In recent years a projection has taken place within our field from traditional trade union work towards development of the profession as such. The reason for this being many changes all around us, such as information technology and globalization which both make great claims on developing library activities and thereby the profession itself. The Nordic countries, like many other parts of the world find themselves in times of change. We are in the middle of, or perhaps in the beginning of an evolution of society, the magnitude of which may well be compared to the transition from agricultural to industrial society. Old solutions are no longer valid.
Old structures disintegrate.
In this situation individuals need aid to take their bearings, to see, and to understand what is going on. The transition from local to international production and from industrial society to knowledge and information based society has yet another aspect. Production becomes increasingly knowledge based and density of information grows as old knowledge fades at a greater pace. As a result of this development education and lifelong learning have been pinpointed. Knowledge is now regarded one of the foremost foundations for expanding development and prosperity.