The Association of College and Research Libraries (ACRL) unveiled its Top Ten Assumptions for the future of academic and research libraries today during the ACRL’s 13th National Conference held March 29 to April 1 in Baltimore.

1. There will be an increased emphasis on digitizing collections, preserving digital archives, and improving methods of data storage and retrieval.
2. The skill set for librarians will continue to evolve in response to the needs and expectations of the changing populations (student and faculty) that they serve.
3. Students and faculty will increasingly demand faster and greater access to services.
4. Debates about intellectual property will become increasingly common in higher education.
5. The demand for technology related services will grow and require additional funding.
6. Higher education will increasingly view the institution as a business.
7. Students will increasingly view themselves as customers and consumers, expecting high quality facilities and services.
8. Distance learning will be an increasingly common option in higher education and will co-exist but not threaten the traditional bricks-and-mortar model.
9. Free, public access to information stemming from publicly funded research will continue to grow.
10. Privacy will continue to be an important issue in librarianship.

Quellen:
Abram, Stephen: ACRL Top 10 Assumptions Stephen's Lighthouse
Top ten assumptions for the future of academic libraries and librarians: A report from the ACRL research committee C&RL News, Vol. 68, No. 4
Struck, Alexander: 10 Annahmen über zukünftige Bibliotheken via IB Weblog

Ist das wirklich erst Zukunftmusik oder stecken wir nicht schon mitten in dieser Umwandlungsphase? Zumindest kommen mir viele der Thesen bereits jetzt aus meinem Studium bekann vor, aus Diskussionen im Bekanntenkreis und von Gesprächen auf Arbeit.