Since information technology took place it changed the picture of a library which we see happening in cities. Libraries have collected much material since printing was invented. The tradition has been changed as computer based information systems are being used. Traditional book stocks are being replaced by computers and terminal links. For routine work, recording library loans etc are done with the help of computer based systems. Microfilms are being made to preserve newspapers, government papers etc. Multimedia resource centers are those libraries which use video text systems.

Managing and exploiting information is done by professionals called as Librarians. They are the ones who manage the explosion in information and knowledge of many decades.

Public libraries
Libraries which offer lending and reference services are large national libraries and the one with less facility are smaller libraries. There is another library for remote areas which is on a van to reach out to people in outskirts.

Academic libraries
Libraries of universities and colleges are called as Academic libraries. To keep reference work from books for students and to cope up with the staff doing advanced research is done by academic libraries. Even broader range of services are needed for the users of Polytechnic and large college libraries.

A collection of books are to be build in the subjects taught in Academic libraries like art colleges which have more art books in libraries.

Nature of Work
User services, technical services and administrative services all come under functions of library work. Users get help in finding information from librarians in user services.

Acquiring and preparing of materials for use is done by librarians in technical services. The management of library, supervising library staff is done by librarians in administrative services.

Librarians are handled all the work in small libraries. They keep themselves informed by reading books, reviews, publishers’ notifications etc. Preparing new materials and classifying them is the work of a librarian.

To indicate the title, author, subject, publisher, etc they supervise assistant librarians who prepare cards, computer records etc. Acquisitions, cataloging, bibliography, reference are done by librarians in large libraries.

Digitalising of Libraries
To make documents manage and preserve and make them easily accessible digitization of library is done. Being treated as a discipline the digital libraries are all about knowledge management. To enhance the content management, online publishing and content refreshing librarians should be able to use the technology.

Work Environment
Working in user services need to be working under deadline, keeping them busy and stressful. Obtaining the information from users for their jobs is challenging and satisfying.  Selecting and ordering new materials can be stimulating and rewarding in technical services.

Personal Characteristics
To be a librarian and information officer one must not be a bookworm. He should have a good memory and an initiative to get information. To deal with people of all ages, it requires them to have courtesy, tact, patience, stamina etc.

To organize facts and be good in communications is good for information officers. Retentive memory and orderly mind is needed and should have knowledge to be able top discuss research with experts in the field.