Librarians traditionally performed four functions.
- First, they gathered materials. (
librarian's role as arbiter )
- Second, they created records of the
materials that were so gathered. As a part of this process
they developed schemes for organizing information so that it
could be retrieved.
- Third, they physically arranged and
preserved the materials.
- Fourth, they distributed the
materials to those who needed them. (centers on circulating
materials and providing reference service,)