Professors and Professionals: On Changing Boundaries

Explores the shifting boundaries between academics and professionals in higher education, identifying three basic types of player, defined by their expertise in an academic area (the “professor”), information organization (the “content professional”), and information technology (the “conduit professional”). Discusses eight examples of hybrid professionals with boundary-spanning roles at the intersections of established specialisms. Suggests three scenarios for the future university library: the electronic library, the self-service library, and the virtual library, representing the preferred models respectively of information specialists, academic faculty, and funding bodies. Describes current pressures for convergence of library and computing services and the many factors influencing decisions made by institutions. Concludes that centrally managed information and technology services will remain the dominant model for the foreseeable future, but with further restructuring and continual regrouping of professional specialists, who will require expanded skill sets including abilities beyond their core competency to deliver effective services in the changing environment