Kentucky Fried Libraries: battered and chewed up in the digital marketplace

Abstract

The campus library, once an information monopoly for its campus user community, faces unprecedented competition today's digital information ecosystem, and we can imagine this competition will only become more intense over time. What are the prospects for research libraries when proximity has diminished value, and scale, efficiency, and customer acquisition become the keys to success? While the future of libraries—or any institution—is not assured, collaboration to reduce operating costs and enhance services would seem to be promising strategic steps for addressing the challenges ahead.