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As higher education has evolved through recent decades, college and university libraries also have forged pathways to serve faculty and students more effectively. Academic and research libraries have been early adopters of digital technologies and have provided leadership and training to help remake the academic enterprise. Universities and libraries are operating in a rapidly changing information environment. In this context, libraries have been redefined as facilitators to a world of information far beyond physical collections, providing access to global information through online resources and systems, and also creating their own digital content. Staff and student expectations are developing in line with these changes in the teaching, research and scholarly communication environment. Libraries need to take a strategic role in supporting academics and students within this technologically rich and constantly evolving context. Digital collections and digital scholarship are now mainstream library activities, core to research and teaching. The technology environment will be constantly and rapidly changing, with the expectations and requirements of information users increasing, and with libraries needing to provide an excellent search and discovery experience for their customers. As access to mobile devices becomes ubiquitous, users will expect seamless access to information and services, provided anywhere, anytime.

The Changing Academic Library: Operations, Culture and Environment provides academic administrators and librarians a better understanding of the issues facing the library during this time of change, and the role of the library in the evolving campus of the future. It helps academic librarians plan, implement, and manage changes to the fundamental structure of their organizations.