Forward with Imagination: Innovative Library Client Services for the 21st Century.

This paper considers innovation in academic libraries. The first part explores the definition and nature of innovation and the literature relevant to academic libraries in particular. In the second part, the outcomes of a search of library World Wide Web sites and a survey of International Association of Technological University Libraries (IATUL) and Australasian academic libraries are detailed. Results in the following areas are presented: innovations since 1995 related to physical facilities, electronic and nonelectronic information services, information literacy, community access, and library cooperation; innovation specified in mission, objectives, or strategic plan; staff development program facilitating innovation and enterprise culture; and budget provision for innovation. These results are presented first for IATUL members excluding Australia and New Zealand (n=49), then for Australia and New Zealand libraries (n=39). The third part reviews the issues that need to be considered by libraries seeking to be innovative and learning organizations in the 21st century. (Contains 17 references.) (MES)