Marcy Simons. Academic Library Metamorphosis and Regeneration. Lanham, MD: Rowman & Littlefield, 2017. 146p. Hardcover, $78.00 (ISBN: 978-1-4422-7307-8).

Abstract

Academic Library Metamorphosis and Regeneration by Marcy Simons is a well-constructed walkthrough of the multitude of changes and change processes that have occurred through libraries over the years. The book covers issues both external and internal to the library that motivate change. Events include economic downturns, declines in physical circulation, the increase in electronic resource, as well as others. From that follows a discussion of how these factors have spawned changes in the traditional professional roles of librarians. Highlighting the emergence of new types of pressures, libraries hire librarians who focus on copyright, data management, and assessment, to name a few. Marcy then argues that these changes necessitate structural change in the library itself. However, the library structure cannot change without solid leadership, which is the focus of chapter 3 and the subsequent structural change discussed in chapter 4. Naturally, from a discussion of structural change, questions arise of how change can be conducted; this is the focus of chapter 5. The book closes with a discussion surrounding innovation, how to develop a culture of innovation, as well as potential avenues for future change. The evolutionary discussion Marcy constructs helps to guide the reader through the process of change, change management, and future change within the academic library.