Diffuse Libraries: Emergent Roles for the Research Library in the Digital Age

Citation

Keary, M.Y. (2003), "Diffuse Libraries: Emergent Roles for the Research Library in the Digital Age", Online Information Review, Vol. 27 No. 5, pp. 365-365. https://doi.org/10.1108/14684520310502324

What has changed or is changing for academic libraries, and is there a role for them in the digital age? This report sets out to answer these questions by looking at the impact caused by the democratisation of technology, and its contribution to shaping new opportunities for research libraries. In order to explore the dimensions of change, the author uses case studies to show where traditional functions have been stretched, and core activities built on.

Libraries are defined by the functions of collection, development and management, to reflect their good stewardship, but these are challenged by the emergence of new types of digital content. Therefore, librarians can see the advantages of applying access strategies based on new media standards and communication protocols, but they also want to retain their well‐honed skills in standards‐based bibliographic processes. The search is for better ways to target user communities and facilitate access, so by applying the best practices that metadata has to offer they can avail themselves of some new skills.

User behaviour and interests in the networked environment are prompting changes to traditional methods in collections support and educational activities, by an extension of proactive services such as: virtual reference systems; information literacy; and organisational models for programme development. Consequently, the “library as place” has a role, but new types of instructional services integrating digital media and computer resources will need to be created.

In this analysis the author shows how the distinct identity of academic libraries is changing due to transformations in teaching, learning, research, and the growth of distributed technologies. In this environment the library's role will become more diffuse and require investment in both leadership and organisational elements.