The papers in this e-book span a range of topics from library education issues on the one hand, to library practice in the global arena on the other. A common thread is the changing environment in which information specialists operate, how this is being catered for in education and how it is creating new opportunities for influencing knowledge creation and empowering people. At the same time our authors identify evidence of continuing shortcomings in the self-promotion of the library profession and the impression this makes on the public consciousness.