via Anne Craig, CARLI Senior Director)
At its September, 2024, meeting, the CARLI Governance Board discussed the growing national climate of budget cuts, mergers, and closures in higher education, for colleges and their libraries. In response to this disturbing trend, the Board approved the Statement on the Importance of Librarians in Academic Libraries.
With this statement specifically, CARLI emphatically proclaims the importance of librarians in higher education libraries. Librarians (and libraries) are not an excisable luxury that is somehow detached from an institution’s educational excellence but are instead critical components of campuses and the academic experience. Their work is inextricably interwoven with student success and well-being for the duration of the student’s academic career, and they are important colleagues who contribute to the essential work of faculty.
The board endorsement includes adding the Statement to the CARLI website and to allow CARLI Members to comment and institutional endorsement by CARLI Member Library Governing Directors.
Comments will be moderated and made public, unless deemed off-topic, offensive, or inappropriate.
Published comments will be available on the Call for Public Comment and Endorsement: CARLI Statement on the Importance of Librarians in Academic Libraries web page.
We appreciate your feedback! Please send an e-mail to CARLI Support if you have any questions.