Janet Hurlbert, associate dean and director of library services at Lycoming College, has edited Defining Relevancy: Managing the New College Library, a resource for college library managers which is slated to be released this December by Libraries Unlimited (Greenwood Press).

According to Hurlbert, Defining Relevancy is designed to address the challenges facing academic libraries in the 21st century.  With increased competition from Internet search engines, Web sites, and businesses such as Barnes & Noble, college libraries must be able to find new ways to remain viable and reach students effectively.

“Years ago, libraries never would have done the things they do today,” she explains. "Now, we may have someone dressed in a costume walk around the library or host events like ‘Harry Potter Night.’  We have even made simple changes such as allowing students to enjoy a muffin and cup of coffee in the library.  These are things that libraries never would have considered in the past."

Designing Relevancy also provides suggestions on developing a better understanding of today’s library users and developing partnerships with the college community to develop more beneficial library services for students, faculty, and staff.

"As long as college libraries are in tune with their environment and are willing to change, they will always have a place within the academic community," Hurlbert says.

Hurlbert has served at the Lycoming’s director of library services since 2001; she has also worked in the libraries at Virginia Commonwealth and Iowa State University. Hurlbert has co-written articles for several books and publications, including the Journal of Business & Finance Librarianship, Teaching Information Literacy Skills to Education and Social Sciences Students and Practioners, Leadership and Academic Librarians, Journal of Marketing Education, and The Smaller Academic Library: A Management Handbook.

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