Success factors for the future of information centres, commercial and public libraries: a study from Germany

The purpose of this paper is to identify success factors in commercial and public libraries.

The paper is based on research carried out in various commercial and public libraries and information centres in Germany.

The development of the internet and end user empowerment in searching threatens the role of conventional librarians and information professionals. A number of suggestions are made as to how they can reposition themselves for this radically changed environment.

This is one of the few studies in English of German commercial libraries. The suggestions for repositioning will also be of interest to document supply librarians in particular.