Subject librarian
Subject librarians (sometimes called specialist librarians or academic liaison librarians[1] or bibliographers in US-English[2]) are librarians who are in charge a particular academic subject in a library, like maths or linguistics.[3]
Subject librarians usually work in academic libraries and special libraries (like legal libraries or medical libraries), but also sometimes large non-academic libraries like a national or state library. In academic libraries, they work with the teachers who teach their special subject to make sure the library has good resources (like books or journals) for their subject, including books teachers tell the students to read.[1]
Subject librarianship started in the 1960s, when schools and universities began to spend more money on their libraries.[3]
Education change
Subject librarians need both academic knowledge of their special subject and skills in library science.
Some people think that formal education in the special subject is very important to be a good subject librarian[4] but other people think it is not necessary.[5]
In Australia, most subject librarians have an undergraduate degree in their special subject and more education in an library sciences course, like a Master of Information Management.[6]
Responsibilities change
Subject librarians usually not work at the enquiry desk, but they sometimes answer questions online that library users ask about the librarians special topic.[2]
Collection management and development change
Having knowledge in a special topic gives a subject librarian extra skills that a general librarian might not have. They can know what resources are best for students and researchers. Subject librarians manage the collection of their special subject, which can include getting new materials[7] labelling and sorting subtopics[2] weeding (getting rid of) out-of-date resources, or resources that people don't use anymore.
Liaison with academic staff change
Subject librarians are sometimes called "academic liaison librarian" because they liaison (communicate) with proffesors and teachers. This can include:
- Helping teachers choose what they tell their studetns to read, based on what is already at the library
- Deciding if a resource should be added to the library[1]
- Providing online resources
- Encouraging professors to tell students about the library
- Helping students and researchers find resources on a subject[1]
Education change
Having knowledge about their special subject and what information students can find in the library means subject librarians can be helpful to create classes and course plans in a university or school.[8]
References change
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 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.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 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.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 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.
- ↑ Lembo, Mary Frances; Hallmark, Julie (2003-01-01). "Leaving Science for LIS". istl.org. Retrieved 2023-09-06.
- ↑ Gibbs, Beth Liebman (1993). "Subject Specialization in the Scientific Special Library". Special Libraries. 84 (1): 1–8. ISSN 0038-6723.
- ↑ "How to become a Librarian". www.gooduniversitiesguide.com.au. Retrieved 2023-09-06.
- ↑ Blewett, Daniel K. "The librarian is in". College & Research Libraries News.
- ↑ SBIRES (2016-07-21). "Academic Libraries". Education & Careers. Retrieved 2023-09-06.