Topic: Libraries
Upcoming Event
July 19, 2026
Improving Legal Information Services for Incarcerated Patrons
Shifting institutional policies, communication restrictions, and shrinking budgets continue to limit access to legal information for incarcerated individuals and create confusion for those providing services from the outside. What does meaningful access look like in today’s carceral settings, and what legal information is most needed? How can law librarians navigate these constraints to deliver effective services? This panel at the AALL 2026 Conference will explore the current state of legal information services to incarcerated patrons and how law libraries…
Blog Post
July 8, 2026
Reflections on the LIBER Annual Conference 2026
Last week, we attended the LIBER annual conference in Trondheim, Norway. Our reasons for attending were twofold: (1) to present results from Ithaka S+R’s recent 2025 US Library Survey as part of the parallel session titled, “Research Libraries in Challenging Landscapes,” and (2) to learn from European colleagues about areas of convergence or difference between the activities and areas of focus of research libraries within the US and Europe.
Upcoming Event
July 22, 2026
Supporting Basic Needs Through Library Partnerships
Join Ithaka S+R for a webinar highlighting key findings from the Maximizing Public-Academic Library Partnerships project. We will explore how community college and public library partnerships can support basic needs initiatives and share lessons from our national research, case studies, policy analysis, and partnership framework. Attendees will gain insights into how community college and public libraries are supporting basic needs initiatives, what partnership models are being used across the country, and what lessons emerged from Ithaka S+R multi-year research.
Blog Post
June 16, 2026
The Library and Institutional Success
Upcoming Professional Development Training
What does it take to lead a library today? Ithaka S+R and the Chronicle of Higher Education are pleased to offer an innovative professional development program tailored to the needs of prospective and current library leaders. The Library and Institutional Success will run virtually from July 13-23 and offer a variety of seminars and workshops designed to empower participants to develop their leadership skills and drive institutional success.
Blog Post
June 9, 2026
Understanding the Environmental Impacts of Artificial Intelligence
Introducing a New LibGuide
Today, we are publishing a LibGuide focused on the Environmental Impacts of AI, as a part of our Incorporating Environmental Perspectives into AI Literacy project, funded by the Mellon Foundation. The LibGuide’s objective is to help users attain a baseline understanding of the varied environmental consequences behind AI technology. The LibGuide’s articles, reports, podcasts, videos, data trackers, and other types of resources address environmental impacts throughout the AI lifecycle.
Past Event
July 1, 2026
Understanding How Academic Libraries in the United States Navigate Uncertain Times
Results from Ithaka S+R’s 2025 US Library Deans and Directors Survey
At the Association of European Research Libraries annual conference, Ithaka S+R’s Tracy Bergstrom and Ellen Carroll will share key findings from Ithaka S+R’s 2025 US Library Deans and Directors Survey, with a particular focus on evolving perceptions of the core values that underpin academic libraries and the changing nature of library work. Since its inception in 2010, this triennial online survey has provided foundational data on both longstanding and emerging priorities for library leaders. Each cycle offers longitudinal insights…
Past Event
June 12, 2026
Designing Access Together
Aligning Partnerships, Programs, and Student Voice
What does it take for basic needs programs and partnerships to work together more effectively? As institutions increasingly rely on partnerships to address student basic needs, many programs and partnerships are often built in isolation. This interactive session at the NSAP Conference on Student Success in Higher Education will introduce a new Partnership Development Framework designed to align programs, partnerships, and student voice. Join this session to identify structural gaps in access and leave with practical strategies for more coordinated,…
Past Event
June 25, 2026
Adequate Access
The Role of the Law Library in Serving System Impacted Communities
At the American Library Association Annual Conference in Chicago, Illinois, Tammy Ortiz will present a poster on an Ithaka S+R project focusing on the role of the law library for system impacted communities. The United States incarcerates more people than any other country in the world. For individuals impacted by the legal system, access to the law is of critical importance. A series of Supreme Court rulings, notably Bounds vs. Smith (1977) and Lewis vs. Casey (1996), established a limited…
Past Event
June 25, 2026
Bridging the Legal Information Gap in Prisons
A Dialogue Between Librarians and Jailhouse Lawyers
For individuals who are incarcerated, accessing legal documents and information is often difficult, if not impossible. While law libraries located in facilities and tablets that provide access to Westlaw and LexisNexis are typically the first stop, these resources are limited. When materials are unavailable—or when navigating them requires additional expertise—individuals who are incarcerated often turn to law librarians in state, academic, and county libraries for assistance. Providing this support, however, is far from straightforward. Correctional policies and security restrictions often…
Blog Post
May 14, 2026
Findings from the 2025 US Library Survey
What does it mean to lead a library today? Every three years Ithaka S+R administers a survey of academic library deans and directors to better understand how they conceptualize their work—what they prioritize, how they make decisions, and how they align the library to their parent institution’s mission. Today, we are pleased to share findings from the 2025 cycle, which offer a current view of a library sector that is increasingly operating under pressure.
