Subject librarian

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Subject librarians, also known as specialist librarians or academic liaison librarians [1] and sometimes bibliographers in US-English [2] are librarians responsible for a section of a library in regards to a particular academic subject. [3] They are mainly in academic libraries and specialist libraries (such as legal libraries or medical libraries), but are also found in large non-academic libraries such as national or state libraries. In academic libraries, they work together with the faculty of their specialist subject to ensure the quality of their collection and manage required recommended course readings. [1]

Contents

Subject librarianship as a specific role developed in the 1960s, when many academic institutions began to put more funding into their libraries. [3]

Education

Subject librarians need both academic knowledge of their subject as well as skills in library science. While some argue about whether formal education in the specialist subject is necessary, [4] while others believe it is a vital component of a subject librarian's education. [5]

In Australia, most subject librarians have an undergraduate degree in their specialist subject and further education in an accredited library sciences course, such as a Master of Information Management. [6]

Responsibilities

While subject librarians would generally not work at the enquiry desk, they may answer online queries related to their specialist topic. [2]

Collection management and development

Having knowledge in a subject gives a subject librarian a strong advantage over a general librarian in knowing what resources are advantageous to have for students and researchers. Their responsibilities for sections of the library collection that fall within their topic may include acquiring relevant materials, based on classes if at a university, [7] cataloguing and classification of topics, [2] and weeding out-of-date or unused resources.

Liaison with academic staff

As suggested in the name "academic liaison librarian", subject librarians play an important role in ensuring good communication between the library and the professors in a university. This can include:

Education

Having knowledge of a subject, the existing classes relating to it, and what information is available through the library allows subject librarians in universities to assist in creating course plans based on what information is available to students. [8]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Librarian</span> Profession

A librarian is a person who works professionally in a library providing access to information, and sometimes social or technical programming, or instruction on information literacy to users.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Research library</span> Library that supports scholarly research

A research library is a library that contains an in-depth collection of material on one or several subjects. A research library will generally include an in-depth selection of materials on a particular topic or set of topics and contain primary sources as well as secondary sources. Research libraries are established to meet research needs and, as such, are stocked with authentic materials with quality content. Research libraries are typically attached to academic or research institutions that specialize in that topic and serve members of that institution. Large university libraries are considered research libraries, and often contain many specialized branch research libraries. The libraries provide research materials for students and staff of these organizations to use and can also publish and carry literature produced by these institutions and make them available to others. Research libraries could also be accessible to members of the public who wish to gain in-depth knowledge on that particular topic.

The Association of College and Research Libraries defines information literacy as a "set of integrated abilities encompassing the reflective discovery of information, the understanding of how information is produced and valued and the use of information in creating new knowledge and participating ethically in communities of learning". In the United Kingdom, the Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals' definition also makes reference to knowing both "when" and "why" information is needed.

A teacher-librarian or school librarian or school library media specialist (SLMS) is a certified librarian who also has training in teaching.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Medical library</span> Library focused on medical information

A health or medical library is designed to assist physicians, health professionals, students, patients, consumers, medical researchers, and information specialists in finding health and scientific information to improve, update, assess, or evaluate health care. Medical libraries are typically found in hospitals, medical schools, private industry, and in medical or health associations. A typical health or medical library has access to MEDLINE, a range of electronic resources, print and digital journal collections, and print reference books. The influence of open access (OA) and free searching via Google and PubMed has a major impact on the way medical libraries operate.

An information professional or information specialist is someone who collects, records, organises, stores, preserves, retrieves, and disseminates printed or digital information. The service delivered to the client is known as an information service.

The Master of Library and Information Science (MLIS), also referred to as the Master of Library and Information Studies, is the master's degree that is required for most professional librarian positions in the United States. The MLIS is a relatively recent degree; an older and still common degree designation for librarians to acquire is the Master of Library Science (MLS), or Master of Science in Library Science (MSLS) degree. According to the American Library Association (ALA), "The master’s degree in library and information studies is frequently referred to as the MLS; however, ALA-accredited degrees have various names such as Master of Information Studies, Master of Arts, Master of Librarianship, Master of Library and Information Studies, or Master of Science. The degree name is determined by the program. The [ALA] Committee for Accreditation evaluates programs based on their adherence to the Standards for Accreditation of Master's Programs in Library and Information Studies, not based on the name of the degree."

<span class="mw-page-title-main">School library</span> Library within a school

A school library is a library within a school where students, staff, and often, parents of a public or private school have access to a variety of resources. The goal of the school library media center is to ensure that all members of the school community have equitable access "to books and reading, to information, and to information technology." A school library media center "uses all types of media... is automated, and utilizes the Internet [as well as books] for information gathering." School libraries are distinct from public libraries because they serve as "learner-oriented laboratories which support, extend, and individualize the school's curriculum... A school library serves as the center and coordinating agency for all material used in the school."

