How Libraries Can Lead Through Higher Education's Major Shifts in 2025
As we navigate the final weeks of 2025, higher education finds itself at a transformative crossroads. The landscape has shifted dramatically, with institutions facing unprecedented challenges around public trust, affordability concerns, and rapidly evolving student expectations. For academic libraries and learning resource centers, these changes present both significant challenges and remarkable opportunities to demonstrate value and leadership.
The Trust Imperative
Confidence in higher education among Americans has fallen from 57 percent to 36 percent over the past decade, creating an urgent mandate for institutions to prove their worth. Academic libraries are uniquely positioned to help rebuild this trust through transparent, student-centered services that demonstrate tangible value.
Libraries can lead this effort by:
Showcasing ROI: Document how library resources directly support student success metrics, from course completion rates to career readiness
Promoting accessibility: Ensure equitable access to resources for all students, regardless of location or financial circumstances
Building community: Create physical and virtual spaces that foster connection and combat the isolation many students experience in hybrid learning environments
The Rise of Flexible Learning Pathways
One of the most significant trends reshaping higher education is the growing demand for alternative credentials and flexible learning options. Dual enrollment programs have surged by over 10% in just one year, adding approximately 100,000 students, while microcredentials and certificate programs are gaining substantial traction among learners seeking targeted skills without committing to traditional four-year degrees.
For library professionals, this shift requires strategic adaptation. As students increasingly pursue stackable credentials, online courses, and non-traditional pathways, libraries must evolve their collections and services to support these diverse learning journeys. This means curating resources that address specific competencies, creating targeted research guides for short-term programs, and ensuring seamless access for part-time and remote learners.
Artificial Intelligence: Opportunity and Challenge
The global AI in education market was valued at $3.6 billion last year and is projected to reach $73.7 billion by 2033, signaling a fundamental transformation in how learning happens. Libraries must navigate the ethical implications while harnessing AI's potential to enhance services.
Forward-thinking library and learning resource centers are already integrating AI tools to:
Personalize research assistance and resource recommendations
Streamline administrative tasks like cataloging and collection management
Provide 24/7 chat support for basic reference questions
Analyze usage patterns to inform collection development decisions
However, this technological shift also demands that libraries take a leadership role in promoting information literacy, critical thinking, and ethical AI use—core competencies that become even more vital in an AI-augmented learning environment.
Meeting Accreditation Standards in a Changing Landscape
As institutions adapt to these trends, maintaining compliance with library and LRC accreditation standards becomes increasingly complex. Standards bodies are evolving their expectations to reflect new realities around digital resources, online learning support, and alternative credentials.
Library leaders must ensure that:
Collections remain relevant: Balance traditional holdings with digital resources that support diverse program types, including microcredentials and certificate programs
Services scale appropriately: Provide equitable support for traditional, online, and hybrid learners across all credential types
Assessment aligns with outcomes: Document how library resources contribute to student learning and institutional goals
Collaboration is embedded: Work closely with faculty, academic affairs, and student services to integrate library support throughout the student journey
Looking Ahead: Strategic Positioning for Success
The convergence of these trends—declining public confidence, demand for flexible pathways, AI integration, and evolving accreditation expectations—creates a complex operating environment. Yet libraries that proactively address these challenges will emerge as indispensable institutional assets.
Success requires moving beyond traditional service models to embrace strategic leadership roles. This means participating actively in institutional planning, advocating for adequate resources, building cross-functional partnerships, and continuously demonstrating impact through data-driven assessment.
As higher education continues its transformation, academic libraries have the opportunity to position themselves not as support services on the periphery, but as central contributors to student success, institutional excellence, and the restoration of public trust in higher education.
At SOL in Higher Ed, we partner with institutions to navigate these complex challenges, ensuring your library and learning resource center not only meets accreditation standards but becomes a strategic asset that drives student success. Our expert master librarians bring both library expertise and business acumen to help your institution thrive in this evolving landscape.
Ready to position your library for success in 2025 and beyond? Schedule a free consultation to discuss how we can support your strategic goals.
