The Future of the Academic Library

I’m on a librarian listserv, and these are a couple articles that were mentioned today, concerning the future of the academic library and the growing digitalization of information, entertainment, and education.

This article from EDUCAUSE Review eloquently discusses the problems, and ideas for solutions, for the modern academic librarian.

Over the next decade, colleges and universities will have to make critically important practical and policy decisions about the function of libraries, about the space devoted to libraries, and about the roles of librarians. If these decisions are made wisely, the academy may be able to maintain much of the ineffable, inspirational value associated with academic libraries while retaining their practical value through altogether transformed activities and functions built upon a new mission designed for a more digital world.

In turn, the ACRLblog talks about the validity of the arguments presented in the EDUCAUSE article, and it’s relation to a few other articles that have been published in the recent past.

And to follow up, another EDUCAUSE article that talks about Place as Library.

On a personal note, I find it exciting to be a part of a world that is growing and changing so rapidly. I also find it a little scary to jump into a profession that rests so soundly on changing principles and ideas. When I get too worried, I think about all those little libraries, in all those little towns, and in all those big, big states, who don’t care so much about these issues as they do about when the next Sue Grafton book is released.

In other words, if the Academic Library seems flummocticatedly mutable, the Public Library remains stalwart and honest, which is not to say unprogressive.