As library thought-leaders look ahead to the future of librarianship and consider the impact of changing institutional and patron needs and expectations as well as new technologies and processes, it is important to objectively measure and track over time, the core foundations of what makes an academic library function, its needs, challenges, and what next steps are most important to the library’s continued good health. This session will summarize the findings from the Academic Libraries Benchmark Survey, sponsored by Ex Libris, a ProQuest Company, in conjunction with Library Journal. The survey establishes benchmark data on respondents, addresses the library’s place within the university’s ecosystem, discusses major challenges to the library’s mission, and examines information on adjacent initiatives such as affordable learning or research data management. Join Dennis Swanson, Dean of University of North Carolina Pembroke and Ex Libris at Charleston Conference as we take a deep dive into the data, and take the temperature of the academic library as it stands today.