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Academic library</span> Library attached to a higher education institution

An academic library is a library that is attached to a higher education institution and serves two complementary purposes: to support the curriculum and the research of the university faculty and students. It is unknown how many academic libraries there are worldwide. An academic and research portal maintained by UNESCO links to 3,785 libraries. According to the National Center for Education Statistics, there are an estimated 3,700 academic libraries in the United States. In the past, the material for class readings, intended to supplement lectures as prescribed by the instructor, has been called reserves. Previously before the electronic appliances became available, the reserves were supplied as actual books or as photocopies of appropriate journal articles. Modern academic libraries generally also provide access to electronic resources.

Library instruction, also called bibliographic instruction, user education and library orientation, consists of "instructional programs designed to teach library users how to locate the information they need quickly and effectively. [It] usually covers the library's system of organizing materials, the structure of the literature of the field, research methodologies appropriate to the academic discipline, and specific resources and finding tools " It prepares individuals to make immediate and lifelong use of information effectively by teaching the concepts and logic of information access and evaluation, and by fostering information independence and critical thinking. Above all they are aimed at equipping library users with skills to locate library sources and use them effectively to satisfy their information needs.

Education for librarianship, including for paraprofessional library workers, varies around the world, and has changed over time. In recent decades, many institutions offering librarianship education have changed their names to reflect the shift from print media to electronic media, and to information contained outside of traditional libraries. Some call themselves schools of library and information science, or have dropped the word "library" altogether.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Special library</span> Library providing resources on a particular topic or discipline

A special library is a library that provides specialized information resources on a particular subject, serves a specialized and limited clientele, and delivers specialized services to that clientele. Special libraries include corporate libraries, government libraries, law libraries, medical libraries, museum libraries, news libraries. Special libraries also exist within academic institutions. These libraries are included as special libraries because they are often funded separately from the rest of the university and they serve a targeted group of users.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Library and information science</span> Branch of academic disciplines

Library and information science (LIS) are two interconnected fields of study that deal generally with organization, access, collection, and regulation of information, whether in physical or digital forms.

E-Science librarianship refers to a role for librarians in e-Science.

A pathfinder is a bibliography created to help begin research in a particular topic or subject area. Pathfinders are also called subject guides, topic guides, research guides, libguides, information portals, resource lists or study guides. Pathfinders produced by the Library of Congress are known as "tracer bullets". What is special about a pathfinder is that it only refers to the information in a specific location, i.e. the shelves of a local library.

A distance education librarian or distance learning librarian is a specialized academic librarian whose primary duties involve serving the information needs of distance education students, faculty, and staff. This position typically involves coordinating the duties of many librarians and library staff to ensure adequate access to library resources for those who enroll in and teach distance education courses.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Learning commons</span>

Learning commons, also known as scholars' commons, information commons or digital commons, are learning spaces, similar to libraries and classrooms that share space for information technology, remote or online education, tutoring, collaboration, content creation, meetings, socialization, playing games and studying. Learning commons are increasingly popular in academic and research libraries, and some public and school libraries have now adopted the model. Architecture, furnishings and physical organization are particularly important to the character of a learning commons, as spaces are often designed to be rearranged by users according to their needs.

The Department of Information Studies is a department of the UCL Faculty of Arts and Humanities.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Olusegun Oke Library</span> Academic library of Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomosho.

Olusegun Oke Library (OOL) is the main academic library of the Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH), Ogbomoso in Oyo State, Nigeria. It was formerly known as LAUTECH Library and was established in July 1990, some months after the inauguration of the university. It was set up as one of the academic units in the university.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">College of Librarianship Wales</span> College of Librarianship Wales

The College of Librarianship Wales was a monotechnic college specializing in library and information science in Aberystwyth, Wales, between its foundation in 1964 and August 1989, when it was merged with University College of Wales to become the Department of Information & Library Studies of that institution. During its twenty-five years of independent existence the college grew to be the largest library school in the UK and one of the largest in Europe. It also gained an international reputation for library education,

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Brewrton, Anthony (2011). "'… and any other duties deemed necessary:' an analysis of subject librarian job descriptions" (PDF). University of Warwick institutional repository– via University of Warwick institutional repositor.
  2. 1 2 3 Pinfield, Stephen (2001). "The changing role of subject librarians in academic libraries". Journal of Librarianship and Information Science. 33 (1): 32–38. doi:10.1177/096100060103300104. ISSN   0961-0006.
  3. 1 2 Gaston, Richard (2001-01-01). "The changing role of the subject librarian, with a particular focus on UK developments, examined through a review of the literature". New Review of Academic Librarianship. 7 (1): 19–36. doi:10.1080/13614530109516819. ISSN   1361-4533.
  4. ↑ Gibbs, Beth Liebman (1993). "Subject Specialization in the Scientific Special Library". Special Libraries. 84 (1): 1–8. ISSN   0038-6723.
  5. ↑ Lembo, Mary Frances; Hallmark, Julie (2003-01-01). "Leaving Science for LIS". istl.org. Retrieved 2023-09-06.
  6. ↑ "How to become a Librarian". www.gooduniversitiesguide.com.au. Retrieved 2023-09-06.
  7. ↑ Blewett, Daniel K. "The librarian is in". College & Research Libraries News.
  8. ↑ SBIRES (2016-07-21). "Academic Libraries". Education & Careers. Retrieved 2023-09-06.
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