"Libraries would become the book museums of the 21st century."
Magazine
Survive or innovate? The library in a digital world
A recent futuring project by the Samenwerkingsverband Hogeschoolbibliotheken (SHB) and SURF revealed four future scenarios, ranging from hopeful to apocalyptic. This makes it all the more important to examine the library’s position. What opportunities and threats lie ahead? We discuss this with Hilde van Wijngaarden, chair of the UKB consortium, and Tecla ten Berge, chair of SHB.
Academic libraries have evolved significantly in recent decades. They are no longer merely guardians and managers of existing knowledge but have also taken on an active role in the digitalisation of education and research. This was not something everyone had expected.
'Book museums' take the lead
Hilde van Wijngaarden
Van Wijngaarden remembers the prediction when digitisation took off a few decades ago: libraries would become the book museums of the 21st century. However, today, libraries play a leading role in tackling the biggest challenges of that digitisation: research data management, open science, open access and AI in education and research.
In hindsight, it makes sense. "For example, look at the type of person you need for research data management," says Van Wijngaarden. "Where do you find them? In the library. Structuring, accessing and permanently preserving information is deep in the library DNA. So when digitisation started, it was the libraries that started thinking about metadata and all these other things that are needed. And we did that on an international scale, because we are used to working together. Everyone knows everyone." That's how new standards came about. And new roles, such as the datasteward.
University of applied sciences becomes knowledge institution
Tecla ten Berge
As research gained a foothold in higher education, college libraries also picked up supporting it. "The university of applied sciences had to become a knowledge institution," Ten Berge explains. "We realised that with mutual cooperation within the university of applied sciences, we could operate much more strongly to add value in doing so." This awareness led, among other things, to the national Digital Competence Centre for Practical Research (DCC-PO). The universities each have their own DCC to support their research.
There is much overlap with a parallel development: that of digital and open educational resources. Libraries also play a big role in this because of their expertise. Knowledge of metadata, for example, comes in handy in the subject communities in which more and more higher education lecturers are uniting. And experience with licence management is useful when further developing edusources.nl, the national platform for digital OERs.
Working together on information technology
In both universities and universities of applied sciences, it is striking how broad and intensive the cooperation around libraries is. This cooperation starts within institutions themselves. Van Wijngaarden explains: "At the VU, the UB department, the IT department and the faculties' data stewards work together in research support. They are people who know each other well and understand each other well. You see this at other universities too. This is not surprising, because at the end of the day, we are all talking about information technology."
The same applies to the topic of AI. Libraries have an important role in supporting 'AI literacy': the responsible use of language models. The same applies to the cooperation within SURF between the UKB consortium and the universities' IT directors. "Issues that concern both sides we tackle together," says Van Wijngaarden, such as open science and public values." There is also coordination between the SHB and the UKB consortium. Knowledge is shared and there are some joint working groups, for example those on open and online educational resources.
"There has been no library training in the Netherlands for 20 years."
Need for training
The intensive cooperation is needed to address a common challenge: there has been no library training in the Netherlands for 20 years. "Years ago, interest declined," says Van Wijngaarden. "It seemed that information management and communication courses could fill the need. But the people who are still trained in metadata and standards will soon be gone, they will retire. In addition, it appears that the total package of library expertise - with open science, open education and long-term accessibility of information - requires targeted training."
"The larger universities of applied sciences often take the lead in new national initiatives. However, they are now bearing the heaviest burden in terms of funding and workforce"
Investing becomes increasingly difficult
All these developments are taking place at a time of increasing austerity. Libraries are trying to lay a good foundation for the future, but at the same time it is becoming increasingly difficult to keep up the ordinary work. Declining student numbers are putting additional pressure on this.
In the university of applied sciences, the problem is even more acute due to the huge differences in size between universities of applied sciences, Ten Berge notes. "The larger universities of applied sciences often take the lead in new national initiatives. However, they are now bearing the heaviest burden in terms of funding and workforce."
Nevertheless, libraries continue to build for the future, with innovations such as open science and open educational resources. "We have also been given that task by our boards, UNL and the Association of Universities of Applied Sciences," says Van Wijngaarden.
Ten Berge also emphasises the opportunities offered by national developments from SURF and Npuls. "Research Drive, for example, is a service that we as libraries will be very happy with."
Studying between books
"Studying between books continues to inspire."
According to Ten Berge, all old and new tasks boil down to the same thing: knowledge must be selected, accessed and shared. "The content and presentation change, but in the end, this is still the purpose of a library."
A library also remains a physical place, especially as digitalisation becomes more and more widespread. Students flock to the library, to meet and study together. No wonder, thinks Van Wijngaarden: "People often think that with digital access, people can study at home. But it doesn't work like that: you need a place where you can see, smell and feel knowledge. Studying between books continues to inspire."
Text: Aad van de Wijngaart
Four scenarios for the future of libraries
How will college libraries develop in the near future? Together with SURF, the Samenwerkingsverband Hogeschoolbibliotheken (SHB) has worked out four scenarios. They range from continuity to total disruption.
Scenario 1: Continuation
The current approach of the libraries has proven itself and will be continued. Flexibilisation of education and personal learning lines are central to this. This requires national cooperation, not only for knowledge sharing but also for standardisation of rules and systems, for example.
Scenario 2: Limitation
Today's students value moral rules, e.g. for sustainability, privacy and inclusiveness. If those rules become defining for libraries, this could lead to higher costs and less innovation. National cooperation to support policies will be mandatory.
Scenario 3: Transformation
Accelerating technological developments are radically transforming universities of applied sciences. In this transformation, libraries must take on the role of personal FAIR coaches. This requires internal cooperation with education and research, and external with national networks and working groups in the field of education and IT.
Scenario 4: Collapse
Big Tech has taken over education. Lecturers and students have lost their autonomy and privacy. Libraries can still help students learn to be critical with the range of tools and information available. National cooperation in the context of SURF could possibly counterbalance the big market players.
More about futuring
Also take a look at the theme page on futuring. There you will find plenty of inspiration and information. Such as SURF Tech Trends Report and the most current futuring events.
'Survive or renew? The library in a digital world ' is an article by SURF Magazine.
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Questions following this article? Mail to magazine@surf.nl.