From Gatekeeping to Gate Opening: An Evolving Role for Academic Libraries

Abstract

In the past the academic library has focused its energy on building collections and developing mechanisms to provide access to content. Library services developed around the role of being the gatekeeper to the content, be it access services, acquiring and organizing the content, leveraging ever more sophisticated technologies to help community members connect to the content, marketing the content and educating students and faculty how to get to and use the content. In a future information landscape where it will be easier to acquire the content, and perhaps even bypass the library in getting to it, what will be the role of the academic librarian? In this session, Steven Bell, Associate University Librarian at Temple University, will share his vision for how the role of the academic librarian could evolve to be more of a gate opener, in which the emphasis is on the experience that community members have in interaction with the library and librarians, that helps them to make effective use of content for learning and academic success.

Watch the recording at https://connect.athabascau.ca/p96752424/