Anita Lehikoinen
Higher education institutions´ libraries in flux
 The Finnish educational and research sector is currently experiencing one of its most dramatic transformations in years, even decades. The challenges of globalization and internationalization, combined with changes in the population structure, working life and the operational environment, require responses that will safeguard Finland´s future well being.
Institutions of higher education are already at the core of the transformations. As an indication of how deeply the changes are affecting the university and polytechnic sectors, one need only point to, for example, the renewed Universities Act and the restructuring of tertiary education. Also in preparation are the framing of a research infrastructure policy and the development of a structure for field-specific research. Researcher education and career options are also being studied.
The renewal of the Universities Act will provide Finnish universities with internationally equal operational prerequisites. Universities will be granted the status of a legal person, enabling them to compete with the world´s leading universities on an equal footing. The pace of the renewal is brisk; the law is expected to go into effect in August of 2009 and become fully applicable beginning 1 January 2010.
Currently a spirited debate is underway in Europe concerning university and tertiary education policies. Finland´s renewal is however consistent with European trends: more power and responsibility for universities and the effective utilization of all available resources. With the structural development, universities and polytechnics will become more sharply profiled and the network of higher education institutions will become more tightly knit.
In March 2008 the Ministry of Education published Policies for the Structural Development of Higher Education Institutions for the Years 2008-2011. The vision is that by 2020, there will be less institutions and units of higher education in Finland than at present, but they will be larger with a stronger economic carrying capacity. Besides improving the capabilities for international cooperation, the prerequisites for cross- and multi-disciplinariness will be strengthened.
The structural development of institutions of higher education is also affecting libraries. Currently there are almost 100 administrative library units in the entire tertiary education sector. Additionally, it has been estimated that there are over 300 library branches of various kinds. In the future it is obvious that there will be fewer libraries; the intent is that by the year 2020, the libraries of higher education institutions will be structured according to a service center-type concept with operations concentrated in a few strong campus libraries and larger library and information resource centers.
Supporting the structural development of higher education institutions´ libraries - and simultaneously one of the reasons for its renewal - is the evolving operational environment. Because the information and communications environment is becoming increasingly tied to electronic processes and electronic materials, future libraries´ electronic service structures will be of central importance. Nationwide cooperation is expanding to include all memory organizations: libraries, museums and archives. International cooperation is also intensifying.
To initialize the libraries´ structural development, the Ministry of Education established a wide-ranging project in the summer of 2008 that includes representatives from the Ministry of Education, the National Library of Finland, and higher education institutions´ libraries. The project will outline the organization of the libraries in question by taking into account their educational institutions´ affiliations and cooperative agreements. The effects of the amended Universities Act on the financing, procedural operations and regulations of the higher education institutions´ libraries are also being reviewed.
The National Library of Finland occupies a position of central importance as a service centre for libraries and a producer of concentrated services. The recording of the national published cultural heritage as a legal deposit library is also one of its main legally mandated tasks. The Ministry of Education´s stated policy is that the National Library of Finland´s position as a service center for all libraries will be strengthened, along with its conservation and digitizing activities.
Structural development means the reorganization of higher education institutions´ libraries, a reduction in the number of libraries, boosted operational efficiency and intensified cooperation. This will require a cost-effective implementation of the library network´s division of responsibilities. Above all, however, it will require an open-minded cooperative attitude and the will to develop on the part of the higher education institutions´ libraries.
The libraries of tertiary education, as well as their parent organizations, now live in a challenging time. For the renewal to succeed, all parties concerned must be able to participate and sufficiently influence its preparations. Welcome to the work party!
Anita Lehikoinen is the Ministry of Education´s Director of the Department for Education and Science Policy.
|
|
EDITORIAL
"The library institution's greatest influence is that it is an effective tool for maintaining an enlightened democratic society and facilitating the personal growth of all it's citizens."
Jarmo Saarti
Said about the National Library
"In the times of unbridled materialism, a place where one can still find wisdom and spirituality, as well as respite from the relentless pursuit of one's objectives, is more valuable than gold."
Ruth Kaila
|
