Let us picture a gate – it has two
functions: keeping in and keeping out.
In this paper, we posit that the role of
the library is dual and each of the roles
is just as important as the other.
Libraries function as gateways and
gate keepers and changes have
occurred over time. Acquisition and
packaging of knowledge has changed
from traditional to electronic resources;
traditional librarians have evolved into
information scientists; there are
concerted efforts in ensuring and
organizing access to e-materials.
There is paradigm shift in the role of
libraries because of the emergence of
information communication technology
in the twenty-first century. Many more
issues pertaining to the role of libraries
as gateways or gatekeepers are raised.
Some of the issues are: