In Italy in recent years the Third Stream has undergone many conceptual changes thanks to the Italian Research Assessment Exercise (VQR). In the 2025 Exercise, referring to the years 2020-2024, the concept of Third Stream evolves with a different denomination, i.e. Knowledge Enhancement.

This new denomination brings with it a change of perspective as the Knowledge Enhancement is no more ancillary to the original university two missions: Research and Teaching but all these three missions to- gether concur to achieve the university objectives and to create a real impact on society.

The paper briefly discusses the new opportunities emerging for academic libraries from this changing perspective. Eventually, academic libraries will need to change their list of priorities and their daily ac- tions according to the university planning and priorities.