ACRL News Issue (B) of College & Research Libraries 714 / C&RL News ■ November 2002 College & Research Libraries news Top issues facing academic libraries A report of the Focus on the Future Task Force by W. Lee Hisle I n the spring of 2001, Deanna Marcum spoke to a g ro u p o f a c a d e m ic lib ra ria n s at the ACRL National Conference in Denver a nd ch lenged us to drink beyond ou r everyday issues. She adm onished us, a nd the profession in gen­ eral, to c o n c e n tra te o n th e b ig issues facing a c a d e m ic lib ra ria n sh ip O ver the next couple of days in Denver, sev­ Top issues fo r a eral of us w h o attended the lunch agreed that w e 1. R ecruitm ent, should focus our intel­ tio n o f librarians. lectual energies on this 2. Role o f librar challenge. As a result, in prise. the fall of 2001, ACRL 3. Im pact o f infor President Mary Reichel library services. established the Focus on 4. Creation, cont the Future Task Force to of digital resources. “h e lp th e a sso c ia tio n 5. Chaos in schol m eet the challenge of 6. S upport o f n e k e ep in g o u r focus o n 7. Higher educati th e b i g q u e s t i o n s — those questions w hich have the potential to help academ ic librarians shape and change their services to further im prove learning and research.” F rom th e b e g in n in g , th e task fo rce w as to b e a n in clu siv e effo rt, in v o lv in g re p re ­ s e n ta tiv e s from o th e r a c a d e m ic lib ra ry a s­ so c ia tio n s, su c h as th e A sso c ia tio n o f Re­ s e a rc h L ib ra rie s, th e C o a litio n fo r N e t­ w o rk e d Info rm atio n , the In te rn a tio n a l F e d ­ e r a tio n o f L ibrary A sso c ia tio n s, a n d th e ca y i m ro arl w on al­ ed C o u n c il o n L ibrary a n d In fo rm a tio n R e­ so u rc es. Over the past year, the task force has col­ lected data concerning the most important issues facing academic libraries. Librarians at o pen fo­ rums, bo th online and face-to-face, have articu­ lated the issues they believe are most pressing, the issues w e must deal dem ic libraries with effectively to retain the important role of aca­ u ca tio n , a n d re te n ­ dem ic libraries in the academy. Some 300 li­ n a c a d e m ic e n te r ­ brarians have b e en in­ volved in generating ideas ation technology on for this list. Their- thoughts have been reviewed and l, a n d preservation similarities noted. Th e fol­ lowing list represents the y communication. most often expressed is­ users. sues (not necessarily in funding. priority order). Top issues 1. Recruitm ent, ed u cation , a n d r e te n ­ t i o n o f lib rarians. T he n e e d to find a n d retain quality leadership for libraries is a core issue for the future. Even as retirem ents seem to increase, fewer librarians are entering the profession as a whole, and fewer librarians are entering the academic library field in particu­ lar. Ensuring education of n e w librarians and reeducating existing librarians w ith skills and know ledge to sup p o rt n ew roles in a digital About the author W. Lee Hisle is vice president o f information services and librarian o f the College at Connecticut College, chair of the Focus on the Future Task Force, and a former ACRL president, e-mail: wlhis@conncoll.edu mailto:lhis@conncoll.edu C&RL News ■ Novem ber 2002 / 715 inform ation age, esp ecially ro les involving teaching and library promotion, is a challenge for the profession. Indeed, the continued rel­ evance o f the MLS to academ ic librarianship may be in question. In addition, low salaries and the lack of diversity in the profession were relevant subtopics, often mentioned as prob­ lems that need collective action. 