ACRL Announces Top 10 Assumptions

I recently returned from Seattle, WA where I attended The Association of College Research Libraries conference. Keynote speakers Rushworth Kidder discussed ethical elements in every day life; author Sherman Alexie had a packed auditorium of librarians laughing and listening intently to his experience as a Native American growing up on a reservation, going to college, and just how important librarians are today. This timely talk resonated with me. I will finish my masters degree in library science this spring. Alexie pointed out that as a librarian, on top of helping students with research, we help people find their stories.
I also recorded Mr. Alexie as he read a poem titled, "My Sharona."

The convention continued with exhibits, poster sessions, workshops and wound down Sunday morning with Ira Glass, Host & Executive Producer of This American Life.

In 2007, ACRL Research Committee posted the top 10 assumptions for the future of academic libraries "after surveying member leaders and conducting literature review."

1. There will be an increased emphasis on digitizing collections, preserving digital archives, and improving methods of data storage and retrieval
2. The skill set for librarians will continue to evolve in response to the needs and expectations of the changing populations (student and faculty) that they serve
3. Students and faculty will increasingly demand faster and greater access to services
4. Debates about intellectual property will become increasingly common in higher education
5. The demand for technology related services will grow and require additional funding
6. Higher education will increasingly view the institution as a business
7. Students will increasingly view themselves as customers and consumers, expecting high quality facilities and services
8. Distance learning will be an increasingly common option in higher education and will co-exist but not threaten the traditional brick-and-mortar model
9. Free, public access to information stemming from publicly funded research will continue to grow
10. Privacy will continue to be an important issue in librarianship

Are there any other items that you would add to this list?

More information about this list can be found at ALA/ACRL

~Paul