Partners in Education: The Role of the Academic Library By:

Academic libraries in the new millennium are leaders in knowledge management and information literacy programs. Librarians in universities are innovative in their use of the new information technologies to provide access to a range of multimedia sources. Today’s librarians teach students the information handling skills to last a lifetime. This paper discusses the changes in teaching and learning, both in theory and practice. Best practices conducive to student learning are examined for their application to library programs of service and instruction. The resources and services of The University College of the Cariboo Library are reviewed as an example of a university library striving to meet the challenges of this century. Finally it is suggested that a strong partnership among faculty, librarians and students creates a positive learning environment. New concepts of learning The traditional image of the library as a quiet place of study, housing mostly print collections, is changing. The shifts in education methods, the impact of computer technology, and the diversity of students have caused academic libraries to organize resources and design services and spaces that meet and anticipate the new needs of stud