The Changing Roles Of Content Deployment Functions: Part Four of a Seven-Part Series: Academic Information Professionals

The fourth in Outsell's seven-part benchmarking series 'The Changing Roles Of Content Deployment Functions,' this Briefing focuses on the academic library segment. This data-intensive Briefing focuses on academic libraries' reporting structures, staffing trends, users served and services offered, content deployment methods and management activities, budget benchmarks, and strategic management and marketing practices. Academic libraries have large budgets, compared to most other content deployment functions, with the total budget for respondents to this year's survey averaging $2.331 million, or about $180 per user. For centuries, academic libraries have existed to preserve and provide access to civilization's cultural record. In carrying this role forward today, academic libraries are demonstrating leadership in digital library infrastructure and collection management, information literacy, user training, and many other areas. Yet, technological change, shifting patterns of information use, and resource constraints are putting tremendous pressure on academic libraries to find new ways to survive and thrive. This Briefing examines learnings and implications for all content deployment professionals and for the Information Content Industry vendors that serve them.