The Future of Academic Libraries

This study presents 26 possible scenarios based on an implications assessment of current trends, which may have an impact on all types of academic and research libraries over the next 15 years. The scenarios are organized in a “scenario space” visualization tool, reflecting the expert judgment of ACRL members as to their expectations and perceptions about the probability, impact, speed of change and threat/opportunity potential of each scenario. Finally, the study draws out implications of the scenario space assessment for academic libraries. We expect to challenge your mental models. By reflecting on alternate futures, the researchers state that one may see one’s strategic assumptions and values in a new light.

Staley, D. J., & Malenfant, K. J. (2010). Futures thinking for academic libraries: Higher education in 2025. Chicago, IL: Association of College & Research Libraries.

Benefit of Academic Libraries

This report details the extensive collection of assessment methods and tools used by the campus teams during the three-year AiA program, which point to multiple types of library factors and their potential impacts on students’ academic outcomes. Higher education institutions are encouraged to replicate or adapt these approaches to expand understanding of student learning and to assess library contributions to academic outcomes at their institutions. Findings from this report also provide a compelling assessment that tell a strong story about the multiple ways that academic libraries are contributing to student learning and success. While each institutional context is unique and the AiA project findings about library impact are not generalizable to all academic settings, the demonstrations of positive connections between the library and aspects of student learning and success in five areas are particularly noteworthy.

Brown, K., & Malenfant, K. J. (2017). Academic library impact on student learning and success: Findings from assessment in action team projects. Chicago, IL: Association of College and Research Libraries. http://www.ala.org/acrl/sites/ala.org.acrl/files/content/issues/value/findings_y3.pdf

Status of Academic Libraries in 2008

This report summarizes services, staff, collections, and expenditures of academic libraries in two- and four-year degree-granting postsecondary institutions in the United States. The nation’s 3,827 academic libraries held 1,052,531,290 books, serial backfiles, and other paper materials, including government documents at the end of FY 2008. There were 138.1 million circulation transactions from their general collections. About 22 million documents were lent or borrowed from other libraries and commercial services. The libraries employed 93,438 full-time equivalent staff. Two hundred and twenty-six academic libraries held 1 million or more books, serial backfiles, and documents. In 2008, academic libraries’ expenditures totaled $6.8 billion.

Phan, T., Hardesty, L., Sheckells, C., & Davis, D. (2009). Academic libraries: 2008 – First look. Washington, D.C.: U.S. Department of Education.

https://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/ED507415.pdf