We are the future
ACRL Releases Top Ten Assumptions About Academic Libraries' Future
The future—messy, more digital, and filled with opportunities and pitfalls—was all around the Association of College and Research Libraries (ACRL) National Conference last weekend in Baltimore. That made it a good time for the ACRL Research Committee to unveil its top ten assumptions for the future of academic libraries. The assumptions generated some immediate feedback, but other ACRL members are invited to comment on about how each assumption impacts members and member libraries, and to cite developing issues or nascent trends not on the list.
"These assumptions underscore the dominant roles that technology and consumer expectations are increasingly playing in libraries," said Pamela Snelson, president of ACRL and college librarian at Franklin and Marshall College, in an announcment.
1. There will be an increased emphasis on digitizing collections, preserving digital archives, and improving methods of data storage and retrieval.
2. The skill set for librarians will continue to evolve in response to the needs and expectations of the changing populations (student and faculty) that they serve.
3. Students and faculty will increasingly demand faster and greater access to services.
4. Debates about intellectual property will become increasingly common in higher education.
5. The demand for technology related services will grow and require additional funding.
6. Higher education will increasingly view the institution as a business.
7. Students will increasingly view themselves as customers and consumers, expecting high quality facilities and services.
8. Distance learning will be an increasingly common option in higher education and will co-exist but not threaten the traditional bricks-and-mortar model.
9. Free, public access to information stemming from publicly funded research will continue to grow.
10. Privacy will continue to be an important issue in librarianship.
"These assumptions underscore the dominant roles that technology and consumer expectations are increasingly playing in libraries," said Pamela Snelson, president of ACRL and college librarian at Franklin and Marshall College, in an announcment.
1. There will be an increased emphasis on digitizing collections, preserving digital archives, and improving methods of data storage and retrieval.
2. The skill set for librarians will continue to evolve in response to the needs and expectations of the changing populations (student and faculty) that they serve.
3. Students and faculty will increasingly demand faster and greater access to services.
4. Debates about intellectual property will become increasingly common in higher education.
5. The demand for technology related services will grow and require additional funding.
6. Higher education will increasingly view the institution as a business.
7. Students will increasingly view themselves as customers and consumers, expecting high quality facilities and services.
8. Distance learning will be an increasingly common option in higher education and will co-exist but not threaten the traditional bricks-and-mortar model.
9. Free, public access to information stemming from publicly funded research will continue to grow.
10. Privacy will continue to be an important issue in librarianship.
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