2018 Top Trends in Academic Libraries

Every other year, the ACRL Research Planning and Review Committee produces a document on top trends in higher education as they relate to academic librarianship. Topics in this edition of ACRL Top Trends will be familiar to some readers who will hopefully learn of new materials to expand their knowledge. Other readers will be made aware of trends that are outside of their experience. This is the nature of trends in our current technological and educational environments: change is continual, but it affects different libraries at different rates. The 2018 top trends share several overarching themes, including the impact of market forces, technology, and the political environment on libraries

Creativity: A Toolkit for Academic Libraries

Creativity is a complicated concept that has a variety of connotations: for some, it’s fun, a little crazy, maybe unpredictable. For others, it’s disruptive, irritating, and perhaps even threatening. It is sometimes associated with the color blue. More seriously, because of its ability to add depth and breadth to experiences, creativity has been linked with a higher quality of life in the creative person as well as in those with whom they interact. It is essential for organizations, governments, and everyday life because it is integral to how we solve problems, reinvent ourselves, determine new ways to do things, or develop a new system, product, instructional technique, or e-resource management tool. It has been suggested that creativity is essential to innovation and strategic planning in libraries. It is because of creativity that we are able to move beyond the status quo and thus improve ourselves and our profession.https://scholarsjunction.msstate.edu/libhostedprint/1007/thumbnail.jp

Running with Perseverance: The Theological Library’s Challenge of Keeping Pace With Changing Students

In the last thirty years, the study habits and learning styles of students have changed, influenced by parenting styles, pop culture, and the influx of technology into their lives. Those students studying theology in seminaries and universities across the United States have likewise changed dramatically. Their ages, ethnicity, gender, technological ability, and goals have all changed, as have their expectations for their education and their library. This paper will examine the characteristics of those students considered to be part of the “Millennial” generation, examine how these characteristics apply to students of theology, and explore the impact that these characteristics are having, and will continue to have, on theological libraries