2. R o le o f lib r a r y in a ca d em ic e n te r ­ p ris e. Librarians are dedicated to maintain­ ing the importance and relevance o f the aca­ demic library as a place o f intellectual stimula­ tion and a center o f activity on campus. Even so, som e feel that libraries are b ecom in g marginalized. Librarians believe that it is es­ sential that we emphasize information literacy instruction and the importance o f the teach­ ing role o f librarians. We must find ways to promote the values, expertise, and leadership o f the p rofession throughout the campus to ensure appreciation for the roles librarians do and can play. Though access to information is increasingly decentralized, and computer labs now compete with libraries as campus gather­ ing points, librarians must demonstrate to the cam pus comm unity that the library remains central to academic effort. 3. Im p a c t o f in fo rm a tio n te ch n o lo g y o n lib r a r y s e r v ic e s . Librarians are aw are that an appropriate institutional balance needs to b e maintained betw een traditional library materials and services and those services (which sometimes overlap) represented by instructional and information technology departments. Should libraries house campus information commons? Should libraries report through an “inform ation cz a r,” rather than through the traditional academic hierarchy? These are among the challenging questions for the profession and the academy. It is also important, though diffi­ cult, to maintain technological currency in the Share your thoughts and ideas Future issues o f C&RL News will include responses and commentary on this list o f big issues. In particular, the task force is seeking creative thought on how to move the profession forward to address the chal­ lenges facing us. Please contact any mem­ ber o f the task force to express interest in contributing. For a list o f task force members and contact information, go to http:// www.ala.oig/acrl/dol-taskforce.html. face o f decreasing resources, rising costs, and differing views about institutional funding pri­ orities. 4. C rea tio n , c o n tr o l, and p re s e rv a ­ tio n o f d ig ital r e s o u r c e s . Methods to d e­ termine what should b e digitized, to find re­ sources to do the work, and to develop appro­ priate bibliographic control mechanisms for digital materials offer com plex challenges. In addition, librarians want to ensure that digital materials are preserved appropriately and that per­ manent access to those materials can be provided. 5. C h aos in s c h o la r ly c o m m u n ic a ­ tio n . Librarians advocate the n e ed for fair scholarly communication models as copyright laws change or are reinterpreted and challenges to fair-use in a digital context continue to be made. Traditional library/publisher relation­ ships may change substantially. The consolida­ tion o f the information industry under a few large vendors is a substantial threat as it repre­ sents possible homogenization o f information and the potential for m onopolistic business practices. The rise of the Web as the first choice for student and faculty researchers represents a departure from traditional scholarly research patterns. O vercom ing the apparent lack o f commitment by the comm ercial information industry to future a ccess o f information will b e an ongoing challenge for librarians. 6. S u p p ort o f new u sers. Librarians ar­ ticulate the need to provide appropriate ser­ vices and resources to new users, whether dis­ tance education students or those involved in new teaching and learning methods. The orga­ nizational patterns o f academ ic libraries are thought to be a barrier to providing these stu­ dents with access to instruction and informa­ tion appropriate to their educational style. Li­ brarians would like to take advantage o f stu­ dent enthusiasm, creativity, and technical skills. At the same time, librarians observe the gen­ eral and growing lack o f literacy among stu­ dents, along with flexible ethics that tolerate plagiarism and copyright violations and show a general lack o f respect for scholarship and re­ search. 