The Future Role of the Academic Librarians in Higher Education

Higher education programs across the nation have recognized that transformation in pedagogical norms is critical. Often, decreased funding for education is cited as a primary driver for the need to transform the way higher education does its business. This article describes a series of factors that confirm that the decrease in funding is only one element that is forcing the changes that librarians have long predicted would be necessary. The convergence of external economic pressures and changing student expectations demands a need for altering how we deliver instruction. This provides a window of opportunity for academic librarians to take a leadership role in our institutions for leveraging opportunities to reach students during significant learning moments outside of the classroom.