Considering the future of user services in libraries in the coming years. My take on what we can expect to see more of.

1. By Tracy Sutherland
July 11, 2016
THE FUTURE OF USER SERVICES

2. FORWARD-THINKING...
https://laughingsquid.com/libraries-of-the-future-an-optimistic-cartoon-by-tom-gauld/

3. OUT NUMBERING MILLENNIALS BY 1 MILLION
What is Gen Z? - born starting in the 90s
to the early ’00s - have good knowledge
and skills in new technologies and
devices - adapted to quickly sorting
through and assessing enormous
amounts of information - want to love
their job - do not love multi-tasking -
strong interest about their financial
stability.
http://nyti.ms/1UZOjDg (images)

4. VASSAR LIBRARIES GUIDING PRINCIPLES
• Provide a high level of service that is consonant with the prevailing needs of the
community
• Develop the collection to reflect the pedagogical needs of the faculty and students
• Facilitate access to and delivery of resources/information that are essential for student
and faculty research
• Consider current pedagogical needs in the selection of materials to be housed on
campus
• Organize the physical campus collection to enhance browsability
• Provide an appropriate environment for users and materials
• Preserve our resources for current and future users
• Employ data in our decision-making processes
• Leverage technology to assist in achieving all of the above
http://library.vassar.edu/about/missionstatement.html

5. PROVIDE EXCEPTIONAL HARMONIOUS SERVICE TO
THE COMMUNITY
• Evolving Service
• Constant evaluation to provide better service
• Providing connectivity
• Engaging users
• Diversity
• Staff & collections that reflect the community we serve
• Sharing across departments – cross training
• Reallocate
• Reorganize
• Repurpose

6. DEVELOP THE COLLECTION TO SUIT
STUDENTS AND FACULTY
• Transition to openness
• OER (Open Electronic Resources)
• Research Gate
• Academia
• Google Scholar
• HathiTrust
• YouTube University
• Apps/Podcasts
• TEDx
• PDA (patron driven acquisitions)
• Streaming media

7. GIVE EASY ACCESS AND DELIVERY
• Web based collaborative resources
• Creative commons
• Google Docs
• LibGuides
• Blackboard
• Discovery tools
Self-mediated services
• Self Check out
• Interlibrary Loan/OCLC Article Exchange
• Holds
• Fine payments
www.bibliotheca.com

8. CONSIDER CURRENT NEEDS IN SELECTION OF
MATERIALS AND ORGANIZE THEM FOR BETTER
BROWSING IN AN APPROPRIATE SPACE
• Collaboration with other departments outside of the library
• Participation in curriculum
• Space that motivates and inspires – for more than just books
• Social hub
• Safe space
• Quiet space

9. PRESERVE RESOURCES FOR CURRENT
AND FUTURE USERS
• Off Site Depository
• Stack Maintenance
• Electronic Scholarly content
• E-books
• E-journals
• Security
• Digital preservation
• Historical

10. USE DATA GATHERING IN THE DECISION-
MAKING PROCESSES
• Annual Reports
• Statistics
• Circulation
• Gate count
• Room bookings
• Reference/Interlibrary loan requests
• Assessment culture
• Take a closer look at ourselves- what works and what doesn't work
• Shifting demographics
• Count what counts – focus on the things we can control

11. LEVERAGE TECHNOLOGY TO ASSIST IN
ACHIEVING ALL OF THE GUIDING
PRINCIPLES• Technology support
• IT moving into the library
• Media services
Keeping current with new technological developments
• Blended learning – hybrid (on-line/on-ground)
• Mini courses in digital research
LEADERSHIP
• Fearless
• Supportive
• Visionary
• Motivate others

12. REFERENCES
Everything you need to know about Generation Z by Laurence Benhamou, AFP 2/12/15
http://www.mb.vu.lt/files/naujienos/bylos/14._g.rozenberga-
i.paidere_z_karta_pries_akademines_bibliotekas_paslaugu_prieinamumas.pdf (last accessed 7/7/16)
Gen Z vs Academic Libraries http://www.mb.vu.lt/files/naujienos/bylos/14._g.rozenberga-
i.paidere_z_karta_pries_akademines_bibliotekas_paslaugu_prieinamumas.pdf (last accessed 7/7/16)
Hersey, D. P. (2005). The Future of Access Services: Should There Be One?. Journal Of Access Services, 2(4), 1-6.
Martell, C. (2000). The disembodied librarian in the digital age. College and Research Libraries, 61, 10–28.
Schneiter, T. E. (2002). The Future of Access Services: Does Access Services Have a Future?. Journal Of Access Service,
1(1), 211-219.
Williams, A. (2015 September 20). Move Over, Millennials, Here Comes Generation Z. New York Times pp. STI

13. Tracy Sutherland
Tesutherland@msn.com
Twitter & LinkedIn: tesutherland