The role of research librarians in shaping the future of academic librarianship

Abstract

This presentation seeks to discuss the research role of academic librarians, or more specifically, How research mesh with the profession of librarianship? It attempts to explore such issues as:  Should scholarly research be expected of academic librarians?  What are the benefits of research to the Librarian, to the Institution, and to the Profession? and  What supports are needed to facilitate research activities? It concludes with the analysis that...If research has an important role in understanding the needs to which libraries should be responsive, and if librarians need to conduct research in order to better assess the effectiveness of their approaches to delivering library services, then librarians and other LIS professionals, including the agencies responsible for educating them, and their employing institutions, should be more attentive to such a critical activity as library research.