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The widespread concern for librarians' future is among the triggers of this paper. The aim of the article is to offer a non-alarmist outline of the future for academic librarians, starting from the analysis of some library roles. Acquisition, cataloguing, lending, reference and information literacy librarians are placed under the lens, investigating what are the future implications of the modern technology available today. The pattern emerging from the paper shows that there is a future waiting for librarians, provided they will find further ways to cooperate (with other librarians, engineers, professors and students). Secondly, a more flexible vision of the librarians' roles will be requested. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The widespread concern for librarians' future is among the triggers of this paper. The aim of the article is to offer a non-alarmist outline of the future for academic librarians, starting from the analysis of some library roles. Acquisition, cataloguing, lending, reference and information literacy librarians are placed under the lens, investigating what are the future implications of modern technologies. The paper will appear in two different issues. The first part deals with acquisition, cataloguing and lending librarians, while the second one will deal with reference and information literacy librarians. The pattern emerging from the paper shows that there is a positive future for librarians, provided they find further ways to cooperate (with other librarians, engineers, professors and students). Secondly, a more flexible vision of the librarians' roles will be requested. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents some hints, intended for librarians facing the transition to a bookless library. The library disciplinary profile and the availability of electronic resources following that profile should be taken into account. Also the library spaces should be carefully planned, both in a totally paperless perspective and in a blended situation, with paper books stored off-site. The services and the role itself of the librarian will change. In particular, reference should become more and more flexible and should be tailored to digital natives. Since only catalogued resources will be retrievable, special care will be put on cataloguing all the documents. The new bookless library will have a powerful new role as social hub and facilitator in learning. Librarians will have the challenge to prepare this new library. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fashion is a multifaceted discipline that moves across costumes and fashion, history of the art, psychology, and design etc. Fashion documents cover different types and formats such as books, or look books, that might require specific bibliographic treatment. Documents can be found in different types of libraries, but also in museums and other private or public cultural institutions, which may or may not participate in national networks. This can constitute an obstacle for patrons looking for literature. This paper formulates proposals to facilitate patrons looking for literature, including a metacatalogue. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper focuses on the various forms of internal communication in libraries, which must take into account also the contract of employment (its duration, duties and wages). A correct communication should adjust know- how and procedures, in order to reach organizational well-being. Moreover, the different contracts of the staff members should not impact on the quality of the services and therefore should not be perceived by users. The article offers an approach to staff training based on the analysis of library services, and establishes a relation between services and training required. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]