Academic library advocacy is particularly relevant today as the long-term effects of the pandemic are still being determined, and as we simultaneously anticipate the post-pandemic higher education environment and the long promised demographic shift– both of which are likely to cause major enrollment and financial changes.
For more than a decade, ACRL has undertaken several initiatives to assist the academic library community in demonstrating their impact and value. This has included significant work in the areas of assessment and data collection, as well as developing and improving tools to accomplish that work.
Prompted by member concerns about a broadening trend of academic libraries being marginalized or diminished as institutions examine themselves and make changes due to impacts of the pandemic or other circumstances, the Board proposed that a joint working group be established to develop a toolkit to support library workers in advocating for their roles and value as campus partners, and to help them demonstrate to campus stakeholders the impacts of de-professionalization, layoffs/furloughs, removal of tenure or continuing appointments, eliminated positions and/or long-term vacancies, and reduced budgets at the federal, state, and institutional allotment. As much has changed in the last couple of years, this toolkit is the next iteration of work related to the Value of Academic Libraries initiative.
This Academic Library Advocacy Toolkit provides techniques, tips, and strategies for advocacy that use a variety of information sources and impact factors designed to help library administrators and employees:
Additionally, the toolkit provides the means to track news and share member stories among the academic library community and be a ready network of support.
This resource was created to help academic library administrators and workers “...effectively demonstrate and communicate their value to higher education stakeholders...” (Value of Academic Libraries) as they “...navigate change in higher education environments...” (New Roles & Changing Landscapes Committee).
In January 2022, the Association of College & Research Libraries president-elect and Board of Directors charged the Value of Academic Libraries Committee and the New Roles & Changing Landscapes Committee, both ACRL goal-level committees as outlined in the ACRL Plan for Excellence, to create an Academic Libraries Advocacy Toolkit to provide techniques, tips, and strategies for advocacy that use a variety of information sources and impact factors.
A year-long task force was convened to create this Academic Library Advocacy Toolkit, which was launched in January 2023.
Academic Library Advocacy Toolkit, Association of College & Research Libraries. 25 Jan. 2023. https://acrl.libuguides.com/advocacytoolkit.
Academic Library Advocacy Toolkit. Association of College & Research Libraires, January 25, 2023. https://acrl.libguides.com/advocacytoolkit.
