Libraries of the Future : JISC

In an information world in which Google apparently offers us everything, what place is there for the traditional, and even the digital, library?

In a library environment which is increasingly moving to the delivery of online rather than print resources, what of the academic library’s traditional place at the heart of campus life?

What about the impact of repositories and open access on the delivery of library resources? And the need to digitise and make more widely accessible key scholarly resources? And what of the calls for libraries to play a central role in the promotion of ‘information literacy’?

Libraries of the Future Blog

Through ‘Libraries of the Future’, JISC is hoping to explore these and many other questions, to open up - with partner organisations and librarians themselves - a debate about the future of the academic and research library. The theme will encompass a variety of activities – events, printed resources, interactive Web 2.0 services, podcast interviews, and so on – but encouraging debate and discussion will be at the heart of all of them.

None of us yet knows what our libraries of the future will look like. But one thing is sure - libraries will continue to be essential to academic success and the future of education and research. We look forward to hearing from you… Let the debate begin!

Senior figures give their thoughts

Become part of the future - get involved…

‘Libraries of the Future’ is all about debate and involvement, and JISC invites you to take part - both online and in person – in events and debates, to read and respond to publications, podcasts, sponsored supplements, and much more.

The following are a selection of the activities planned for the coming months.

What	Where	When
e-Books debate	Event: ICC, Birmingham	14 April 08
JISC conference 2008 Sessions on e-Lib; Google Generation report; Challenges of the Digital Librarian Audio recordings and presentations available	Event: ICC, Birmingham	15 April 08
JISC/SCONUL Library Management Systems	Report (PDF), briefing paper and joint workshop	June 08
Guardian: Libraries unleashed Articles explore open access, the phenomenon of ‘Library 2.0 – the integration of user generated content with traditional library content – e-books, new business models, digitisation, digital preservation and much more.	Guardian Supplement For print copies, contact press@jisc.ac.uk	22 April 08
JISC Annual survey of senior librarians and learning resource managers, supported by SCONUL	Survey	August 08
CILIP Supplement on Libraries of the Future	CILIP Supplement	October 08
RLUK conference Panel session on Research Libraries of the Future	Event	October 08
Social network for Libraries of the Future	Online
Forum for Libraries of the Future	Online