In this newly revised and expanded third edition, The Changing Academic Library: Operations, Culture, Environments, number 74 in ACRL’s Publications in Librarianship series, presents a critical examination of major issues facing colleges and universities and the unique challenges their libraries face.

In twelve chapters—including a completely new second chapter on the state of higher education—the book presents an overview of higher education and the role of libraries within the institution, covering academic models from private colleges to public universities; discusses governance models, financing, and organizational culture, and the library’s place within them; examines changes in scholarly communication; looks at the impact of the library on its community; and explores issues affecting library collections, access, services, and staffing.

As the world of higher education continues to change, academic libraries and librarians must respond to shifts in their purpose and operations to provide the best services to their communities. The Changing Academic Library can be used as a text in library and information science courses, as well as an introduction for new professionals and academic administrators. Its fresh and detailed examination of the environment of colleges and universities and the political and social forces that operate in higher education, past, present, and future, can also benefit practicing academic librarians.