The New Library and The New Librarian

21st-century librarians are seeing a redefinition of their roles, moving from stewards of physical information to educators on digital literacy. Library buildings, are becoming less about offering a refuge for quiet, independent study and more about creating opportunities for creativity and collaboration.

The format of information is moving increasingly towards digital. To support today’s modern and robust research, libraries will need to offer students access to the digital versions of scholarly research, including complex data sets and visualization.

Libraries also need to increase students’ ability to access digital resources. One must-have feature, for example, is a 24-hour computer lab.

Changing study habits also give libraries an opportunity to transform their physical spaces. Most commonly, institutķions are redesigning libraries to make them suitable for collaboration — meaning open, social spaces where small and large groups can gather, interact and share materials.

Think about having movable furniture and shared monitors that are compatible with a variety of devices.

Modern Libraries Need Digitally Savvy Librarians

The emphasis on digital data and collaborative space also frees up librarians to focus on one of their most traditional responsibilities: helping to increase student literacy.

Librarians are integral to ensuring students have a solid understanding of the digital resources they are using for academic work. For example, librarians can help students get better at identifying credible resources and thinking critically about the information they find, two skills that many young scholars need to develop.

These and other changes are also influencing the way that institutions teach the next generation of library professionals, with the aim of better training them for the new demands of modern libraries.

Digital Tools Give Libraries Staying Power

Despite naysayers who predicted that the millennial generation would spell the demise of printed books, libraries are here to stay. By embracing digital tools and flexible spaces, libraries will continue to be relevant. In fact, digital tools have made it even easier for libraries — and their caretakers of knowledge — to serve patrons in their quests for knowledge and understanding.