JISC's 'Libraries of the Future' debate has gone digital, with a specially-commissioned documentary. Over 200 people have already viewed the ten minute video, which marks the culmination of a year long campaign.

Libraries of the Future documentary released

Video JISC's 'Libraries of the Future' debate has gone digital, with a specially-commissioned documentary Over 200 people have already viewed the ten minute video, which marks the culmination of a year long campaign.

The Libraries of the Future campaign stimulated debate among librarians, information professionals and academics on the issues surrounding technology's impact on the emerging role of the academic library in the 21st century through a series of events, printed resources and podcast interviews.

The documentary showcases interviews with leaders from JISC, Oxford University and LSE as well as students and academics who discuss what the library of the future will look like.

PublicationA flagship publication of the debate is also available from today as a printed booklet.  The resource explores the issues surrounding Libraries of the Future, showcases the events and activities of the campaign and looks forward to some possible solutions.

Sarah Thomas, Bodley’s librarian and director of Oxford University library services, said: "These issues are of critical importance not just to libraries. It’s not just about our future, it’s really about the future of our society because libraries have traditionally had the role of providing free and democratic access to knowledge."

The debate and discussions raised by the campaign continue to make the headlines, with many of the speakers at JISC's Content Conference in Kemble recently, grappling with the question of 'What makes a good library?'.

Jean Sykes, librarian and director of IT services at LSE, commented on the impact of the campaign:  " JISC has really helped us as leaders to get our heads above the operational which often just drags us down in our own environments.  We have been able to come back and do that strategic thinking a little bit more easily in our own back yards." "To move from the present library to what is required in the future will be an immense challenge.  JISC will use the outcomes from the debate to guide institutions in how to plan their futures." 

As Sarah Porter, head of innovation at JISC, explains: "To move from the present library to what is required in the future will be an immense challenge.  JISC will use the outcomes from the debate to guide institutions in how to plan their futures." 

Independent market researcher Sarah Mowl, who was commissioned by JISC to produce a report on the effectiveness of the campaign, said: "Thanks to this campaign, there is now significant additional coverage and debate across the press and more 'noise' surrounding libraries, technology and future educational needs."

Jean Sykes added: "People might think that the librarian is no longer an important person, but we are the ones who are actually bringing information to them. Google doesn’t create information, doesn’t catalogue or classify information, doesn’t store information; it is only a gateway to information which is being provided by a whole range of other people."

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