Official URL: http://www.sconul.ac.uk/page/sconul-focus

The significance of the academic library in the university campus can be manifest in a variety of ways – through the physical location, the housing of significant collections, the variety of services and as a cultural hub and active partner in university strategy. The idea of the academic library as the ‘centre for everything’, while having obvious strategic attractions, also brings with it serious hazards which may ultimately be counterproductive to core values. In recent years Maynooth University (MU) Library has actively worked to ensure that its position as a centre for first-class collections and services has been enhanced and its role has been perceived to be more nuanced – acting as a nexus for a myriad of activities on campus. This progression has been achieved through several key strategies, ranging from an organisational review and strategic leadership to the harnessing of new technologies and the promotion and embedding of new services. All of these have a demonstrable impact, which has created a virtuous circle, and brought the library closer to becoming ‘the centre for everything’. This article will explore how this has happened, reflect on some of the pitfalls and, importantly, consider the risk of moving from being ‘valued’ and ‘involved’ to being ‘overcommitted’ and, ultimately having a diluted focus.