Innovations in Library Practices:Prospects and Challenges

Like other services sectors the Hbrary will have to innovate itself to face the challenges of new era. In the information technology driven transactions milieu the nature of demand and mode of delivery for library and information services are rapidly changing. Competition from the Internet and other sources makes it imperative for the library to find new ways to extend the service and remain relevant. It is envisaged that introspection by the library about its every activity is needed to determine the scope for innovation. Initial part of the paper is therefore devoted to highlight basic aspects of the innovation process. A few general areas of library operations suitable for transformation are next described. Specific cases of academic, public and corporate library are further taken up to illustrate various perspectives on innovating librarianship. Discussion on challenges, possible avenues for innovations and allied issues forms the final part.