Trends in higher education: How will they impact academic libraries?

The author observes that libraries must adopt to the ways in which recent and continuing technological advances are profoundly changing the way students are taught and the ways they learn.  More library tasks—such as research—occur outside the library.  In addition, library resources can be obtained and used outside of the library due to the rise of the internet and other information-sharing networks.  The author emphasizes that information literacy, and information technology literacy, are crucial to student-learning and faculty and student research. 

Librarians need to keep pace with technological developments, and commercial internet developments in directing and helping students.  In addition, increased emphasis on collaborative learning should force libraries to reconsider how they choose to utilize space.  Third, libraries must also make efforts to collaborate with faculty to better integrate library services with courses. 

Finally, given revenue challenges, librarians must continue to look for different methods of saving, in terms of personnel, library collections, and services.  Librarians must analyze operations and services and prioritize. 

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