Identifying and Exploring Future Trends Impacting on Academic Libraries: A Mixed Methodology Using Journal Content Analysis,Focus Groups,and Trend Reports

This article compares three sources of information about academic libraries to consider what the future could hold and the skills needed to deliver effective services within that future. The starting point is the contents of New Review of Academic Librarianship (formerly British Journal of Academic Librarianship) from 1986, which are examined thematically and used to conduct focus groups with academic librarians from those in first posts to international library leaders. Recent major trend spotting reports and articles are also examined and compared. Thus, a retrospective analysis of published literature plus the current concerns of working librarians and future trend spotting reports are brought together to see whether any trends for the future emerge. The skills needed to develop relevant services in these new contexts are identified and there is some consideration of how new roles could affect existing library teams. Gaps in the journal coverage and areas for possible future articles are identified.     

对美国社区学院课程演变的考察

美国社区学院的课程直接反映了学生们截然不同的目标。纵观其历史,社区学院已经维持着一种去反映学生抱负模式的变化和地方经济模式改变的课程使命。这正反映着社区学院独有的特点并有可能被当成是其最大的力量。