development of e-government, and the integration of digital technologies into the library sector. Conclusions. It has been established that public libraries are transforming into multifunctional information hubs that provide access to legal, socioeconomic, educational, and analytical information. This leads to the emergence of new professional roles, including digital content curators, SMM managers, and information analysts, who ensure the accessibility, organization, and promotion of digital resources. It has been found that the integration of artificial intelligence, big data, electronic resources, and social media is changing traditional models of library services and increasing the importance of staff digital competencies. At the same time, the study identifies key challenges to library development related to insufficient funding, the technology gap, and staffing, and outlines prospects for library development in the context of decentralization and digital transformation.
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