The university of west georgia, with expert consultants from university of georgia and georgia southwestern state university, will conduct a national GAP analysis examining the alignment between…

The Institute of Museum and Library Services awarded the University of West Georgia $271,666 on September 1, 2026, under the Laura Bush 21st Century Librarian Program (CFDA 45.313) to conduct a national gap analysis examining alignment between institutional expectations for online library instruction and academic librarians' preparation to meet them.

The University of West Georgia, working with expert consultants from the University of Georgia and Georgia Southwestern State University, will adapt a competency model for online library instruction, develop research instruments, systematically analyze a national sample of academic librarian job postings, administer a national practitioner survey, and synthesize and disseminate findings. The work addresses the absence of field-specific competency standards for online library instruction in academic librarianship, despite increasing institutional demand for librarians to design and deliver high-quality online learning experiences. The project builds from the team's preliminary gap analysis and existing competency model development.

Place of performance is Carrollton, Georgia. The period of performance runs from September 1, 2026, through February 29, 2028. The award is classified as a Project Grant.

The university of west georgia, with expert consultants from university of georgia and georgia southwestern state university, will conduct a national GAP analysis examining the alignment between institutional expectations for online library instruction and practicing academic librarians' preparation to meet them. Academic librarians are increasingly expected to design and deliver high-quality online learning experiences, yet no field-specific competency standards for online library instruction exist within academic librarianship. This planning project will build from the project team's preliminary GAP analysis and development of a competency model. IT will further adapt the competency model and develop research instruments, systematically analyze a national sample of academic librarian job postings, administer a national practitioner survey, and synthesize and disseminate findings.