University Library Administration Transformation from Manuscript to AI
Organization: Thapar Institute of Engineering & Technology
Call for Chapters, for the Edited Volume
University Library Administration: Transformation from Manuscript to AI
(Under the Springer International Handbook on Education Series. The Series is SCOPUS Indexed)
About the Book
University libraries have always been at the heart of higher education—preserving the past, empowering the present, and shaping the future of learning and research. From the medieval scriptoria that nurtured handwritten manuscripts to today’s intelligent, AI-driven knowledge ecosystems, the story of university libraries is one of continual adaptation and visionary leadership.
This forthcoming volume, University Library Administration: Transformation from Manuscript to AI, under the Springer International Handbook on Education series, explores the evolution of university library administration across centuries of educational change. It traces the journey of academic libraries from their early custodial roles to their current status as digitally networked, data-informed, and user-centric learning environments.
The book aims to serve as a definitive reference work for library leaders, scholars, policymakers, and practitioners. It will document the transformative phases of university library management—historical foundations, administrative innovations, digital modernization, and the integration of artificial intelligence into academic knowledge systems.
Thematic Sections and Scope
Authors are invited to contribute chapters that align with one of the following ten thematic sections, each representing a major phase or dimension of university library transformation:
- Foundations — The Evolution of the University Library
Origins of libraries in ancient and medieval academia, early administrative models, and the shift from scriptoria to scholarly institutions. - Transformations in Collections and Resources
Transitions from manuscript to print to digital collections, open access, and the management of hybrid resources. - Library Administration and Governance Models
Evolution of administrative structures, leadership theories, policy development, budgeting, and human resources. - Library Spaces and Infrastructure
Architectural and environmental transformations—from reading rooms to learning commons and smart library infrastructures. - Information Services and User Engagement
Changing paradigms of reference services, user education, research support, and outreach. - Digital Transformation and Library Technologies
Automation, digital libraries, big data analytics, cloud-based services, and discovery systems. - Artificial Intelligence and Emerging Technologies
Machine learning, chatbots, robotics, digital twins, and intelligent decision-making in library administration. - Ethics, Policy, and Intellectual Property
Copyright, data privacy, digital rights, AI ethics, and issues of equity and inclusion. - Assessment, Quality, and Research in Library Administration
Evaluation frameworks, performance metrics, bibliometrics, and evidence-based practices.
Future Directions and Global Perspectives
Sustainability, leadership competencies, post-digital transformation, and the future university library ecosystem.
Prospective authors are encouraged to address seminal works, theoretical underpinnings, and global perspectives within their chapters. Comparative studies and cross-regional analyses are particularly welcome.
Chapter Guidelines
Chapter Length: 10,000 words (including references).
Structure: Abstract (300 words), Keywords (5–7), Introduction, Conceptual/Analytical Framework, Discussion, Administrative Implications, and Future Directions.
Reference Style: APA 7th Edition.
Originality: Submitted chapters must be original, unpublished, and not under review elsewhere.
Submission and Timeline
Abstract Submission (300–400 words): by 31 December 2025
Full Chapter Submission: by 30 April 2026
Peer Review and Revision: May–July 2026
Final Submission to Springer: September 2026 (Tentative)
Editor:
Dr. Shri Ram
Librarian & Professor (Library and Information Management),
Thapar Institute of Engineering & Technology,
Patiala – 147004, Punjab, INDIA
Email: shriram.tiet@gmail.com
Publisher
This volume will be published under the Springer International Handbook on Education series — a prestigious platform for interdisciplinary research that advances educational policy, administration, and innovation globally. The Springer International Handbook of Education is SCOPUS Indexed
Join Us
This book offers a unique opportunity to contribute to an authoritative reference that captures the intellectual and technological journey of university libraries—from the age of manuscripts to the dawn of artificial intelligence. Scholars, practitioners, and innovators in library science and education administration are warmly invited to share their insights, experiences, and research.
Dr Shri Ram