Restructuring for relevance: a paradigm shift for academic libraries

Abstract

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to report on the development of a flexible and robust academic library structure that meets the demands of an ever changing user community and remains relevant and fit for purpose in a technology-driven age. The new structure makes provision for the delivery of new and innovative services responding to the need for a paradigm shift in twenty-first century academic librarianship. The move away from subject librarianship, which has been the bastion of South African academic librarianship, is significant. Design/methodology/approach This paper used the exploratory method to gain new insights into library structures that have restructured for the twenty-first century. The exploratory study was used to gain new insights into functional librarianship. Despite the short comings of the exploratory method, the method was deemed most appropriate as UCT Libraries was not seeking definitive answers but a process that would provide opportunities to explore possibilities for subsequent processes. Findings The move from subject librarianship to functional librarianship has given the library the opportunity to restructure. The restructured library can now offer new and/or radically expanded services to meet the demands of a twenty-first century academic library. Practical implications The development of new and future roles and responsibilities commensurate with a robust and “future-driven” structure will consolidate the library’s role as a collaborator in the teaching and learning, and research agendas of a higher education institution. Originality/value This paper will be of interest and value to library managers and staff wanting to develop a library structure that responds positively to the redefinition of the professional roles and functions of the library and to strategically position the academic library for the future. It will also be of interest to library and information science academics who may want to re-examine their curricula for the incorporation of new trends.

Impact of restructuring resources and services and their utilization in IIT Roorkee library, India

“…The significant change in usage of library resources and services has more than ever been caused by an adaptation of the restructuring process into the library. Restructuring the library, according to Xiao (2020) and Raju et al. (2018), meets the needs of diverse users by promoting the flow of knowledge and expanding the state-of-the-art services of the 21st-century academic library.…”

“…The significant change in usage of library resources and services has more than ever been caused by an adaptation of the restructuring process into the library. Restructuring the library, according to Xiao (2020) and Raju et al (2018), meets the needs of diverse users by promoting the flow of knowledge and expanding the state-of-the-art services of the 21stcentury academic library. As Kumar and Gupta (2022) study the restructuring of library resources and services at IIT Delhi library and find that user usage and preferences for electronic resources and services are increasing.…”

Readiness of academic libraries in South Africa to research, teaching and learning support in the Fourth Industrial Revolution

“…The transformed roles, innovative services and future of academic libraries have been the focus of attention by many researchers around the world (Catalano et al , 2018; Cox et al , 2019; Dempsey and Malpas, 2018; Feret, 2018; Schulte et al , 2018; Sewell and Kingsley, 2017) and in South Africa (Chiware and Becker, 2018b; Hodonu-Wusu and Lazarus, 2018; Kwanya and Stilwell, 2018; Moll and Moll-Willard, 2019; Ocholla et al , 2016; Ocholla and Ocholla, 2017; Onyancha, 2018; Raju et al , 2018; Wilson et al , 2019). The result has been the creation of new library spaces and services, which are suitable for the needs and orientation of individual institutions (Dempsey and Malpas, 2018); (Ocholla et al , 2016), in response to the rapidly changing landscape of higher education, influenced by a strong research, teaching and learning agenda; ICTs; university ranking; community engagement (for contextualizing research and teaching) and the 4IR, all of which demand that library services be accessible anytime, and anywhere.…”

An authentic flip subscription model for Africa: library as publisher service

“…Raju et al (2018) purport that in the 21st century, academic libraries need to realign their contribution to the university’s agenda by moving “from reactive librarianship to proactive partnership or proactive collaborative librarianship.” The growing cliché in this era is a shift away from collection-focussed to service-focussed; however, the library as a publisher service brings the twain together, that is, bringing the expansion in service and collection development together. The authors advance that this alternative publishing model will contribute to the generation of local scholarly content, which will have the domino effect of contributing to the development of African society.…”