Beyond Shared Spaces

Academic libraries are vital to higher education, supporting critical thinking, information literacy, and lifelong learning. The mergers with Academic Learning Centers, tutoring services, or other departments have created confusion for students and marginalized librarians. This paper examines these changes, highlighting the essential role of librarians in research, source evaluation, citation, and ethical information use. Drawing on the ACRL Framework and recent studies, it shows how diminished librarian roles can compromise intellectual growth and civic engagement. Recommendations include clarifying roles, promoting librarian-led services, and integrating information literacy into curricula, ensuring libraries fulfill the broader purpose of education.