Subject Librarians – a fresh lookAn Exploration of the theme

Emma Walton

Director of Library Services Loughborough University

The plan

My experience – the personal context

Sector reflectionsThe current and future landscapeModelsRoles

Closing thoughts

Past experience

2015- Director of Library Services

2013-2015 Head of Academic Services

2005-2013 Learning and Teaching Support Manager

2001-2005 Subject Librarian

1997-2001 – Information Specialist (commercial media company)

Sector reflections - Change

Changing government policy

Economic climateStudent feesResearch funding

competitionOpen AccessTechnological

advancementsHighly Competitive

Value for moneyReturn on investmentEfficiencyContinuous improvementExcellence

Impact of change on Academic Libraries

Librarians under threat(THES 2005)

Bangor librarians

face internet threat

(Guardian 2005)

Job titles

Faculty LibrarianInformation Skills AdvisorsLibrary Liaison ManagerSubject LibrarianSubject Liaison Librarian

Academic Librarian @ L’boro

Models

Model Characteristics

Traditional A subject librarian supports an Academic School/Faculty or collection of depts covering all aspects of liaison from UG-Research

Traditional plus + As above but with additional support from team for particular aspects of Library service. Each subject librarian may have a portfolio or special responsibility

Hybrid Teams exist (physical or otherwise) to respond to key areas of Library service e.g Teaching and Learning or Research but also have specific academic liaison responsibilities

Functional/Specialist Teams are created to look at particular areas of Library service e.g Research Support, User engagement, Teaching and Learning and support all areas across the Institution.

Which model?

No wrong or right – but should be successful

A successful model needs to

Have strategic fit Be culturally suitable Meet current and future needs Address gapsand may require a re-balancing of personnel and skillsbe a reaction to changing institutional aims, metrics, altered or new ambitions, Be a result of financial constraints

Even if it is a reaction needs to be a decision based on clear, thoughtful, review and evaluation of needs both of the institution, the Library, the users and the staff.

Get your phones out

www.govote.at 47 45 30

Two questions

1) Name one task that you didn’t do when you started out or are surprised you do as part of your role?

2) What do you spend most of your time doing?

Roles

Data analyst Data manager Innovative teacher Learner Researcher Community

facilitator Collections manager Subject specialist Marketing specialist

Team Player Counsellor/mentor Project worker Collaborator/partner Advocate Negotiator Networker

Skills or attributes

interpersonal skills communication skills team working project

working/management analytical skills evaluation skills statistical skills negotiation skills influencing skills advocacy skills teaching skills research knowledge problem solving technologically adept/aware

flexibleagileability to adaptpositiverelationship buildinginnovativecreativeuser focused

Are we expecting too much?

As employers we have high expectations

As a profession we should aim high

we should have high aspirations for our users and ourselves

In return

You should expect investment in you with training and support

You should expect clear, communicated thoughts and discussion about roles,needs and models and changes

Yes we can.

High expectations, high achievers

Examples are here amongst us today presenting their practice and innovation

Winning awards

Writing articles

Creative thinking

Thoughtful reflection and evaluation

Making friends across institutions and beyond

Closing thoughts – A fresh look?

Its always good to have a fresh look, we should all feel able to critically assess what we do, it keeps us relevant, provides opportunities and meets challenges.

Model change? Perhaps? The role of the subject librarian is all about creating relationships so we need to

ensure all are able to do this Increasingly important to be collaborative, to work with others, to utilise expertise

but also to believe in our own knowledge We need to be brave and open to change, new ways of working and new

opportunities We do an excellent job for our users, we are good citizens, we care

We need to show our value We need to proud of what we do

Questions

?

References

Pinfield, S (2001) The changing role of subject librarians in academic libraries. Journal of Information Science 33, (1) Cooke, L et al (2011) Evaluating the impact of academic liasion Librarians on their user community: a review and case studyNew Review of Academic Librarianship 17 (1) Creaser, C & Spezi, V(2012) Working together: evolving value for academic libraries (Report commissioned by Sage)Brewerton, A (2011) ‘and any other duties deemed necessary:’an analysis of subject librarian job descriptions SCONUL Focus 51 2011Reskilling for Research (2012) Report conducted for RLUK by Mary AuklandJanuary 2012Harvell, J and Walton, E (2009) Delivering Academic Support at the University of Sussex SCONUL Focus 45

Created using Mentimeter https://www.mentimeter.com/