Emerging trends in academic libraries

Asuman Tezcan

Crumpton, M. (2015). Emerging Trends in Academic Libraries. In Strategic Human Resources Planning for Academic Libraries: Information, Technology and Organization (1st ed., pp. 45-57). Waltham, MA: Chandos Publishing. 

The information age has revolutionized the way we contact people, and the world. New information technologies have surrounded every aspect of our lives from communication to work, from entertainment to academic studies. Driven by technology, academic libraries has influenced by this change immensely. In his article Michael A. Crumpton addresses how new trends influence the expectations for personnel of academic libraries, and how to develop efficient strategic plans for these changing. To deal with this question, he looks at changing concept of service, library resources, and personnel.  

According to him, there are always constant changes in academic libraries. Information technologies modify the concept of service in academic libraries. Technology enables users to play active roles in utilizing library services in digital, mobile and virtual means and it enhances the expectations of patrons.  For instance, the collection-based understanding leaves its place to the service-centered librarianship. 

Depend on new trends, the concept of academic librarianship has already changed. Interacting with the community emerges as a new strategic goal. Naturally, enhancing “outreach activities” bring extra responsibilities for academic librarians. There are new strategic approaches to hiring and training staff. Right now besides masters of library science education; librarians require deeper specialization and convergence of skills to meet new expectations.  Diversity is another important factor in academic librarianship and making strategic plans require thinking diversity issues.

                Crumpton mentions that new jobs and titles emerge such as “data assets manager,” “digital initiatives librarian” and “digital curator” depending on technological developments. Job market requires new librarians to have different qualifications and high technology literacy to support digital research projects and services in academic institutions.

Academic librarians collaborate with faculty and information technologists in digital scholarship centers to bring together different knowledge and skills. These new trends forces librarians to be competent and have broader specialization in technical issues and digital literacy. Converging skills help to transform research in a scholarly manner. Librarians should consider that their skills and competencies need to be updated to meet new expectations. Driven by technological developments, traditional concepts must be adjusted.  Joining conferences and looking for additional activities outside of libraries are some ways to keep up with the trend. For professional development, online MLS programs, MOOC’s, webinars, special networks and other devices are available as well.  

Evaluation: In his article Crumpton asks how to develop strategic plans for constantly changing academic libraries. According to him developing a different type of partnerships among academic librarians and faculty and technologists will assure successful projects in future. I think this article is not organized very well.  He is bringing new sources in the conclusion part, instead of summarizing and explaining his idea. Except the organization of the text, I agree with his opinions.