Academic Libraries in the 21st Century

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Academic Librariesin the 21st Century
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Top Issues

• 21st century literacy
• Impact of information technology
• Support of new users
• Collection and preservation of cultural resources
• Funding

From the ACRL Focus on the Future Task Force,
2002.
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Characteristics of progressive Academic libraries

• Diverse in services, resources, facilities,
  access
• Collaborative / forging partnerships
• Pro-active
• Flexible
• User focused
• Accountable

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Physical structure, arrangement, and design

• Easy access
• Consolidation of collections
• Modular interior designs
• Expanded meeting places
• Extended study areas
• Planning for further technology

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Collaboration / Partnershipswithin the University

• Loose liaisons between function areas
• Part of an overarching structure
• Fully integrated in an alternate structure
• Merged into overall student services

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Collaborationwith Faculty

• Outreach http//www.lib.vt.edu/research/libinst/i
  nstruction/subjlias.html
• Collection building
• Course development / support
• Web page design
• Team teaching http//www.library.arizona.edu/part
  nerships/welcome.htm

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With faculty cont.

• Library space
• Publishing
• Scholarly communication
• IT training
• Document delivery
• Conference presentations

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Collaborating with students

• Convenience / flexibility in accessing physical
  collections
• Knowledgeable librarians
• Access to technology
• Seamless, integrated access to e-resources

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With students cont.

• Personalized services / student portals
• http//my.lib.ncsu.edu/
  http//www.cowan.edu.au/
• Meeting and study spaces
• Distance learning

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Collaborating with the region and state

• Online learning / virtual universities and
  libraries http//www.kyvu.org/index.html
• Widening cooperative relationships with other
  libraries

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Collaborating with the community

• Joint-ventures http//www.sjlibrary.org/gateways/
  index.htm
• Increased access to collections
  http//www.library.arizona.edu
• http//www.eu.arizona.edu/seniors/sage.html
• Commitment to promoting democratic ideals
  http//www.trincoll.edu/pub/res_for_learning/trini
  ty_coll_library.html

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Impact on Academic Librarians

• Traditional values
• Stewardship
• Service
• Equity of access
• Literacy and learning
• Intellectual freedom
• Privacy
• Rationalism

Michael Gorman. Our Enduring Values
Librarianship in the 21st Century,2000
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Traditional skills Additional new
skills

• Subject specialization and knowledge of content
• Information retrieval specialist

• Technology and functional skills, info. analysts
  interpreters
• Knowledge navigators and guides

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Traditional skills Additional new
skills

• Knowledge of publishing
• Cataloging / Preservation

• Knowledge of all types and formats of information
  packages
• Ability to create organize meta data schemes
  integrate create stable reliable access
  structures help users to discern the quality of
  origin of the content identify preserve all
  types of formats digitally

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Traditional skills Additional new
skills

• Library instruction

• Competency in current information literacy
  standards an understanding of current learning
  models, theory, and teaching methods which
  provide facility access to socially,
  intellectually, and spiritually enriching
  learning experiences able to create skilled
  information consumers

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Traditional skills Additional new
skills

• Communication skills

• Virtual reference, expand cooperative skills --
  outreach, advocacy, program development,
  partnerships assessment skills

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• Mahalo for your kind attention.
• Carol (Keli) Conroy
• cconroy_at_hawaii.edu