Introduction
Nowadays, academic information units have been the product of changes because of the complexity of users’ information needs. Further, there has been an increase in the new forms and demands in the services the academic library must provide. As explained throughout this paper, the academic library is more than just a place for books. The academic library is a fundamental component of the university and serves as a center for research, learning, and collaboration. Academic libraries serve many purposes and continue to provide strong support and resources to students, faculty, and the public. Although it has its challenges, the library remains strong and strives for excellence. Academic institutions must recognize and prioritize the value of their libraries. As educational resources continue to digitize, a growing trend suggests that universities are underfunding and undervaluing their libraries. Academic institutions must continue supporting physical, academic libraries as centers of research, diversity, learning, and collaboration to promote severe study and debate in open dialogues.
The history
The historical context of the library has been significantly transformed. Very little is known of when the first libraries were created. According to Budd, two critical factors fueled the creation of libraries: the rise of commerce and the invention of writing. The library is a couple of millennia younger than academic institutions (Budd, 1998). When John Harvard donated approximately 300 of his books to Harvard University, he created the first academic library in what is now The United States (Weiner, 2005). At first, the academic library was a small place whose importance needed more utilization. The academic library was open for a few hours and was limited to theological books, works, classics, philosophy, and history. After the mid-20th century, academic libraries transformed from underused warehouses to dynamic learning spaces (Hirsh, 2022). Academic libraries went from having limited access to materials to exploring reference information, research content, and resources. Over the years, the academic library has become an essential part of educational institutions.
Information Transformation
Advancement and technology were and still are inevitable in academic libraries. As early as 1984, academic librarians were encouraged to acquire computer-related skills, regardless of their position in the library or size. Although technology can put the academic library at risk, advanced improvements can be invented to make digital use easier (Williams, 2023). Academic librarians must accept that the future of the academic library will be technological. Educational information will always need to be transferred from one academic to another, and the academic library is a means to share that information. There will be more books in digital format. More books in digital formats translates to improved portability and a much cheaper approach to publishing. Books are essential in the digital format because of concerns associated with cost factors. For example, some have been affected by budget cuts. For example, Duquesne University Press closed in 2017 due to budget cuts after ninety years of operation (Bonn, 2023). Situations like this are likely to happen and do not predict academic libraries’ future.
With the growth and expansion of information, a librarian will be necessary to facilitate the search for information. Michelle Rubino is a librarian at USC. An interview was conducted where Michelle stated how she uses technology as part of her day-to-day responsibilities in the library field. Michelle talks about posting on social media about library content, recording instructional videos for the library’s YouTube channel, and attending different webinars (Montgomery, 2024). She also mentions how technology has transformed over time during her several years of employment. At the same time, the shift has provided flexibility to connect with students online.
Other ways that have been captured where technology has paved the way are regarding AI chats. To help provide information to our college students, we have an AI chat that helps students with basic searches. In this way, the AI formulates questions relevant to the search topics. Librarians know what the user wants and can save time (Montgomery, 2024). If we want to be relevant in the future, we must embrace technology, contribute ideas to the field, and meet the needs of employers.
The academic librarian must adopt new forms of change that guarantee permanence in the information units derived from the arrival of further information and communication technologies. In recent years, there has been a trend with the increase in information being accessed digitally. Academic libraries offer more demands (Ely, 2021). These online services and demands include references for audiobooks, e-books, Internet access, online education, and much more.
Challenges between libraries
Unfortunately, academic libraries still face challenges in current times. Many of the challenges of the academic library come from the faculty, where some professors unfortunately view librarians as a profession below the traditional classroom. Academic libraries face the challenge of learning commons because there is a need for diverse spaces, equipment, and furniture, combined study spaces, group discussion rooms, flexibility in the use of space, relaxation, and an all-in-one place for campus life. (Chan, 2014). This can raise many concerns due to the need for more space, especially with the rate of growth and innovation within the academic system. Other problems arise as academic librarians wish to keep “pace with major changes and trends in the fields of library and information sciences and higher education more generally” (Saunders, 2020). This poses a considerable challenge, especially after COVID-19. The global pandemic has changed in such a way that there has been a sudden increase in remote access needs/demands and online materials. With increased demand, academic librarians must become more flexible and offer more availability, whether through increased hours and schedules.
With these changes, especially in technology, users are affected, resulting in a need to know where and how resources and services are accessed. Constant change and the need to adapt allow librarians to improve their competency to become more competitive(Bowles-Terrya & Sobelb, 2022). This generally allows them to better serve students, teachers, and the public through access to instruction and educational programs degree. Therefore, tutors enable students to interact with the content more.
