Closing a College Library

Abstract

For most, permanently closing and dismantling a library is inconceivable; libraries are seemingly timeless institutions. The public assumes that these beloved knowledge centers will always be there for them. Likewise, academic librarians, until recently, almost never had to consider the possibility of closure, much less factor that grim scenario in their planning and forecasting. As the growing number of defunct colleges and universities over the past decade demonstrates, however, library closures are now a viable concern in the profession. More than a tragic outcome of the strong headwinds disrupting contemporary higher education, library closures pose unique logistical challenges for practitioners ill-prepared to confront them. Closing a College Library provides a timely resource for those impacted by this unfortunate emerging trend.