Value of Academic Libraries Statement
The Value of Academic Libraries Statement articulates the various ways academic libraries provide direct and indirect value to institutions of higher education.
Use the Value of Academic Libraries Statement to develop your own talking points and “elevator speeches” highlighting the essential role that academic libraries play as “one of the few units in a modern institution of higher education that can provide an impact on all realms of institutional importance, from student enrollment to faculty productivity to institutional reputation, while balancing services and resources for all constituency groups and stakeholders in higher education.”
Approved by the ACRL Board of Directors on June 25, 2016, the Value of Academic Libraries Statement was authored by Adam Murray (James Madison University) and Lorelei Tanji (University of California, Irvine), members of the ACRL Value of Academic Libraries Committee.
Customizable Posters
VAL poster template (Customizable PPT template)
VAL poster (Downloadable PDF, without customization)
The PowerPoint file above can be downloaded and modified to include your library’s name and logo. The slides are set at 24″ x 36″ for large-format printing, but can be modified. The posters cite studies from Portal: Libraries and the Academy and Evidence Based Library and Information Practice that indicate students who make use of library resources have higher retention rates and GPA.
If you use the posters in your library or on your campus, please share pictures! You can find ACRL on Twitter @ALA_ACRL.
Documents / Resources
- ACRL Environmental Scan (2015, PDF)
- New Roles for the Road Ahead (Essays Commissioned for ACRL’s 75th Anniversary) (2015, PDF)
- Top Trends in Academic Libraries (2014, C&RL News)
- Using Qualitative Methods in Action Research (April 2011, ACRL)
- Value of Academic Libraries Toolkit (October 2010)
- Lisa Hinchliffe. “The Value of Academic Libraries: A Look Forward.” (October 2010, C&RL News)
- Futures Thinking for Academic Librarians: Higher Education in 2025 (June 2010, PDF)
- ACRL Strategic Thinking Guide for Academic Librarians in the New Economy (March 2009, PDF)
Professional Development Opportunities
- Assessment Immersion: Demonstrating the Educational Value of the Academic Library (ACRL Immersion Program)
- Planning, Assessing, and Communicating Library Impact: Putting the Standards for Libraries in Higher Education into Action (Training Workshops)
More Resources
Confronting the Business Lens for Accountability of General Education, presentation at the 2009 ACRL National Conference (.mov file)
Marilee Bresciani, Associate Professor, Administration, Rehabilitation, and Postsecondary Education, San Diego State University
Articles and Studies Related to Library Value (Return on Investment)
Developed by the ALA Office for Research & Statistics
ACRL 2009 Strategic Thinking Guide for Academic Librarians in the New Economy
Distinguished panelists will discuss the questions presented in this document at the ACRL 14th National Conference in Seattle, March 13, 2009, during a program session “Brother Can You Spare a Dime? ACRL 2009 Strategic Thinking Guide for Academic Librarians in the New Economy.” It is intended to spur strategic conversation, planning, and action in academic libraries.
21st Century Academic Libraries in Higher Education
This document was prepared by Julie Todaro, ACRL President, 2007-2008, for a presentation at the American Association of State Colleges & Universities (AASCU) Academic Affairs Winter Meeting, February 8, 2008, Tempe, Arizona.
What Chief Academic Officers Want from Their Libraries: Findings from interviews with Provosts and Chief Academic Officers (PDF)(October 2007)
This is the central finding from a recent survey of Provosts and Chief Academic Officers conducted on behalf of the Association for College and Research Libraries by Leigh S. Estabrook and the University of Illinois
The Future of Higher Education: A View from CHEMA (PDF)
A report presented by Council of Higher Education Management Association (CHEMA) and Educause Center for Applied Research (ECAR), with generous sponsorship from Carter & Burgess, Inc., and produced for CHEMA by APPA.
Campus of the Future Poster session (PDF)
Poster session presented by ACRL President, Pamela Snelson, and ACRL Executive Director, Mary Ellen K. Davis, July 8-11, 2006, at The Campus of the Future, a joint conference sponsored by AAPA (Serving Educational Facilities Professionals), NACUBO (National Association of College and University Business Officers), and SCUP (Society for College and University Planning).
Top Issues Facing Academic Libraries for the Future of Academic Libraries and Librarians
This article from the June 2016 issue of C&RL News outlines the primary issues facing academic libraries today, including recruitment, education, and retention of librarians. The findings in the article are the results of research conducted by ACRL's Research Planning and Review Committee.