Adapting to change in academic libraries
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1108/GKMC-04-2020-0053 |
| Published date | 15 October 2021 |
| Date | 15 October 2021 |
| Pages | 672-685 |
| Subject Matter | Library & information science,Information behaviour & retrieval,Information in society,Information literacy,Library & information services |
| Author | Mohammad Aslam |
Adapting to change in
academic libraries
Mohammad Aslam
University of Nizwa, Nizwa, Oman
Abstract
Purpose –The purpose of this paper is to discover the mainreasons for change, why change is necessary
and how library professionals can adapt to change.Academic institutions are rapidly changing around the
world where libraries are facing similar challenges and adapting change is a demand for growth and
improvement. Libraryadministrators need a clear vision and strategicplan to meet the upcoming challenges,
they must have self-confidence,ability to work with diversity. Library professionalsneed to show flexibility
and a willingness to develop new skills,they also need to adopt new ways of working and dealing with the
academiccommunity.
Design/methodology/approach –The literature review is built on resources from offline and online
full-text databases such as ProQuest, EBSCO, Emerald, Library Literature and Information Science
databases. This paper is based on a systematicliterature review method which includes 50 research articles
and 5 print books. A totalof 109 articles were collected at the beginning stage but after theiranalysis in detail,
they were reduced to 50 articles as the rest of the articles did not exactly focus on adapting to change in
academic libraries. Basic keyword and advanced searching options have been used to retrieve the relevant
literatureon the topicfrom peer-reviewed and scholarly resources.
Findings –Changes are the resultof organizational restructuring, userexpectations and accessibility to a
growing range of digital content, so library professionals are under pressure to adopt change in academic
librariesand introduce new services and technology.Library professionals need to changetraditional ways of
workingand boost their knowledge and skills,collaborative attitude,redesign and policies and proceduresand
createa willingness to adapt tothe change. Challenges can be managedif an individual has a keen interestand
eagernessto keep up to date with the current knowledgeand emerging trends in academiclibraries.
Research limitations/implications –Appropriate literatureon the topic was reviewed systematically,
not all publications were included. Literature on this topic is relatively limited so more research and
publicationsare needed to deal with current and future scenariosof academic libraries.
Practical implications –This paper offers a useful overview of the ways and approaches used to
adopting change by library professionals and the approaches that can be used in the current and future
settings of academic libraries. Suggestions and recommendations can be used in the field of LIS, as well as
library professionalsmay apply in the academic and research libraries to effectivelychange.
Originality/value –This paper focuses on theconcept of adapting to change in academic libraries, rather
than responding to change.This piece of opinion contributes to library science in the area of how to manage
and implement change, suggests ways and frameworks which can be used to adopting change by library
professionals.
Keywords Academic libraries, Change management, Academic library staff, Organizational change,
Librarians challenges, Professional development,Library professionals, Library management,
Academic staff, Adapting change, dealing challenges, Reshaping libraries
Paper type Viewpoint
Introduction
Adapting to change has variousnames in the literature such as institutional change, change
management models, change management theories and leading change (Carter, 2014). This
article focuses on some of the appropriate change models for academic libraries but not
included all change theories. Change in an organization is a result of globalization and the
GKMC
71,8/9
672
Received1 May 2020
Revised20 August 2020
30October 2020
Accepted29 November 2020
GlobalKnowledge, Memory and
Communication
Vol.71 No. 8/9, 2022
pp. 672-685
© Emerald Publishing Limited
2514-9342
DOI 10.1108/GKMC-04-2020-0053
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