1. POSTER TEMPLATE BY: www.PosterPresentations.com The Future of Higher Education Library Staffing: Community Colleges, Research Universities, and Professional Schools Robert Martin, Jane Overmoe, and Linda Thompson EDL 561 Spring 2009 University of North Dakota Abstract Due to technological advances in the information age, the job qualifications of today’s academic librarians are being redefined. In light of the changing technological environment for academic libraries, we ask: 1)what job qualifications are now being required of academic librarians today? 2) how do these job qualifications criteria differ among academic librarians at community colleges/research libraries/professional school libraries? Based on the review of the literature, five factors have been identified in constructing job qualifications of academic librarians. We propose a Delphi study to explore these questions. Research Questions In light of the changing technological environment for academic libraries, we ask: 1)what job qualifications are now being required of academic librarians today? 2) how do these job qualifications criteria differ among academic librarians at community colleges/research libraries/professional school libraries? Conceptual Framework Literature Review - Highlights Communication George, Stillwell, and Warmkessel (2003) understand the needs of users through written and verbal communication is essential in linking learners to appropriate information. Technology Feret and Marcinek (1999) find that librarians need technology skills to both manage and deliver information to its end users. Collections Albanese (2005) relates the importance of digitizing rare books and manuscripts for preservation and increased access for students and researchers. User Service Lively and Racine (1997) find in their study that the “function of the librarian seemed to be evolving from the keeper of the books to that of network navigator. Team Hovde and Hovde (2008) locate four factors that could be used by academic library employee trainers: 1) understand technology, 2) information literacy, 3) effective training practices, and 4) how to work within the organization’s culture. Proposed Study Methodology The Delphi technique is the methodology for the proposed study. Academic Librarian Job Skills Communication Technology Team User Service Collections Overview of the Presentation Study Since 1994, there has been an explosion of technologies that is causing library science and its services to change. With the transformation of digitizing data, librarians are faced with changing from managing physical collections to invisible collections. The role of librarians is to bring people and information together regardless of the form. To meet the demands of the information age, this study will explore the necessary job qualifications of academic librarians specific to community colleges, research universities and professional schools. Through a Delphi study, today’s qualifications are conceptualized under five areas to see what differences exist among the three schools and how the changes evolve over time. Research Problem The job qualifications of today’s academic librarians are changing due to technological advances of the information age. Purpose/Need of the Study The purpose of this study is to find the necessary job qualifications of academic librarians in light of the technological advancements and user behaviors.