Murphy, Hugh
(2016)
Library as the ‘centre for everything’
Placing the library at the strategic heart of the community.
Sconul Focus (66).
pp. 49-51.
ISSN 1745-5790
Abstract
The significance of the academic library in the university campus can be
manifest in a variety of ways – through the physical location, the housing of
significant collections, the variety of services and as a cultural hub and active
partner in university strategy. The idea of the academic library as the ‘centre
for everything’, while having obvious strategic attractions, also brings with it
serious hazards which may ultimately be counterproductive to core values.
In recent years Maynooth University (MU) Library has actively worked to ensure
that its position as a centre for first-class collections and services has been
enhanced and its role has been perceived to be more nuanced – acting as a
nexus for a myriad of activities on campus. This progression has been achieved
through several key strategies, ranging from an organisational review and
strategic leadership to the harnessing of new technologies and the promotion
and embedding of new services. All of these have a demonstrable impact,
which has created a virtuous circle, and brought the library closer to becoming
‘the centre for everything’.
This article will explore how this has happened, reflect on some of the pitfalls
and, importantly, consider the risk of moving from being ‘valued’ and ‘involved’
to being ‘overcommitted’ and, ultimately having a diluted focus.
| Item Type: |
Article
|
| Keywords: |
library; libraries; |
| Academic Unit: |
University Library |
| Item ID: |
7612 |
| Depositing User: |
Hugh Murphy
|
| Date Deposited: |
16 Nov 2016 16:59 |
| Journal or Publication Title: |
Sconul Focus |
| Publisher: |
Sconul |
| Refereed: |
No |
| URI: |
|
| Use Licence: |
This item is available under a Creative Commons Attribution Non Commercial Share Alike Licence (CC BY-NC-SA). Details of this licence are available
here |
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