Keeping in mind the evolving needs of the users, library services have grown significantly in the changing landscape of technology. Libraries of today’s era are experimenting with new and innovative services that abreast faculty, staff, and students, and a diverse society. Libraries in advanced countries are rich with resources and services; however, developing countries like Pakistan are doing more with fewer resources. One prominent service offered by libraries in Pakistan is the Online Public Access Catalogue; the purpose of this service is to allow users to search and access material remotely. Users have been granted access to check the availability of books, reserve materials, and manage their accounts online via the Internet. The other service offered by Pakistani libraries is Online Digital collection. In the age of information technology, librarians provide access to a vast array of digital resources like e-books, magazines, academic journals, and audiobooks to quench their research thirst. People can access these resources via login and password from anywhere, anytime, via the Internet.
The most prominent services offered by Pakistani libraries are rich resources of Higher Education Commission Digital Library services; under these services, Librarians provide access to users via a Virtual Private Network (VPN) wherefrom users can access these rich resources using the VPN services from Home at anywhere and anytime basis. Some prominent databases are Taylor & Francis, JSTOR, Emerald Database, Science Direct, Project Muse, and much more. Libraries subscribe to these electronic databases and provide users with access to scholarly articles, journals, and other academic resources. Multimedia resources are yet another opportunity offered by academic libraries; these include streaming services, online video collections, and other sources of audiovisual materials. Similarly, the present-day library offers virtual reference services (VRS), which allow users to get assistance from library staff via email, video conferencing, chat, and other social networking websites like Facebook, WhatsApp, etc.
The most incredible services offered by today’s libraries are Interlibrary Loan services. The library that lacks current resources sends requests to other libraries to provide their help for short periods; these services are called Interlibrary Loan services. As information increases in a wide range, it has become difficult for libraries in advanced countries even to purchase every document; in this case, libraries borrow material from other libraries to fulfill the needs of their patrons. It is an injustice to forget the role of information literacy programs offered by libraries in contemporary society; under these programs, librarians in academic settings organize training programs to enhance the information literacy skills of their patrons. The users are trained to critically evaluate and use information effectively.
The prime purpose of libraries in the current era is to provide users with computer workstations, software to support their research activities, and internet access in order to explore academic resources that exist in libraries and beyond. Many libraries in advanced, as well as developing countries, offer the services of collaborative spaces; the purpose of these spaces is to provide a hall, room, or discussion forum where people from diverse communities share their information through meetings, events, workshops, and seminars. Libraries are hubs of collaborative space. Many libraries charge very nominal amounts for external users, and the majority of libraries offer these opportunities free of cost to their registered members. Libraries of today’s age provide online courses, seminars, workshops, and webinars on various topics that are useful for the academic and personal development of the patrons. Libraries of contemporary society offer community engagement programs like book clubs; author talks com, community outreach initiatives, etc. These forums bring together intellectuals from different spheres. Libraries also provide specialized services to individuals in the surrounding area, like traffic awareness programs, health literacy programs, scholarship opportunities in foreign countries, and children’s programs, in order to enhance their awareness about issues of concern.
In the changing information landscape of technology, the library offers a wide range of services to meet the diverse needs of the community. Libraries play a crucial role in fostering education, literacy, and community engagement. The community as a whole must utilize these services for maximal benefits.
