Issues and Challenges of Virtual Library Services in Academic Libraries

The Developments in technology have changed the way librarians think about reference services and how to meet their users’ information needs. Today, the explosion of information available on the Internet has made it much easier for users to find information on their own. Many users view the Internet as a more convenient way to attempt to satisfy their information needs. As a result, today's reference librarians are more likely to spend time providing guidance to users in choosing among and using available resources (digital and print) rather than serving as an intermediary between users and information. This paper discuss the significant change in reference librarianship in virtual library environment in academic libraries. And also examines Virtual Reference Service Model, advantages, disadvantages and required tools, challenges and preparation for virtual reference services.