Librarian Futures
Librarian Futures is a series of whitepapers that explore librarian-patron relationships in the digital age.
Librarian Futures is a series of whitepapers that explore librarian-patron relationships in the digital age.
Our second Librarian Futures report asked the question: How can academic libraries be more deeply involved in the undergraduate learning journey? This new report, in partnership with Skilltype, explores the emerging skills required to fulfil a library’s mission – in a decade shaped by social, political, and technological change – and meet the needs of today’s library patrons. We gathered global perspectives from over 2,000 academic library professionals, from frontline librarians to library directors, to ensure a representative set of insights for the report.
KEY FINDINGS:
In 2021, our inaugural Librarian Futures Report revealed areas of misalignment between the support and resources prioritized by the library compared to the areas most appreciated by patrons based on a largescale survey of librarians and their patrons. To build a more detailed picture, we commissioned a student-led research project in 2022, seeking to better understand student perspectives on the university experience, and more specifically, resource and reading lists for the classroom.
KEY FINDINGS:
What does the future hold for the librarian-patron relationship? Based on a large-scale survey of 4,000 librarians and patrons, Librarian Futures examines librarian-patron workflows and relationships. It builds on previous research into the future of the library, positioning the librarian at the center of the analysis. Examining current trends in librarian-patron interactions and understanding, the report poses “innovation provocations” to help provide a glimpse into the future.
KEY FINDINGS:
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