Abstract：Automationthe 4th industrial revolution and libraries Previous columns have investigated the potential impact of emerging technologiessuch as artificial intelligencethe Internet of Things and developments in fastermore ubiquitous internet accessEach of these technologies alone has potential to shape our worldYetit is important to consider what their cumulative impact may beas these and other related technologies can allow for the future automation of tasks currently performed by humansThis column will explore the evidence surrounding the impact of automation for libraries and for patronsA common narrative touts that as innovations developthese developments render human work obsolete in ways that potentially wreak havoc on peoples lives and on the overall economyIt is true that new technologies are changing how we workwhich is a trend that is likely to continueMoreoveras the pace of change continues at breakneck speedwith many companies seeming to be on the verge of their next technological breakthroughit is logical to posit that these technologies will soon lead to an accelerated change in the workplaceIndeedif nothing changed in our workplaces in the coming decadesit would signal a tremendous loss of opportunity to improve our livesYetthe evidence about innovationspotential impact is more complicated than the simple narrative above implieswith real implications for how libraries should prepareLibrary AutomationThe article discusses the influence of automation on the library and its readersThis article discusses emerging technologiessuch as artificial intelligencethe Internet of Thingsand the development of faster and more popular Internet accessand how these technologies may affect our work and lifeAlthough these technologies have potential impactstheir accumulated effects may be more significantespecially considering how they allow future automation to be performed by human beings