7. H ig h er e d u ca tio n fu n d in g . Consid­ ering the current state of the economy, librar­ ians face the possibility o f reductions in fund­ ing that could have a deleterious effect on li­ brary programs, salaries, and resources. Cre­ ative thought and action will be required to (aMinuedonpag› 730) http://www.ala.oig/acrl/dol-taskforce.html 730 / C&RL News ■ N ov e m b e r 2002 chid collections o f any public garden in the South. The peak season is February through April. Nearby is the seven-acre VanLandingham G len, with 3 ,0 0 0 hy­ brid rh od od end rons, 1,000 trees, and the largest c o lle c tio n o f native plants in the region. Bestp laces to go with kids • D isc o v ery P la c e (301 N. Tryon St.). H an d s-o n s c ie n c e m u seu m and O m nimax theater. A e ria l v ie w o f Lowe's M o to r Speedway, c o n s id e re d t h e h u b o f NASCAR in t h e S o u th e a s t.• New M useum o f th e South (200 E. S e v en th St.). • C h a rlo tte T ro lle y (2 1 0 0 South Blvd.). Take the family for a 30-minute ride o n a fully restored 1930s streetcar. Board the trolley b e ­ hind the Southend Brewery (2100 South Blvd.). Call (7 0 4 ) 3 7 5 -0 8 5 0 . G e ttin g a ro u n d C h a rlo tte U ptow n (C e n te r City) C harlotte is a visitor- friendly, compact locale— set within tree-cano- pied plazas and streets— and is easy and safe to e x p lo r e o n foo t. If y ou are a fan o f p u b lic tran sp o rtation , y ou w ill b e d elig h ted w ith C h a rlo tte ’s fre e T r o lle y C a r b u s e s , w h ich provide 43 stops o n a round-tow n loop, with free p ick up at ea ch stop, every seven to eight minutes. Notes 1 . “Towers, trees and more: Charlottes’s best, w o rst,” C harlotte Observer, 9 May 2002, sec. A16. 2. Pat B ord en Gubbins, “B a n k o n Fun in Charlotte” AtlantaJ oum al-C onstitution, 4 Au­ gust 2 0 0 2 , s e c K8. ■ ( “Top issues... ” continuedf rom p age 715) co m p en sate for the already low pay o f librar­ ians, as well as the rising costs o f materials and technology. T he question asked is, “H ow can libraries provide access to the information stu­ d ents and faculty n e e d w h e n the c o s t o f re ­ sources is rising so precipitously?” In addition, librarians must face the challenge o f com peti­ tio n from o th e r o rg an izatio n al units during these times o f scarce resources. W h a t's n e x t The task force sees this list as the first iteration o f an ongoing effort; plans are being m ade to institutionalize the data collection and report­ ing fo r a reg u la r fea tu re in C&RL News. In addition, the task force, due to disband after the 200 3 ALA Annual C on feren ce, is m aking recom mendations for an “ACRL ho m e” for this effort. It will also m ake recom m endations on using the information collected in association programming. The task force will present a program at the ACRL National C o nferen ce in Charlotte: “F o ­ cu s o n th e Future: B ig Issu es for A cad em ic Librarians,” involving the execu tive directors o f ACRL, ARL, CNI, and CLIR. T h e y w ill speak about their percep tions o f the real and ideal roles their associations will play in deal­ ing w ith the big issues in front o f us. T h e ta sk fo rc e h o p e s this first list o f top issues will g enerate reaction and discussion, b oth positive and negative. Ideally, libraries, associations, and individuals will look to their actions o n ho w to resp on d to the issues pre­ sented. Strategic planning and conference plan­ ning might be built around these issues, ■ A special thanks TT hhaannkkss ttoo aallll tthhee hhaarrdd--ww oorrkkiinngg mm eemm bbeerrss oo ff tthhee ttaasskk ffoo rrccee ww hh oo cc oo nn ttrriibb uu tteedd ttoo tthhiiss eeffffoorrtt aanndd this this aartrticiclele: : BBaarrbbaarraa For Ford,d, CaCarorolylyn n TT. . BB rroo ww nn ,, DD ee bb rraa GG iillcchh rriisstt,, GG lloorriiaannaa SSt.t. ClClaair,ir, J Joo aa nn KK. . LLipipppiinnccootttt,, JJ oo ee HHeewwiitttt,, J Joo hh nn CC oo lllliinn ss,, LLiissaa JJ aa nn iicc kk ee HH iinn cchh lliiffffee ,, MMaarryy RR eeiicchheell,, MM aauurreeeenn SSuulllliivvaann,, SShhiirrlleeyy BBaakkeerr,, WWiilllliiaamm M Miller. iller. SSppeecciiaall tthhaannkkss ttoo JJ oo ee HHeewwititt t aanndd CCaarroollyynn BB rrooww nn ,, ww hh oo pp rroovviiddeedd vvaalluu­­ aabbllee eeddiittoorriiaall aaddvvicicee..