july04a.indd


I n  t h e  

This issue features a number of articles that 
deal with the changing nature of academic 
librarianship and highlight the myriad areas 
impacted by change. “The blended librar­
ian” (p. 372) puts forth a framework for 
reinventing the role of academic librarians, 
in which they become more integrated with 
the teaching and learning process and operate 
as campus technology leaders. The authors 
develop the concept of the blended librarian, 
introduce principles of blended librarianship, 
and invite you to engage in further discussion 
of the concept. 

“Civic engagement in academic libraries” 
(p. 380) focuses on the growing trend in 
higher education of promoting civic engage­
ment on campus and the increasing role of 
the library in such endeavors. The library 
offers a central space for convening delibera­
tive forums, and librarians have the teaching 
and research skills to guide a successful civic 
engagement program. 

The article on “Northwestern’s new Maeda 
bookplate” (p. 376) illustrates how the chang­
ing nature of libraries into places often associ­
ated more with bytes than books required a 
step in a new direction during the creation 
of a donor bookplate. 

As America begins gearing up for the 
presidential election this fall, it seemed appro­
priate to offer an Internet Resources article on 
“Political parties and the electoral process” (p. 
366). This article will help you fi nd informa­
tion on the electoral college, major and third 
political parties, and the 2004 election. 

If you weren’t able to attend the Western 
European Studies Section’s second interna­
tional conference, “Migrations in Society, 
Culture, and the Library,” in April, the article 
on p. 385 provides an overview of the confer­
ence programming and activities. 

—Stephanie Orphan, Editor­in­chief 
sorphan@ala.org 

358 / C&RL News  July/August 2004 

mailto:sorphan@ala.org