University Libraries
Farnoosh Reghabi; Abdolhossein Farajpahlou; Nadjla Hariri
Abstract
Goal: Academic libraries need to illustrate a realistic picture of the future to keep pace with modern developments, effectively confront them, and maintain their status durability in current competitive conditions. In this way, they can make accurate decisions and plans about selecting future directions. ...
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Goal: Academic libraries need to illustrate a realistic picture of the future to keep pace with modern developments, effectively confront them, and maintain their status durability in current competitive conditions. In this way, they can make accurate decisions and plans about selecting future directions. Achieving such a picture is usually possible by conducting systematic studies about the future. Thus, the present study aimed to systematically review the studies on the future of libraries in Iran and across the world, explain the research gap, and investigate, review, and summarize the proposed driving forces of the future of academic libraries. Method: The present study implemented a systematic review methodology. For this purpose, the relevant studies were extracted from national and international databases and were investigated. Finally, 29 studies were analyzed. Findings: Reviewing the studies resulted in a list of 112 candidate driving forces that could influence the future of academic libraries. The items were extracted in eight dimensions, including political, economic, social, technological, legal, and environmental (to investigate the external environments), in addition to the “structural-administrative” and the “nature and services of libraries” dimensions (to investigate internal environments). Moreover, it was discovered that conducting future studies on academic libraries and developing prioritized scenarios for the future of the libraries were the research gaps in the field. Results: The directors and librarians of academic libraries have to develop strategic and future-oriented plans to maintain the durability of their organization in the face of environmental changes and developments arising from modern informational and communication technologies and effectively respond to the expectations of a knowledge-based society. The first step in this path is identifying and detecting the driving forces that influence the future of academic libraries and endeavoring to develop relevant scenarios. Thus, future studies can act as convenient bases to effectively direct academic libraries toward a desirable or prioritized future
