While the evolution of information literacy is a positive sign, the academic librarian is still largely tangential to what happens in or beyond the classroom. Strategies, techniques and skills are needed that will allow all academic librarians, from every sector of the library organization, to proactively advance their integration into the teaching and learning process. The framework envisioned depends largely upon the ability to collaborate with faculty, but also other campus information and We define the “blended librarian”as an academic librarian who combines the traditional skill set of librarianship with the information technologist’s hardware/software skills, and the instructional or educational designer’s ability to apply technology appropriately in the teaching-learning process. instructional technologists. This framework is best expressed as the “blended librarian.” What is a blended librarian? Technology has transformed higher education. The use of information technologies and computing to both support and deliver instruction has become widespread and continues to serve as an almost universal disruptive force at colleges and universities. Academic librarianship has excelled at grasping the significance and potential of technology as a powerful force in transforming our profession and what we contribute to higher education. Librarians are in every sense of the word, technologists. Yet, we have largely maintained what is referred to as the “high touch,” the ability to balance technology with humanism and an overarching focus on studentcentered service. But one area in which academic librarians lag is in our understanding of pedagogy and adoption of instructional design theory and practice. These skill sets have long been ignored within library education, despite academic librarians being integral to the teaching and learning process. Many members of our profession are woefully deficient in their knowledge of how learning takes place, how structures for effective learning are designed, and how learning outcomes are assessed. The concept of the blended librarian is largely built on creating a movement that will encourage and enable academic librarians to evolve into a new role in which the skills and knowledge of instructional design are wedded to our existing library and information technology skills. It is the blended librarian who will excel as the academic professional offering the best combination of skills and services to enable faculty to apply technology for enhanced teaching and student learning. We define the “blended librarian” as an academic librarian who combines the traditional skill set of librarianship with the information technologist’s hardware/software skills, and the instructional or educational designer’s ability to apply technology appropriately in the teachinglearning process. The principles of blended librarianship There are six principles of blended librarianship: