The library of the future: scenarios from Australia

The Australian Library and Information Association (ALIA) has published a document which it hopes will spark conversation and debate about the role of libraries in society by the year 2025.  The work is leading up to a summit scheduled for later in 2013 and will help inform ALIA's strategic planning.

The Future of the Profession focuses on three key themes:

• Convergence - with a focus on efficiency - often IT-enabled
• Connection - with a focus on 'the human need to connect'
• The golden age of information - with a focus on a future where 'all information is available to all people'

Academic libraries - current trends and the future

Now

• Academic libraries are still reasonably well-funded, TAFE (further education) libraries are less well-funded
• Physical collections are reduced; more learning spaces; moves to learning commons
• Libraries are integral to the research project lifecycle
• Patron driven acquisition
• International students are big business

The future

• First degrees will no longer be sufficient - lifelong learning
• Staff will be less involved in library management processes
• More focus on purchasing and contract negotiation; customer facing services especially research
• Most learning will be remote
• MOOCs will have transformed economic models - wider audiences for higher education
• Strong academic partnerships between Australasia and Asia
• Closer interaction between library staff and researchers, irrespective of distance
• Face to face interaction a rarity, but highly valued by students