At first glance, the ten articles in this virtual special issue of the New Review of Academic Librarianship appear to address an eclectic mix of topics. However, there is an underlying and unifying theme – the future of academic librarianship and the role of the librarian and the library in the institution. Many academic library directors have cited the urgent need for the transformation of the library to meet the information needs of the 21st century University. These ten articles, taken as whole, portray a library that is undergoing change and demonstrate the work of scholars whose research is driving change in their institutions.