Robots in the Library: Is this the end of the world as we know it?

Note: This question (Is it the beginning of the end of human relations in librarianship, or what is next...???) is multifaceted, multidimensional and multinational. Let us know if you and answer or any leads to know the fact.


In the above Video's comic a person gets the library card from the card machine, locates the book in the computerized catalog (OPAC), and checks out the book out from the self-check out machine. In short, there are no librarians in the whole process. (This summary is paraphrased from a comment by a Librarian @ ALA FB's page).

• Canadian University Report 2014: Resources, The university library of the future, ERIN MILLAR, The Globe and Mail -- "Early in the planning process, the university decided that instead of devoting square footage to its collection, it would prioritize collaborative, high-tech learning spaces. Six metres below the first floor, two million volumes are packed into a space one-ninth the size of conventional shelving. Select a book from the electronic catalogue, and a robot will deliver it within five minutes."
• Visual Literacy is an elephant, we are like the six blind... Meaning, Message and Medium Revisited
• Libraries become tech hubs for the digitally inclined
• Central Library of AU to be digitised soon - The Times of India -- "But this does not mean that the distant users can get the access to the books", informed Singh. This is just the beginning of our plan to make the central library fully digital."

• 5 Myths About the 'Information Age' By Robert Darnton, The Chronicle Review
• Automated Book Picking Robot For Libraries 
• Human Relations in the Digital Library Environment 

• BBC NEWS | Technology | Robots get bookish in libraries

• Robots in the Library Survey

• Robots in the British Library - Inspired by... blog

Readings (Amazon.com):

• Robots in Academic Libraries: Advancements in Library Automation by  Edward Iglesias 
• The Librarian's Psychological Commitments: Human Relations in Librarianship (Contributions in Librarianship and Information Science) by Florence E. DeHart
• Technology and Professional Identity of Librarians: The Making of the Cybrarian by Deborah Hicks
• Academic Librarianship by Design by Steven Bell
• The Image and Role of the Librarian (Reference Librarian)   by Linda S Katz
• A librarians guide to personal development: An annotated bibliography (Bibliographies / Special Libraries Association) by Valerie Noble
• Reinventing the Library for Online Education Frederick J. Stielow
• Remote Access Technologies for Library Collections: Tools for Library Users and Managers (Premier Reference Source) by Diane M. Fulkerson
• Recent Developments in the Design, Construction, and Evaluation of Digital Libraries: Case Studies (Premier Reference Source) Colleen Cool
• The Expert Library: Staffing, Sustaining, and Advancing The Academic Library in The 21st Century by Scott Walter
• Re-engineering and Redefining University Libraries in the Context of Modern Information and Communication Technologies by A. T. Francis
• Digital Consumers: Re-shaping the Information Profession by  David Nicholas
• The Portable MLIS: Insights from the Experts by Ken Haycock
• Academic Librarianship by Design by Steven Bell
• Designing and blending to maximise users' experiences.(Academic Librarianship by Design: A Blended Librarian's Guide to the Tools and Techniques)(Book ... article from: The Australian Library Journal by Helen Dunford
• Interactive Open Educational Resources: A Guide to Finding, Choosing, and Using What's Out There to Transform College Teaching by John D. Shank
• Reference Reborn: Breathing New Life into Public Services Librarianship by Diane Zabel
• Transforming Research Libraries for the Global Knowledge Society (Chandos Information Professional Series) by Barbara Dewey
• Recent Developments in the Design, Construction, and Evaluation of Digital Libraries: Case Studies (Premier Reference Source) by Colleen Cool
• Inside, Outside, and Online: Building Your Library Community by Chrystie Hill
• SPEC Kit 327: Reconfiguring Service Delivery by Kay Vyhnanek