Abstract

This study aimed to investigate the transition of academic libraries' jobs by developing a model based on a shift of library generations including Library 1.0, Library 2.0, and Library 3.0 corresponding to the shift of web generations and to explore generational characteristics of library duties as well. The research used three phases of procedure: literature review about different library generations; job analyses for academic libraries in South Korea and the U.S.A.; the Delphi technique in tree sequential order. The research findings were as follows. First of all, there were 170 duties that continued from Library 1.0 to Library 3.0. There were 58 duties which continued from Library 2.0 to Library 3.0 whereas three duties that continued from Library 1.0 to Library 2.0. In addition, three distinctive duties existed only in Library 1.0 whereas one unique duty was only in Library 2.0. Library 3.0 generated 25 new duties. Secondly, considering general characteristics which cover specific parts of individual duties, there was a significant increase in importance, difficulty, and frequency of library administration throughout the three generations. In terms of importance, difficulty, and frequency of collection development and management, there was a significant increase only from Library 2.0 to Library 3.0. Considering information organization, there was a significant decrease in importance from Library 1.0 to Library 2.0. In addition, there was a significant decrease in frequency and there was no significant difference in difficulty throughout the three generations. In the case of information service, while there was a significant increase in importance among three generations, there was a significant increase in difficulty only from Library 1.0 to Library 2.0. However, there was no generational difference in frequency. With the respect of information system development and management, there was a significant increase in importance and frequency throughout the three generations, but there was no significant difference in difficulty among three generations.