| Summary: | This thesis examines various perspectives on the role of the university library in contemporary Western universities, tracing its evolution and strategic development. Technological advancements and neoliberal shifts in higher education have driven significant changes; transforming spaces, collections, services, and staff. Despite positive developments, current challenges include budget constraints and a perceived decline in the library’s importance.
The study situates the university library within higher education and the Information Age, considering the internal environment influenced by library traditions, staff behaviours, and external perspectives of publishers, students, academics, and university leaders. It highlights the complex dynamics between these groups and their environments. It provides a sociological response to the question, “What is the role of the library in a modern university?”. The study adopts Pierre Bourdieu’s theoretical and methodological approach, focusing on social systems, power dynamics, interactions, and relationships, and how these entities evolve over time. Using Bourdieu’s field tools, the university library is analysed holistically, with data from interviews with senior stakeholders and practitioners, and a case study of a changing university library. This analysis is supported by an extensive literature review.
The thesis discusses the implications for practice and research, questioning the adequacy of current strategies and proposing new approaches for future changes in university libraries. It offers deeper insights into the challenges faced by those leading and working in university libraries.
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