Post on 19-Oct-2014
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transcript
Embedded Librarianship
• Challenging traditional librarian-patron transaction-based relationship
• Changing goals, metrics, & mandate of librarians
• Changing infrastructures for knowledge creation/use
Primary Models of Embeddedness:
1. Medical informationists
2. Academic course-embedded liaison librarians
3. Special librarians who decentralize
Emerging: Research-embedded librarians
Research-Embedded Health Librarians
Participate in research team(s) rather than focusing
on traditional library management and services AND
Provide tailored, intensive information services to a health research team with which s/he is integrated
NOT : Academic liaison librarians, Clinical Informationists, General hospital librarians, Librarians with management-focused jobs, Self-employed information consultants.
Research Questions
Who, what and where are Research-Embedded Health Librarians?
RQ1: Who are REHLs, and do they differ demographically from non-RE HLs? • H1. REHLs will be younger and/or newer librarians than non-RE
HLs RQ2: What and where are REHL jobs in Canada? • H2. REHL jobs will be newer jobs or new incarnations of existing
traditional librarian jobs in research institutions RQ3: What is the current REHL experience in Canada? • H3. Via descriptive qualitative analysis of REHL focus groups, we
will be able to identify themes related to REHL identity, contributions and challenges
Methods
Sequential, mixed-method design
1. Online Survey of Canadian Health Librarians
a. Compare REHL & non-RE HL demographics
b. Explore REHL jobs and attributes
2. REHL Focus Groups
a. Face-to-face (1) and online (3)
b. English (3) and French (1)
c. Explore issues of REHL identity, challenges & successes
Survey Results (1)
191 responses; 39 (20%) were REHLs Analysis: •Tests for difference btw REHL and non-RE HL responses •Descriptive statistics about REHL jobs
REHLs were significantly more likely to be: • Younger • Newer • In smaller organizations • In contract positions
Survey Results (2) REHLs only
Job attributes: • Librarians, information specialists, and research positions • The majority had other jobs in addition to REHL work • Over half worked as solo librarians; most with 1-5 researchers Work done: • Searching was key; also writing, editing, research meetings • Rarely any library management, staff supervision, collections
Focus Group Results
Analysis: Recordings transcribed and analysed in original language via descriptive qualitative analysis influenced by grounded theory.
Selected Themes • Expert searching as “bread and butter” of REHL work • Role evolution & the importance of champions
• Internal/external recognition of REHLs’ value
• Isolation from librarianship/librarian colleagues & lack of
appropriate CE
REHL Work
I feel like I am in a totally different industry even though we use a lot of the same skills, because I don't work in a library. I don’t manage a collection….Yeah, I really feel like it is a whole different world….The way I look at it is that I am using a lot of the same skills as a health librarian, or any other librarian. It is just that I am using them in a totally different way. (Grace)
Identity
I actually have in my career a few times had a professional crisis of, ‘Am I even a librarian anymore? Can I even call myself that?’ (Grace) I just have much more of an intimate relationship and I wouldn’t consider the people I work with my users. I would consider them more my coworkers. (Kelly)
Challenges
[A] friend of mine with a similar position didn’t last very long because she found it very lonely and isolating. So I think you have to be the type of person who really enjoys working independently. (Ellen) I’ve been in temporary jobs almost constantly since I was out of library school...and at one point the stress was so bad that I had [a stress-related health condition], I had--I didn't realize how stressed I was until I got a permanent full-time job and it all settled down. (Cathy)
Opportunities
One of the things that I think about with the research-embedded librarians, is that it’s growing…there’s lots of opportunities there….I’m really interested in raising the awareness of new students coming out, that there are jobs in this field, and lots of them, possibly more than there are traditional librarian jobs. (Darlene) “Research is getting more and more competitive, and anything that can help a researcher with that competitive edge—you know, keeping current and really synthesizing the information for them—I think will continue.” (Barbara)
Implications
For REHLs, library education and associations, and librarian careers
• Profile of REHL differs from both non-embedded HLs and other embedded librarians; also differs from REHLs of a decade ago
• Hybrid ID as researcher/librarian is key; LIS world may support or lose this population through MLIS programs, CE opportunities, and networking/support.
• Fields beyond health that assume an “evidence imperative” may see similar growth of decentralized, research-embedded and researcher-identified librarians.
Now, back to YOU
Questions:
• Are YOU an embedded librarian?
• Do the study findings resonate with you?
• Do you have anything else to add?
• Are YOU a “traditional” health librarian?
• Do you see elements of “embeddedness” creeping into your work?
• Are you interested, or uninterested in embedded models of work?
A few more questions:
For anyone in the room or online:
• Is “Embeddedness” a fad in librarianship? (Is ”embedded librarian” the new “cybrarian”?)
• Will Research-embedded librarianship catch on beyond health disciplines?
• Should health library associations do anything different to support REHLs?
• Should MLIS programs do anything different to equip emerging librarians for research-embedded work?