The fifth installment of Mapping the Current Landscape of Research Library Engagement with Emerging Technologies in Research and Learning discusses a sampling of the ways in which libraries have responded to the need for broad access to tools and expertise that advance digital scholarship. The section released today frames digital scholarship support in the context of how libraries can and do provide the infrastructure, education, and services for data management, analysis, visualization, and curation. This section covers only those methods that have demonstrated the most influence from emerging technologies such as machine learning, containerization, and high-performance computing.
The full report by Sarah Lippincott will be published in its entirety this summer by the Association of Research Libraries (ARL), the Coalition for Networked Information (CNI), and EDUCAUSE. Conducted before the COVID-19 pandemic, this study is an excellent resource for research libraries as they identify strategic opportunities to adopt and engage with emerging technologies. Lippincott’s research considers policies and practices already underway, the ways in which research library values and professional expertise inform and shape library engagement with technologies, the ways library and library worker roles are being reconceptualized, and the implications of a range of technologies on how the library fulfills its mission.
The following installments are being published as they become available at https://doi.org/10.29242/report.emergingtech2020.landscape:
- Executive Summary (March 26, 2020)
- Introduction, Methodology, and Cross-Cutting Opportunities (April 2, 2020)
- Facilitating Information Discovery and Use (April 14, 2020)
- Stewarding the Scholarly and Cultural Record (May 27, 2020)
- Advancing Digital Scholarship (July 6, 2020)
- Furthering Learning and Student Success
- Building and Managing Learning and Collaboration Spaces
This work is part of a joint ARL-CNI-EDUCAUSE initiative to advance research libraries’ impact in a world shaped by emerging technologies. In March, the initiative published—along with the executive summary of this landscape analysis—a summary of interviews with experts in research and academic technologies from several allied sectors. In July, the initiative will also release a report on two invitational workshops focused on identifying achievable and desirable opportunities for research libraries.
About the Association of Research Libraries
The Association of Research Libraries (ARL) is a nonprofit organization of 124 research libraries in Canada and the US whose mission is to advance research, learning, and scholarly communication. The Association fosters the open exchange of ideas and expertise, promotes equity and diversity, and pursues advocacy and public policy efforts that reflect the values of the library, scholarly, and higher education communities. ARL forges partnerships and catalyzes the collective efforts of research libraries to enable knowledge creation and to achieve enduring and barrier-free access to information. ARL is on the web at ARL.org.
About the Coalition for Networked Information
The Coalition for Networked Information (CNI) is a joint program of the Association of Research Libraries (ARL) and EDUCAUSE that promotes the use of information technology to advance scholarship and education. Some 240 organizations representing higher education, publishing, information technology, scholarly and professional organizations, foundations, and libraries and library organizations, make up CNI’s members. Learn more at www.cni.org.
About EDUCAUSE
EDUCAUSE is a community of IT leaders and professionals working together to tackle challenges and leverage opportunities that are constantly evolving within higher education. EDUCAUSE welcomes diversity, in viewpoints and experience, and believes in the transformative power of uncommon thinking for the common good. Visit www.educause.edu.
