Mary Ellen Davis
Executive Director
Association of College and Research Libraries
Over the past decade, the quality of higher education has become a major focus for national debate. Not only do stakeholders count on higher education institutions to achieve these goals, they also require them to demonstrate evidence that they have achieved them. As higher education administrators grapple with how to best demonstrate the value of the academic enterprise, librarians are increasingly called upon to document and articulate the value of academic and research libraries and their contribution to institutional mission and goals. The Value of Academic Libraries Initiative by the Association of College and Research Libraries seeks to respond to demands, and to position academic librarians as contributors to campus conversations on accountability and impact while also transforming libraries to meet user needs through continuous improvement. ACRL’s Value of Academic Libraries: A Comprehensive Review and Report aims to aid librarians in this effort by identifying what research documenting library impact exists and where gaps occur in research about the performance of academic libraries. This project briefing will highlight findings from the report, implications for the profession, and next steps in helping professionals develop new competencies and strategies.
http://www.acrl.ala.org/value/
Handout (PDF)