Information literacy, innovation and assessment as essential functions of the twenty-first century academic library: a view from a qualitative perspective

Abstract

Academic libraries are facing the changes imposed by the information and knowledge society, and, in particular, the need to achieve a consistent qualitative change in their processes and services. Incorporating to the traditional flow of library work areas such as information literacy, evaluation and innovation is an essential challenge for present and future universities. This paper describes how these concepts are beginning to join the working philosophy of these institutions and how the new competencies that librarians and archivists must learn to achieve the advancement of the profession to new horizons are being incorporated. It is based in the results and conclusions from a focus group conducted by professionals from Latin America and the Caribbean in the field of library and information science.