The university library as a physical space – for books and silent study – has given way to its role as a dynamic, technology-driven hub supporting research, learning and innovation. Nevertheless, the library’s mission and vision are unchanged: we support student and faculty success; enhance research, teaching and learning through the creation, curation and communication processes of scholarship and other research; and ensure universal access to information.
As we move beyond 2025, the roles within research university libraries are evolving in response to digital transformation, open scholarship and the changing needs of students and faculty. Here, I describe ways that university libraries can transform their services and operations to meet students’ and faculty needs.
From caretakers of physical collections and archives to digital curators
The arrival of the internet in the mid-1980s seeded radical changes in library services. Today, with the explosion of open-access content, data repositories and digital archives, many academic librarians are effectively digital curators. And sustaining digital research objects for current and future use is a core function for university libraries. Digital curators document, manage and preserve digital objects and navigate complex online landscapes to ensure that faculty and students have access to reliable, high-quality resources.
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As digital resources grow more complex, teaching digital literacy remains central to our library’s mission. At Virginia Tech, we invest in continuous professional development to support our librarians in staying current. For example, our staff regularly participate in targeted training on emerging topics such as algorithmic bias, AI literacy, data ethics and digital preservation. We also host internal learning communities and invite guest experts to lead workshops that keep our teams informed and agile.
Open scholarship centres
University libraries have emerged as key players in supporting open-access publishing, research data management and scholarship/data access through open digital repositories. By advocating for open educational resources, libraries help reduce costs. Those of us who attended university before the digital explosion will remember the steep costs associated with buying physical textbooks – that’s just one minor example.
We know that current knowledge fuels future knowledge, just as new research builds on existing research to produce innovation. When we ensure that everyone can access research and educational resources openly, we are harnessing our library to achieve knowledge transparency, accessibility and democracy. At our university, we harness scholarly communication librarians and publishing professionals in this effort; they guide faculty on OA publishing options, repository use, copyright considerations and compliance with funder mandates.
Data science expertise
The rise of AI, big data and machine learning has reshaped information usage and academic research. It has also changed library teams, which now include data scientists, AI research scientists and digital humanities specialists. Universities need to invest in the expertise to manage, analyse and visualise data and other research resources to support users’ work and research. These professionals support interdisciplinary collaboration, ensuring that research outputs are not just accessible but interpretable and impactful.
Libraries also play a key role in AI literacy across institutions. We are designing, for example, a programme to assist students with a basic understanding of AI technology, ethical concerns and workplace uses.
Services in research impact, intelligence and evidence synthesis
Libraries are increasingly helping researchers and institutions understand the bigger picture of their work – how it fits into broader academic conversations, what impact it’s having, and where it could go next. By analysing research trends and outcomes, libraries can support strategic decisions, policy development and stronger grant proposals.
Rather than just offering data, librarians can act as collaborators, helping interpret findings, identify opportunities for future research and demonstrate impact in ways that matter to funders and stakeholders. Libraries entering this space should invest in staff with expertise in research metrics, data analysis and evidence synthesis. Start by asking researchers what they need to understand about their work’s reach and relevance, and tailor services to support those goals. The key is not just offering tools but offering insight.
Student success hubs
Academic libraries are increasingly focused on student engagement and learning, remaking their buildings as collaborative spaces that integrate academic support services ranging from writing centres to mental health resources. User-experience librarians, who collaborate in redesigning physical and digital library spaces, are more inclusive and responsive to diverse student needs, from neurodiverse learners to international students navigating the academic experience.
Today’s students aren’t just absorbing information, they’re creating it – building, designing and producing original work. Libraries can play a vital role in nurturing this creativity by offering spaces, tools and support for hands-on learning and innovation. This means providing open access to technologies such as 3D printers, virtual reality tools, audio-visual production equipment and prototyping materials. These resources also reduce barriers to entry.
At Virginia Tech, for example, we offer maker spaces, which we call studios, that traditionally were only available in certain majors. Creating dedicated, flexible spaces can encourage cross-disciplinary collaboration and experimentation. The goal is to empower all students, regardless of their major or background, to engage in creative, project-based learning – and to see the library as a place where innovation begins.
Looking ahead to the library of the future
The library must transform into an adaptable, research-enabling, student-centred space ready for a rapidly changing digital age. University leaders must invest in information, data, multimedia and technology professionals, infrastructure and policies that enable these institutions to thrive. The future of the university library is not just about information, it is about connection, collaboration and innovation.
Tyler Walters is dean of university libraries at Virginia Tech and governing board chair of the Academic Preservation Trust, a consortium of colleges and universities across the country committed to providing a preservation repository for digital content and developing related services.
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