ACRL News Issue (B) of College & Research Libraries 394/C&RL News Choosing our futures: ACRL's 8th N ational Conference B y R o b e r t R e n a u d The Nashville conference will offer strategies fo r the future U rgency and excitement filled the air as the executive committee organizing the 1997 ACRL National Conference in Nashville met at Midwinter. The urgency related partly to tim­ ing. ACRL’s decision to hold its national con­ ferences every two, rather than three years made it seem as if every decision had to be made yesterday. The excitement arose as the com­ mittee got down to discussing the conference theme. Representing college and research li­ braries o f every type, the committee formed a microcosm of the profession. What emerged was a remarkable consensus summed up in the conference theme, “Choosing Our Futures.’’ As committee members related their expe­ riences and concerns, they agreed that academic librarians could no longer afford to wait pas­ sively for the future to happen. Downsizing, financial crunches, and increasing competition will force libraries to choose between alterna­ tive futures. Their position on campus and their ability to serve faculty and students will de­ pend on their ability to choose and act. In addition to the overall conference theme, the committee arrived at five subthemes which will attempt to capture the imaginations of aca­ demic librarians. P a rtn e rsh ip s a n d com petition In the 1990s academic libraries find themselves in a crunch that shows no signs of ending. The financial problems experienced by many col­ leges and universities have forced painful cut­ backs. In order to respond to these pressures, many libraries have entered into, or are con­ sidering, partnerships in various forms, includ­ ing the outsourcing of technical service func­ tions. Libraries also find themselves competing for scarce resources with organizations both on and off the campus. Some of our best suppliers are now attempting to bypass the library to serve our customers directly. Some of our campus colleagues are looking at how they can assume new roles as their old ones fade. The twin poles of partnership and competition challenge the basic culture of librarianship and push librar­ ians into unfamiliar roles. How will we learn to compete shrewdly and use strategies like part­ nerships to our advantage? C h a n g in g w o r k , ro le s, a n d o r g a n iz a tio n s Technology, downsizing, and the new demands being placed on college and university librar­ ies are forcing radical changes in work and organizations. Like private companies, many libraries are working to break down hierarchi­ cal structures in favor of flat, team-based orga­ nizations. Similarly, the nature o f the work per­ formed by librarians is changing. The need to be proactive and visible on campus is bringing librarians into closer and more continuous con­ tact with faculty and students. What organiza­ tional structures will work best and how will our new work affect recruiting, library educa­ tion, and career paths? How will we assume new roles and extricate ourselves from old ones? Fu n d in g Traditional sources of funding for academic li­ braries are under increasing pressure. Institu­ tions seeking to balance strained budgets are cutting staff and acquisitions funds and demand­ Robert Renaud is team leader o f bibliographic access at the University o f Arizona, Tucson; e-mail: renaud@server.library.arizona.edu mailto:renaud@server.library.arizona.edu June 1995/395 ing more financial accountability. In response, libraries are renewing their efforts to find alter­ native sources o f funding through grants, do­ nations, and ongoing partnerships with private companies and other units on campus. How can libraries ensure that their funding in the future supports quality collections and services? L e a rn in g Colleges and universities are revolutionizing the classroom. The cost o f educating students in traditional class­ room settings is Academic libra forcing creative ex­ periments and new longer afford t approaches based ly for the futur on technology and the more effective use o f faculty. In addition, growing knowledge o f how students learn is prompting changes in teaching strategies. The resulting diversity challenges library services based on past “one-size-fits-all” approaches. How will libraries adapt to rapidly changing learning and teaching styles? What will the im­ pact o f the learning-centered university be on services, staff, and facilities? S o c ia l re sp o n s ib ility , e q u ity , a n d d iv e r sity Throughout these subthemes run other con­ cerns: social responsibility, equity, and diver­ sity. From the perspective o f librarianship as a profession, the obligation exists to choose fu­ tures based on responsible and ethical grounds. But from the point o f view o f simple effective­ ness, w e need to recognize, celebrate, and re­ spond to the diversity found in our profession and in our communities. J o in the d e b a te The 1997 ACRL National Conference will be challenging and fun. Nashville in the spring, with its restaurants, ians can no historic sights, and, w a it p assive­ o f course, music will provide a won­ to happen. derful setting. But it is hoped that the energy o f the conference will extend beyond that. In the months leading up to April 1997, the conference executive committee will invite academic librarians to speak to the subthemes o f competition, work, funding, learning, and social responsibility. The conference itself will be the culmination o f a debate that will enable college and research libraries to plan for their success into the next century. Make plans now to attend the conference in 1997 and be sure to watch for updates in C&RL News and on the conference’s W WW homepage ( http://library.tufts.edu/www/mcdonald/acrl home.html). See you in Nashville! r o e http://library.tufts.edu/www/mcdonald/acrl 396/C&RL News