Skill Set and Qualification
Any competent and trained librarian must possess specific skills and experience. A librarian must know the role and what it consists of, coupled with additional required educational components. Some unique skills involve understanding the population and needs of the community to help at all levels. A librarian must also be resourceful in searching for informational content and finding ways to find a solution (Rebecca & John, 2022). They also acquire skills to adapt to any environment, such as communication, interpersonal relationships, and computer skills. Liberians must be fully equipped in all academic areas, with expertise in books, digital content, archives, collections, and more resources in this ever-changing field.
Erika Montgomery is an academic librarian at the University of South Carolina Upstate. As part of her interview questionnaire, she mentioned that the qualifications required to be an excellent academic librarian are instruction, communication, and library guidance (Chan, 2014). Erika Montgomery states that the academic library is priced favorably; the most satisfying part of their job is helping students, while the least enjoyable part is needing more resources to help them search. She is not worried about her job becoming obsolete in the future except advocating that the librarian must continue to evolve and adapt to the needs of employers. Technology has positively affected the academic library.
Academic librarians are leaders in their areas of expertise. The academic library is considered experienced in the field by managing different aspects and areas. First of all, knowledge of research and reference is essential. Additionally, the ability to adapt to other technological trends is ingenious. A perfect reflection of a modern digitized library is when there are improvements in all areas of the library (Budd, 1998). First, it starts with the library personnel, then the structure and resources within the library.
Library use
Academic libraries have many uses and extend their services to the community at all levels. Users of this resource include all types of personnel interested in a topic or simply seeking guidance or resources on a particular topic. Contrary to common belief, libraries are not places that revolve solely around books. It is far beyond that. According to a peer review of The Modern Academic Library: Space to Learn, “libraries in the United States have experienced a paradigm shift from book-centered spaces to learning-centered spaces as they work to provide services and resources in the new ways in which users consume information” (Virginia & Cindy Price, 2018). Libraries are becoming open spaces where people take advantage of many of their resources. Academic librarians must position themselves by emphasizing the benefits of the academic library.
The library also serves to develop intellectual research and is a place where professionals meet to contribute ideas. Recently, the transformation has focused on using academic libraries in many different ways. The professional role within the academic library is broad. The academy has emphasized its educational and supportive role (Changing Roles of Academic and Research Libraries, 2018). In addition, it centralizes efforts to protect the values of higher education while maintaining its mission and fundamental values. Academic libraries collect, organize, preserve, and make knowledge accessible.
Diversity and inclusion
The academic library has paved the way for diversity in this field over time. Academic libraries were not known to be diverse, and information needed to be more varied. Access to the community was limited. To promote diversity and inclusion, institutions are revamping their mission and vision statements to correlate and align with their core standards and values. Ely states, “As racial discrimination and marginalization continually occur within society, academic libraries can position themselves as agents of social justice through the presence and content of DEI statements” (Ely, 2021). Additionally, regarding gender, librarianship has experienced a significant change in demographic diversity in the status of women.
In today’s libraries, women enroll in different library sectors. 81% of that enrollment was in graduate programs in library science, 82.8% in all librarians, and 75.9% in all library workers. This trend is an excellent opportunity to fight for total social equity and create a space within the American Library Association dedicated to cultivating equality between the sexes and promoting causes that concern women in Librarianship (Bertram, 2021). These libraries can use their platform for a greater purpose, creating a safe and welcoming environment for all. It has become accessible to people regardless of their background, and we can see people from diverse backgrounds working and being members of the academic library institution.
Conclusion
As discussed throughout this article, the academic library is more than just a place for books. Academic libraries have a rich history dating back to the mid-century. There has been an increase in innovation through various forms, such as technology. Additionally, the academic library has changed its course to offer many services. There has also been growth and increased awareness around diversity and inclusion, where core values and standards to follow are being established. Progress and development have also occurred among the academic system’s challenges. Librarians are skilled and competent people motivated to serve the community and provide support. Taken together, the future of the academic library is transitioning and growing in a way that will offer a promising future.
References
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Changing Roles of Academic and Research Libraries, American Library Association, May 30, 2018. http://www.ala.org/acrl/issues/value/changingroles (Accessed February 22, 2024)
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Williams, D.J. (2023). Digital Initiatives in Academic Libraries: Challenges and Opportunities. portal: Libraries and the Academy 23(2), 387-398. https://doi.org/10.1353/pla.2023.0015.
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