Libraries and Library Professions in Africa, in Confront of the Emerging Trends and Challenges

Abstract

The rate at which the development of librarianship is advancing in African countries compared to developed countries is agonizing, which gives rise to many questions regarding the future trend of the library profession. This paper reviews current trends and emerging issues in libraries and the librarianship education profession in African countries. Challenges in the training of librarians are described. Disparities in advancement are explained through a comparison of the development of libraries and the librarianship profession in different African zones, that is, East, South, West, and the Northern part of Africa. Challenges that face libraries and librarians’ profession are summarized, and the authors offer some recommendations and practicable solutions to the emerging trends and challenges.