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Smart libraries (SL) are a novel type of libraries where the use of gadgets, services and Internet by experts contributes to qualitative transformations that bear on the interaction of users with information specialists thus securing better service. The organization of SL depends on the soft infrastructure while taking into account the users’ needs. The role of information specialist has been transformed from mere maintaining SL collections and making them available to users to employing technology in all the processes of keeping, organizing, managing, disseminating information and knowledge and handling SL. This transformation gave prominence to information specialists .This paper discusses the process of grooming and training competent information specialists in order to be able to manage work and innovation in SLs with a view to empower performance improvement in the final analysis. The paper uses the analytical descriptive method coupled with a questionnaire and holding personal interviews with 250 of Information specialists from some university libraries to impart the empirical dimension. The paper comes with a conclusion that there is a potential for SLs, in its modern concept, including the qualified information specialist, to contribute in advancing information and knowledge sharing among information specialists thus enabling them acquire best practices& expertise. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]