Emerging Challenges in the Provision of Electronic Information Services on the African Continent: The role of Librarians

Librarians are presently operating electronically in this 21st century and there is a changing role of professional librarians in the academic libraries. Information services are therefore, provided electronically to meet the information needs of thousands of users at a go. The enormous advantage it has is the ease with which the delivery of information is being carried out around the world. Nevertheless, some challenges seems to confront the effective provision of the electronic information services. Literature was reviewed on the electronic information services, provision of electronic information services by professional librarians in African continent and emerging challenges of electronic information provision services in African continent. It also examines the role of the professional librarians as information professionals in the era of information technology. The paper concludes by presenting the way forward on how electronic information services can be improved in the African Continent.