Academic and research libraries are undergoing a profound transformation, shaped by technological advancements, shifting societal dynamics, and evolving institutional priorities. This essay examines how these forces are driving libraries to evolve into specialized and distinct models, shaping their future and drawing parallels to the Cambrian…

Even as librarians have spent the past twenty years documenting the rich world of scholarly communication beyond the catalog, repositories and catalogs too often remain completely siloed from each other. Current practices and tools to unite the two focus entirely on matching names, an imprecise method requiring substantial time spent on review.…

This paper seeks to define the qualities of a good research library leader through a qualitative study using the lens of Aristotelian virtue theory. Narrative evidence was collected from library directors in the UK and North America on their ethical identity, how they develop excellence in their libraries, and how they deal with complex problems.…

This qualitative research study explored current reference models in academic libraries to determine what's working well and what isn't. Researchers conducted semi-structured interviews with 15 participants overseeing reference services at large, land-grant universities. The findings suggest that there is still perceived value in point-of-need,…

This article builds on a 2018 study and reports on a survey conducted in 2022 to examine the value of advanced subject degrees in addition to the Master of Library Science for academic librarians. This study explores the impact of advanced subject degrees on scholarly contributions, compensation, teaching roles, and tenure status in academic…

The Punjab University Library (PUL) is the oldest and largest public-sector university library in Pakistan, established in 1873 as a Punjab University College Library and then upgraded as PUL in 1882. As in many other post-colonial countries, the end of British rule over South Asians in 1947 did not end colonialism itself, as an embedded feature…

This article is the third and last of a multi-part study on academic instruction librarians' conceptions and experiences of teacher agency in relation to their instructional work. Based on the findings of an online survey of academic instruction librarians, this final article concentrates on the role that librarian relationships play in academic…

The Walter P. Reuther Library, Archives of Labor and Urban Affairs is part of Wayne State University in Detroit, Michigan. An innovative and ground-breaking institution, the Reuther is the largest labor archive in North America. It is home to the official archives of Wayne State University (WSU), several major labor unions including the…

Once an integral component to library instruction programs, tours of academic library spaces are less common despite students' continued need for study spaces with various qualities. This study asks, "What do students remember after taking an asynchronous, on-site academic library tour?" Qualitative analysis finds that, while students…

This study aims to examine the effects on users of social and cultural activities organized in academic libraries. In the study, randomly selected users from academic libraries in Türkiye were surveyed and the data obtained were analyzed using a descriptive statistical method. The findings show that library activities have positive effects on the…

Literature on primary source instruction between 2013 and 2023 features case studies from institutions able to support embedded archivists and scaffolded educational experiences. This article examines five common themes in the scholarship published within that time, including constructivism, the roles of digital and physical resources, and the…

Academic libraries are experiencing drastic changes due to unprecedented advancements in technology. This advancement has caused changes in users' information-seeking behavior, increased information competitors, and easy access and availability to free information on the internet. It is unfortunate that all this is happening amidst the dwindling…

This article explores the challenges, complexities, and contradictions of promising complete inclusiveness for all students and advocates for academic libraries to pursue student belonging. A sense of belonging is not only memorable for the student but impactful, as it results in closer social connections and higher rates of persistence. While an…

Data librarianship is a relatively new field that covers activities from teaching research data management skills and data science areas such as coding or cleaning data, to curating and archiving datasets. The Data Services Continuing Professional Education (DSCPE) program has stepped in to fill the critical education gap for data librarians. It…

Digital initiatives have become increasingly common in academic libraries, but inconsistent definitions, standards, and expectations limit and, in some cases, negatively impact the effectiveness of practitioners. This article explores the discourse surrounding professional titles and responsibilities in digital initiatives within North American…