Embedded Librarianship

In academic institution nowadays, most of university and college are compete each other’s and they want to be acknowledging as research-based institution. For that scenario, librarian also needs to meet the research-based institution requirement. Librarian need to do an extra work to support research-based institution requirement. To meet this requirement, I am strongly agreed library should implement the concept of an embedded librarianship. Before I give my reason why librarian should implemented embedded librarian and also my experience in applying the embedded librarian concept in my organization, let me give some definition what is embedded librarian mean that I took from some literature, slide presentation and also website article. According to the Association of College and Research Libraries’ (ACRL) (2008) guidelines state that provision of library services to distance learners “must be equivalent to those provided for students and faculty in traditional campus settings”. In addition Hoffman (2011) states embedded librarianship is part of this overall strategy to provide “equivalent” library access, resources, and services for distance learners. Furthermore Kinnie (2006), stressed the importance of embedded librarians is for developing student critical thinking and research skills, as well as expanding student familiarity with the library, Similarly to Veal and Bennett (2009), echoed the idea that an embedded librarian’s presence can increase student awareness and comfort with the library.  

After giving some brief explanation of the concept of embedded librarian, then it is clear that this concept should be implemented immediately to meet the research-based institution requirements. This is because, firstly, previously librarian only give their services and assistant to their user in the research process in general and not focus on a particular field or subject, but nowadays with a high-demands and urgent needs, librarians also need to move in line with the needs of researchers. Embedded librarian need to know more about a particular field or subject. They must have adequate preparation themselves. They also should know which online database is suitable for their target users. Maybe what they can do, in my opinion, to learn more about a particular field or subject, embedded librarians are required to attend relevant courses to this field and also attending conferences or seminars on this particular fields or subject to know more related issues and the latest information for the particular field or subject. For example, in medical faculty, embedded librarians should know about at least basic term in medical that popular use. By doing this, at least the embedded librarians are alert about the latest issues and information and it can help them to answer easily and accurately to their target user.  In my experience, I am duty as a reference librarian at Business Faculty, but in my institution, I am not called as a embedded librarian, I just practice some of the criteria that must have as embedded librarian. What I am doing there, I study first the requirement of my users need not even to the students but also to lecturer. Most of the resource that need by my user is in electronic form, it means in online database. So I study the use of some technical business database such as DataStream, Thomson One Banker, etc., and after I know how to use, I go visit to some lecturer and offer consultation to teach this technical database to them and also to their user. Normally this technical database training is conducted by vendor. I receive a positive feedback among lecturer and student about this services and consultation because it is useful and save their time to do comparative and financial analysis. That’s one of the example.

Other than that, at present, each student, lecturer, and researcher have their own laptop, hand phone and others mobile device that supported with the latest technology. They use this device to communicate, search information and connect to their relative, friends, and even with strangers. By having the entire thing in their fingertips, maybe one day, the student and researcher does not come to the library anymore. They like be a virtual in everything.  So, embedded librarian also should think and give their services by using this technology. With the use of online medium, such use social media application, like Instant Messaging, Skype, Facebook and so on, embedded librarian can offer their instruction more interactive, innovative and directly to their user wherever and probably whenever their user’s needs. With using the sophisticated technology, embedded librarian can provide advice, guidance and instruction more quickly and efficiently. Embedded librarians may use and combine various mediums of technology to provide resources and information to the user simultaneously at a time.

 Finally, as I mention before, embedded librarian should be implement not even to the research-based institution but also to all academic and public library to serve to different target user. Embedded librarian is producing concern as an effective means of employing much skills, experience and knowledge, strong tactics of librarians towards the information challenges of the digital age, librarian outer of the old style library and place or situation that enable close coordination and partnership with students or teaching faculty. Embedded librarians also establish their skills as information experts and use this expertise in a way that will impact to the research process, training, or etc. In addition, embedded librarians also enable librarians to develop stronger communicate and collaboration, relationships and interactions, between library management and academic members or public.

Reference

ACRL Board of Directors (2008), ACRL Standards for Distance Learning Library Services, July, available at: www.ala.org/ala/mgrps/divs/acrl/standards/guidelinesdistancelearning.cfm

(accessed 29 April 2009).

Hoffman, Starr. (2011).Embedded academic librarian experiences in online courses : roles, faculty collaboration, and opinion. Library Management. Vol. 32 No. 6/7, 2011. pp. 444-456. Emerald Group. ww.emeraldinsight.com/0143-5124.htm

Kinnie, J. (2006), “The embedded librarian: bringing library services to distance learners”, 22nd Annual Conference on Distance Learning and Teaching, available at: www.uwex. edu/disted/conference/Resource_library/proceedings/06_4327.pdf (accessed 29 April

2009).

Ramsay, Karen M.  & Kinnie, Jim (2006) . Getting out there via technology to help students where they learn. Library Journal, 04/01/2006. http://www.libraryjournal.com/article/CA6317224.html

Veal, R. and Bennett, E. (2009), “The virtual library liaison: a case study at an online university”, Journal of Library Administration, Vol. 49 Nos 1/2, pp. 161-70.