Towards a critical practice for the academic library

Abstract

Considers how information provision in academic libraries is affected as higher education is increasingly subject to free market principles. Examines how research tailored for commerce and industry can limit research in other fields. Looks at how increased competition between universities leads to a narrowing of the journal base for research assessment. Notes that current practice in academic libraries takes no account of these trends, and highlights deficiencies in user education which emphasize training over education in critical inquiry. Focuses on the latter as the basis of a critical practice for the academic library, and examines ways in which academic librarianship might be transformed to take account of the limits on information flow necessitated by the free market.