Belk librarians present at entrepreneurial librarians conference

Five librarians from Elon’s Carol Grotnes Belk Library described entrepreneurial library initiatives at Imagine the NEXT!, the 2016 Conference for Entrepreneurial Librarians at The University of North Carolina at Greensboro.

Dean and University Library Joan Ruelle and Teresa LePors, coordinator of library research and scholarly services, described the culture shift that Belk Library underwent due to new leadership, a new promotion process and building renovations. They shared experiences, strategies, and lessons learned as Belk Library has embraced change and fast-tracked strategic planning in an entrepreneurial academic library.

Dianne Ford, coordinator of library electronic resources, and Patrick Rudd, coordinator of library instruction and outreach services, explained how Belk Library’s five-year strategic plan mapped ambitious and entrepreneurial objectives to connect the library to high impact learning experiences. The session described how the library is embedded in efforts to engage and challenge students on our campus reflecting our commitment to high impact practices.

Betty Garrison, business research librarian and Mary Scanlon, research & instruction librarian for business & economics at Wake Forest University, presented on whether subject specialists remain relevant in the future and offered predictions on anticipated evolutionary changes to current responsibilities, potential for expanded roles, and the need for education and skills beyond the MLS that might be needed by new librarians aspiring to these positions as well as professional development recommended for current subject specialists.