Libraries of the Future brochure - Jisc

10 | Libraries of the Future
Where next for Libraries of the Future?
The question that JISC is addressing
at the moment is: how do we build the
future and what should that future
look like? We are at a time of immense
change in the way that people think
about academic libraries. We are
faced with challenges of reduced
resource and ever-growing expectation
from end-users, in a world where
the ubiquitous search engines have
created an impression that all content
is available at the click of a mouse,
instantly and for free. Leaders in
libraries are asking themselves hard
questions about their future priorities –
what kind of service will they provide in
five years or ten years? What services
are core business and which can be
withdrawn? Can services be shared
between institutions on a regional or
national level, or by institutions that
share a similar mission?
Each library needs to drive forward its
own strategy for how it responds to the
changes afforded and challenges posed
by the digital environment, including
the choice of where it makes sense to
share infrastructure, services and even
people. At the same time, we know that
there is huge potential in coordinating
activity between libraries. The UK
library sector has a strong track record
in taking this approach, but we can do
much more – and now is the time to put
this into place.
JISC is working with thought leaders
in the library world to debate the
following questions:
• What might a UK library
infrastructure look like in five or
ten years – at a local, regional and
national level?
• Which digital services might be
prioritised for sharing between
institutions and which need to be
retained ‘in-house’?
• Is the current resource discovery
infrastructure still fit for purpose –
and if not, how should it change?
• What might a future library
management system include?
• How can libraries support the
increased need for support of
research and learning in the digital
world?
• How can the library use technology
to play an active role in knowledge
transfer to other sectors?
To move from the present library to
what is required in the future is an
immense challenge at three levels:
people, processes and infrastructure.
JISC will use the outcomes from the
debate to guide institutions in how to
plan their futures.
Sarah Porter, JISC Head of Innovation
JISC is driving
innovation in libraries
through technology.
We see technology
as both an enabler of
change as well as a
change agent in itself
so technology can help
people to do things
better but, also, people
will have to change
to use technology
effectively.