Bullied by Budgets, Pushed by Patrons, Driven by Demand: Libraries and Tantalizing Technologies

Libraries are caught in the middle—between static or shrinking budgets on one hand and ever-expanding user needs on the other. How did we get here, and where do we go from here? This paper will offer two perspectives: Part I will present survey results about changing Library purchasing habits in light of changing formats, access, business models and user demands. Data from a previous survey on this topic will be compared and updated. Pricing trends and possible futures will be discussed. Part II will briefly trace the history of libraries’ roles in scholarly communication and connecting learners with knowledge. From there, we show an example of phasing in a patron-driven / demand-driven and short-term loan e-book program, complete with incorporating these tools in library instruction, research, and portable device loadability for field work

Future and Value: The Library as Strategic Partner

Broader economic trends spawn budget pressures for education and libraries, prompting a plethora of studies on the value and relevance of libraries. Numerous reports on economic decline in libraries and studies with mixed pronouncements on the value of libraries have led to a negative self-image within the library profession. Yet libraries’ leadership in connecting learners to knowledge is at the heart of producing many of the key skills sorely needed in robust societies and economies. Librarianship has many untapped opportunities for positioning itself as a prominent strategic partner. This paper outlines current research on the economic and societal context for libraries and higher education and summarizes the interactive exchanges from the 2018 Charleston Conference Lively Session on libraries’ future strategies (https:// sched.co/GB2z). Through live polling and discussion, session participants described their libraries as moderately integrated in their overall campuses and broader communities, yet also moderately isolated. Among key challenges, participants highlighted funding, fundamental shifts in scholarly communication, and changes across the higher education landscape. Opportunities for library professionals’ enhanced roles include data visualization and new services, deeper integration in the broader community and scholarly communication, and preservation of the historical record. Unassigned societal problems suited to library professionals include promoting credible information, combating dumbing-down, and expanding research assistance to nonprofits and local governments. Ways to champion the profession include deeper project collaborations with students, measuring value-added impact on programs, and jargon-free conversations with nonlibrarians. Participants’ many open-ended observations included value-added, not bound by legacy, flexibility, leadership, digital and technology, and empathy

Biz of Acq-Workflow in Paradise: eBooks, Acquisitions and Cataloging

This article explores libraries’ technical workflow design and strategic considerations as various e-books business models and mobile devices and their management become a growing part of the information landscape

The Value of Using Interns in the Academic Library

Graduate programs in library and information science programs provide strong theoretical foundations in information systems, library organization, library history, management, collection management to support user needs, reference, information literacy instruction, and specialized information resources. While practical course projects create approximations of professional librarianship, the best hands-on learning experiences include work-based learning through internship placements in actual libraries. Internships immerse students in valuable hands-on practical work in real-workd settings. Internships also learn from the interns\u27 perspectives on library processes and challenges, while also providing library professionals with enriching opportunities to mentor library students and convey knowledge to future generations of professionals

The Generation Gap: What Generation Gap? : Management, Technology, Training, and Evolving Skills

Contrary to divisive labels to describe generations, members of different age groups have much to teach each other: Younger workers bring fresh perspectives to old issues, while older workers\u27 valuable organizational history help inform current contexts. All age groups in the workplace benefit in learning from each other\u27s perspectives

Acquisitions: The Next Generation

This article reviews a broad range of trends and concerns regarding the recruitment, training, and retention of acquisitions librarians. The survey of trends benefits library educators and students, members of search commillees seeking to fill acquisitions vacancies, and working acquisitions librarians

Dangerous Liaisons: Brainstorming the 21st-Century Academic Liaison

Academic liaison roles have seen massive changes over time and grown into an ever-broadening range of duties. What began as subject-focused collection involvement has evolved into a mix of instruction, reference, and various forms of course-embedded services, all while also retaining the earlier focus on subject-specific collection management. This paper outlines current research on academic liaison roles and summarizes the interactive exchanges from the 2018 Charleston Conference Lively Session on academic liaisons (https://sched.co/GB2i). Through live polling and discussion, session participants identified key functions and core competencies for liaisons, as well as factors contributing to success or hindrance for liaison success. Key functions and competencies include outreach, communication, assessment, collaboration and teamwork, collections, subject expertise, and instructional skills. Temperamental success factors include intellectual curiosity, a growth mindset, awareness of campus trends and commitment to partnering, and building relationships. Hindrances identified by session participants include competing duties spanning too many areas of the library organization, high librarian turnover, and lack of boundaries across positions. The most-cited needs include training, support for professional development, clear priorities and expectations, administrative and faculty support, and increased liaison staffing. Participants gleaned several ideas to try at their home institutions: surveying faculty needs, strengthening training for liaisons, offering liaisons support in growth areas, mindfulness of complex demands on liaisons, aiming for manageable expectations, and efficient focus for liaisons’ efforts

Workflows in Paradise: E-books, Acquisitions, and Cataloging

This article explores libraries’ technical workflow design and strategic considerations as various e-books business models and mobile devices and their management become a growing part of the information landscape

Digging Deeper: Trends by Discipline after 4+ Years into Winthrop’s PDA Program

This article is the second in a three-part collection assessment study. Through extensive data analyses and visualizations, this research study compares expenditures and usage patterns and trends between hardcopy circulation and specific types of eBook collections. The study includes four complete fiscal years of data (year 2011/2012 through 2014/2015) gleaned from the old integrated library system (ILS, plus partial-year data from July 1, 2015 through February 18, 2016 gleaned from the new ILS.This second of three articles shows expenditures and usage trends in more depth by discipline for print and eBooks from year 2011/12 through 2014/15, as well as preliminary usage data gleaned from our new integrated library system (ILS) through February 18, 2016. Following the practice of the previous article, this article offers insights for data-informed collection decisions

Mayflower: Ode to New Beginnings — Distinction for the Library Profession: Taking a Page from the Business Playbook

Library and information professionals have much to offer the world-at-large, yet are often under-recognized beyond the sphere of librarianship. Looking beyond traditional library advocacy, this second article in the Mayflower: Ode to New Beginnings presents theory and practice of recognition-building strategies from the business world -- strategies applicable to librarianship: The article looks to the business playbook for building connections with the broader community and thereby enhancing the profession’s exposure