WHAT IS A SUBJECT LIBRARIAN?

A subject librarian is a library faculty member who has been formally assigned to be the primary contact person between the University Libraries and a particular academic group (department, college, school, center, program). This document describes the various functions a subject librarian may carry out, though a particular librarian's role will vary depending on the Libraries' resources and academic department's needs. The subject librarian is expected to understand the information needs and scholarly communication patterns of assigned disciplines. Using that knowledge subject librarians, communicate with their assigned UT groups in order to evaluate, develop, and provide appropriate library services and collections.

The essence of the subject librarian's role is to foster two-way communication between the libraries and the university's academic programs. Subject librarians accept responsibility to make themselves known and readily available to faculty and students. Each subject librarian functions as a member of a subject team and may call on resources and personnel within and outside the team when needed. Subject coordinators strive to have an overview of needs among faculty and students and work with subject librarians to negotiate activities they will carry out.

Communication between the subject librarian and the academic unit regularly occurs in a variety of ways, including through the designated library faculty representative or departmental library committee, by visits to individual faculty and groups, through printed and electronic channels, by periodic participation in faculty meetings, and by attendance at academic symposia and colloquia. Formal and informal on-site contacts outside the libraries are encouraged. Equally important communication occurs within the library, as subject librarians share information about departments with colleagues and in team meetings so that library policies, collections, resource allocations, and services are dynamic and respond to the interests and changing needs of the academic community.

WHAT ARE THE RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE SUBJECT LIBRARIAN?

Depending on the needs of faculty and students in particular departments or programs and the availability of a subject librarian's time and resources, the subject librarian provides many of the following services:

Liaison With Assigned Departments

The overall responsibility lies in fostering a close relationship between the University Libraries and academic departments and programs to ensure that library resources are used most effectively in support of teaching, research, and service. More specific responsibilities include:

Identify courses and programs in assigned departments that require information resources to support research. Work with faculty members responsible for these courses and programs to incorporate bibliographic instruction activities as appropriate.

Work with faculty members to identify department expectations for student competencies and the role that the library might play in achieving them. When appropriate, seek opportunities to assist departments who are incorporating competencies in information gathering and analysis into their curricula.

Identify patterns of faculty and graduate student research. Develop UT Libraries collections to facilitate research and take advantage of relationships with institutions in the Knoxville and East Tennessee area or the University of Tennessee system.

Facilitate current awareness services for both faculty and students through appropriate activities.

Provide support for program and accreditation review processes, new academic program establishment, and grant proposal preparation.

Participate in needs assessment activities such as conducting focus group sessions or surveys.

Collection Development and Management

The overall responsibility lies in making judgments about subject collections in the University Libraries which support teaching, research, and service missions of the University. Time spent participating in collection management work will vary with individual positions. Specific responsibilities for assigned subject areas include:

In consultation with appropriate faculty, develop and regularly update collection policy statements.

Review and prioritize orders submitted by faculty.

Review books received on approval plans in appropriate subject areas and make recommendations when needed in the subject profile.

Initiate orders for materials not received on approval plans.

Maintain ongoing review of serials subscriptions and options for alternative access.

Review gift materials.

Identify material for transfer, withdrawal, or conservation treatment.

Select, evaluate, and monitor Internet resources, and create appropriate subject pages for LibLink.

Evaluate collection strengths and weaknesses.

Monitor expenditures in assigned subject areas; stay within budget allocations in all categories including firm orders, periodicals, and approvals.

Work cooperatively with subject groups or other subject librarians to address to interdisciplinary needs.

Reference Services and Instruction

Subject librarians participate in a range of public service activities. Librarians perform some or all of the following services:

Provide services at public desks which may include telephone and electronic mail transactions.

Consult with students and faculty and provide advanced research assistance.

Develop guides to sources and services.

Participate in offering course-specific instruction to appropriate groups and classes.

Participate in mediated database searches, either as the primary searcher or as a consultant in the subject in cooperation with an experienced searcher.

Offer research counseling appointments for students and faculty members in assigned disciplines for extended assistance on research projects or papers.

last updated 7/25/97