Australian higher education is presently subject to a period of substantial change. The needs of the
economy and workforce, together with the broader educational role of the university are leading to
focus on lifelong learning as a tool for bringing together the apparently diverging needs of different
groups. Within this broader context, the emphasis on lifelong learning and associated graduate
capabilities is leading to opportunities for new partnerships between faculty and librarians, partnerships
that bring the two groups together in ways that are helping to transform the experience of teaching and
learning. This paper explores emerging partnerships in diverse areas, including research and
scholarship, curriculum, policy, supervision, and staff development. They are in the early phases of
development and result from a broad focus on the learning and information literacy needs of students,
as opposed to a narrow focus on using the library and its information resources. Taken together, and
viewed from a system-wide perspective, these partnerships reveal a complex dynamic that is deserving
of wider attention across the Australian higher education system and internationally.
Keywords: information literacy, Australian higher education, policy, curriculum integration, academic
development, research.