Blended Learning in Higher Education: Implication and Strategies for Academic Library Support

Following advances and widespread use of information and communication technology (ICT) in education and the current tech savvy generation of learners, blended learning has emerged as a panacea to address the needs of learners in higher education institutions. It has the potential to expand access to quality education and break learning barriers in developing countries. Blended learning has created a paradigm shift in library services, however, not all academic libraries in developing countries have understood their roles in a blended learning environment. Academic libraries can play significant roles on its own and in collaboration with faculty in several areas through innovative strategies like embedding and integrating information literacy into the curriculum, matching students with the right learning resources, designing innovative physical space with hi-tech to support blended learning. The paper will examine the state of academic libraries in developing countries with emphasis on their ability to participate in an embedded learning environment, it will investigate from literature, the factors that can enhance and hinder academic libraries intervention in a blended learning environment. It will reveal the competencies and skills required by academic librarians to be relevant in an embedded learning environment.