“I’ve long been an interested reader of the New Media Consortiums series of Horizon Reports. So when I heard that they were doing a “Library Edition” I just about fell off my chair. The way I heard was that they are seeking examples of projects that illustrate the trends that their panel of experts have identified:

I. Key Trends Accelerating Ed Tech Adoption in Academic and Research Libraries
Fast Trends: Driving Ed Tech adoption over the next one to two years
* Increasing Focus on Research Data for Publications
* Increasing Prioritization of Mobile Content and Delivery

Mid-Range Trends: Driving Ed Tech adoption within three to five years
* Evolving Nature of the Scholarly Record
* Increasing Accessibility of Research Content

Long-Range Trends: Driving Ed Tech adoption in five or more years
* Continual Progress in Technology, Standards, and Infrastructure
* Rise of New Forms of Multidisciplinary Research

II. Significant Challenges Impeding Ed Tech Adoption in Academic and Research Libraries
Solvable Challenges: Those that we understand and know how to solve
* Embedding Academic and Research Libraries in the Curriculum
* Rethinking the Roles and Skills of Librarians

Difficult Challenges: Those that we understand but for which solutions are elusive
* Adapting to the Fact that Discovery Happens Elsewhere
* Capturing and Archiving the Digital Outputs of Research as Collection Material

Wicked Challenges: Those that are complex to even define, much less address
* Embracing the Need for Radical Change
* Maintaining Ongoing Integration, Interoperability, and Collaborative Projects

III. Important Developments in Technology for Academic and Research Libraries

Time-to-Adoption Horizon: One Year or Less
* Electronic Publishing
* Mobile Apps

Time-to-Adoption Horizon: Two to Three Years
* Bibliometrics and Citation Technology
* Open Content

Time-to-Adoption Horizon: Four to Five Years
* The Internet of Things
* Semantic Web and Applications

If you have any projects that illustrate these trends, trot on over to their submission form and let them know. But don’t dawdle, submissions are due by the end of the month (Monday June 30!).”

Stephen