More Alike Than We Think

摘要

THE DISPARITY BETWEEN PUBLIC AND ACADEMIC libraries-and librarians-seems to be shrinking, if the recent Association of College and Research Libraries (ACRL) conference in Philadelphia is any indication. On a number of fronts, some big picture and weighty, others less so, the challenges libraries and librarians face, and even many of the solutions, are similar. In programs on abandoning ROI (return on investment) and outputs (e.g., library visits) in favor of outcomes, on focusing on the user experience and the mission of the institution in the larger community, on rethinking space, on building future leaders and embracing next-gen librarian values, the crossover between publics and academics appears stronger than their very different environments might make us think.