Research Report
May 14, 2026
US Library Survey 2025
Under Pressure
The US Library Survey examines how library leaders conceptualize their work—what they prioritize, how they navigate decision-making, and how they align the library with the goals of their parent institutions. The 2025 cycle examines leaders’ perspectives on the library’s core role, governance, and key dimensions of strategy and operations. The report also includes their perspectives on generative artificial intelligence (AI), developments in the scholarly communication ecosystem, and change management.
Blog Post
April 9, 2026
What Do Libraries Look for When Evaluating Relationships with Academic Publishers?
Today, we published an issue brief on the topic of the evolving relationship between research libraries and academic publishers. With this research, we wanted to better understand which qualities and practices library professionals consider most and least important when evaluating their relationships with academic publishers. At a time of significant budgetary constraints within academic libraries, what qualities rise to the top when deciding whether to begin or renew a publisher contract?…
Issue Brief
April 9, 2026
Perspectives on Academic Publishers
Evidence from a 2025 Study of Academic Library Professionals
Between August and December 2025, Ithaka S+R conducted a national survey and complementary structured interviews with 13 library professionals to examine how library professionals evaluate academic publishers. The project was guided by the primary aim of understanding the qualities and practices library professionals consider most and least important when evaluating relationships with academic publishers. Together, these data provide insight into the values, expectations, and pressures shaping libraries’ relationships with publishers.
Blog Post
April 2, 2026
AI in Action
Announcing a New Cohort Project for Academic Libraries
Our new initiative, AI in Action, will bring together 15-20 academic libraries starting this May for a 12-month, hands-on cohort to explore the potential for integrating AI into their own processes. The goal is to produce actionable, shared insights that strengthen the sector’s collective capacity for innovation, while staying aligned with library values.
Blog Post
March 24, 2026
Announcing the Library Partnership Development Framework
Across sectors, organizations are increasingly recognizing that no single institution can meet the full range of needs facing students and communities today. Effective partnerships, grounded in shared goals, clear roles, and sustained collaboration, are essential for addressing complex challenges like access to education, workforce development, digital inclusion, and basic needs support. Libraries offer a compelling example of how this work can take shape. Public and academic libraries often serve the same populations through different institutional structures. In both settings, libraries…
Playbook
March 24, 2026
Library Partnership Development Framework
Drawing on a qualitative inventory of library websites, national case studies, and insights gathered through an in-person institute , the project has informed the development of the Library Partnership Development Framework. This framework is designed to support libraries at all stages of partnership: exploring new opportunities, formalizing emerging collaborations, or enhancing and scaling established initiatives.
Blog Post
March 11, 2026
Expanding Access. Improving Outcomes. Advancing Knowledge.
A Message from Ithaka S+R's New Managing Director
At Ithaka S+R, we work with leaders and policymakers to expand access to postsecondary education, improve student and workforce outcomes, and strengthen the systems that sustain scholarship and knowledge creation. We do this by providing strategic advice, conducting rigorous research, evaluating initiatives, and developing and sustaining nonprofit tools and services.
Blog Post
March 3, 2026
Incorporating Environmental Perspectives into AI Literacy
Announcing a New Mellon-Funded Project
The energy and material demands behind artificial intelligence (AI) technology raise serious questions about the environmental impacts of widespread AI adoption. Understanding these environmental-related consequences is an important component of what it means to be AI literate. Within the sphere of higher education, colleges and universities are launching initiatives to help students, faculty, and staff attain higher levels of AI literacy. Many AI literacy frameworks already call for competency in the societal and environmental impacts of AI technologies. However, tracking…
Past Event
March 3, 2026
Supporting Digital Equity and Access Through Library Partnerships
For students and communities alike, digital literacy is an essential basic need that libraries are well equipped to support. To do this, Waubonsee Community College’s library partnered with two local public libraries to co-create bilingual technology programs that expand access to digital tools and skills for both students and community members. By maximizing shared resources such as staffing, space, outreach, and bilingual instructional capacity, the collaboration has reached diverse audiences, including Spanish-speaking patrons and adult learners. What began as a…
Case Study
January 28, 2026
Shared Space, Shared Mission
How the King Library Expands Access and Strengthens Community Impact
Collaboration between San José State University and San José Public Library culminated in the establishment of the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Library. This unique partnership unites the resources, staff, and missions of both a large urban university and a major city library system, offering insights into the opportunities and complexities of co-located service delivery. The case study explores how this partnership has evolved over time, including governance structures, service integration, communication practices, and lessons learned for institutions considering or…