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STEM librarian roles are shifting to accommodate the changing academic research and education landscape within universities. To best support students and faculty, liaisons need to examine current practices within STEM librarianship, experiment with new models of information literacy, and consider how students are using the library. The following articles examine the roles of STEM librarians; the methods they use to connect with STEM students; and the way STEM students are interacting, or not interacting, with university libraries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Academic librarians are continually looking for ways to impact student learning. Embedded librarianship can be a method to connect with students in ways that cannot be accomplished with one-shot instruction sessions. The following eight articles were selected for their excellence in researching and sharing embedded librarian experiences in a variety of academic library settings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The trends in social science librarianship tend to mirror trends in academic librarianship at large, but with a distinct disciplinary flavor. This column reviews current writings about social science librarianship within academic libraries. One article details a close examination of faculty and librarian preferences around the organization of university library systems. The results provide insight into social science faculty views on the physical library buildings as well as library resources and services. Other publications explore how librarians can best support new emphases in the social sciences, such as systematic reviews and data literacy. Other articles examine close collaborations between social science faculty and librarians which resulted in improved instruction centered around important information literacy skills. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Delaney Daly is earning a Master of Library Science degree at the Texas Woman's University School of Library and Information Studies. She will graduate in December of 2020 and works at Vail Public Library in Vail, Colorado. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Academic library spaces and services have widely broadened their missions away from providing only traditional research services and quiet spaces for study. Today, academic libraries are increasingly repurposing space and redesigning services to become the hub of innovation on university campuses. The literature explores entrepreneurship and academic libraries from many perspectives but with a common theme of the library as a leader in support of entrepreneurship initiatives on campus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The use of a paper-based tally sheet systems for gathering reference statistics has been unchanged for decades. However, with new technology and data gathering tools being developed, libraries now have an alternative for gathering statistical data more efficiently. This paper will discuss the strengths and weaknesses of both paper-based tally sheet forms and electronic tracking systems being used in libraries and will encompass a variety of commercial, open source, and homegrown products. Preference for either tool will be explored and determine reasons for a libraries reluctance to embrace new technology and keeping with old methods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Public services librarians in every type of library often have programing, outreach, and/or marketing duties as part of their job descriptions, though these aspects may not be reflected in their position titles. As new outreach librarians at our respective institutions, the authors, both academic librarians, sought to create a "community of practice" among fellow academic libraries in their state. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The literature on academic librarians' teaching experience consistently reflects a disconnect between the education Library and Information Science (LIS) graduates receive and the knowledge and skills they need to perform their jobs. The goal of this study is to assess the current state of instruction and user education courses in graduate programs accredited by the American Library Association (ALA). After reviewing the websites of 60 schools, a qualitative content analysis of 80 course descriptions was conducted. The study revealed that 57 of 60 ALA-accredited programs, or 95%, offer at least one course in information literacy, user education, and library instruction. While this finding indicates that LIS instruction courses are more widely available than they have ever been, the state of instruction courses in LIS programs is more complicated. Only a handful of schools require students to take a course in instruction, and three programs do not offer any classes related to teaching in a library setting. While LIS programs have come a long way when it comes to providing instruction courses, there is still considerable room for improvement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Citation management programs are tools used to organize references and to create citations and bibliographies. Libraries are often the central point for providing training and support in using these tools. To determine how we could improve our support and training services, we surveyed users to determine what software in being used, why they chose that particular program, what features are important, and how they use citation management programs to collaborate. Results indicate that users chose a particular program because it was freely available or recommended to them by others and that they thought that importing references and creating citations were important features. We also found a majority of respondents used citation management programs to collaborate and turned to the library for training and support. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

LibGuides are an essential resource in academic libraries. Although librarians use LibGuides primarily as instructional tools there is little discussion about the application of pedagogical and learner-centered design principles to the design of LibGuides. Current research focuses almost exclusively on issues of usability, resulting in best practices that are user-centered but not necessarily learner-centered. This paper fills the gap in the literature by integrating the findings from user studies with instructional design principles to propose best practices for LibGuides that are both user- and learner-centered. The ADDIE model of instructional design is used as a procedural framework for implementing these best practices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Traditional Marxist and Postmodern theories have been very useful in describing the library's ideological role within society, however they both lack an ability to explain why the library came into its current existence in a capitalist society and why it has such staying power in an increasingly privatized and performance driven society. The development of Social Reproduction Theory provides a window to begin explaining the historic development of libraries and the role they have come to play. This article looks to begin introducing an application of Social Reproduction Theory that can contextualize libraries as important components of a global capitalist system. This approach centers the labor conducted by librarians, and other socially reproductive workers, as crucial to the functioning of modern capitalism. Ultimately, this can mean new approaches to the librarian-patron relationship and new implications for library advocacy and leadership. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A summary of recent articles on leadership in library and information science literature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents articles of interest to public services librarians. They include "Telling your library story: Tableau Public for data visualization" by I. Datig and P. Whiting, "Improving the connection between public services units in academic libraries" by E. Marcus and M. Turnbull, and "Self-efficacy of academic librarians: Implications for public services managers" by L. F. McCartin.

An instruction librarian and a biology professor at a small, urban commuter college campus worked together to provide research instruction to non-science majors in selected hybrid and online biological sciences classes. They collaboratively designed in-class and online learning tools, as well as homework assignments aimed at developing non-science majors’ information literacy skills. Through an array of innovative technologies and pedagogical models (including online screencasts, Twitter conversations, and embedded librarianship), they sought to engage non-science majors in the scientific discourse and to encourage them to access and assess reputable online science materials. This study explores the efficacy of their pedagogical partnership. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Column description.TheFuture Voices in Public Servicescolumn is a forum for graduate students in library and information science programs to discuss key issues in academic library public services, to envision what they feel librarians in public service have to offer to academia, to tell us their visions for the profession, or to share research being conducted in library schools. We hope to provide fresh perspectives from those entering our field, in both the United States and other countries. Interested faculty of graduate library and information science programs, who would like their students’ ideas represented in these pages, are invited to contact Miriam L. Matteson. Stephen Krueger received a Master of Science in Library Science degree from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Information and Library Science in May 2017. In this essay, he explores library service to transgender patrons looking first at relevant federal legislation and library policies that support services and then discussing steps library staff can take to provide meaningful support for transgender patrons. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Column description.TheBest of the Literaturecolumn is intended to keep librarians, administrators, and staff up to date with the most recent, relevant, and useful literature of the field. Columns may focus on a specific theme or topic or they may be a review of significant or interesting resources published within the past year. Columns generally begin with a brief introduction to the topic or theme of the column and include references and annotations for up to between 7–10 different resources. Readers are invited to suggest themes, topics, or resources to Linda Frederiksen. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Column description. Special Libraries, Special Challenges is a column dedicated to exploring the unique public services challenges that arise in libraries that specialize in a particular subject, such as law, medicine, business, and so forth. In each column, the author will discuss public service dilemmas and opportunities arise in special libraries. Special or subject-matter librarians interested in authoring a piece for this column are invited to contact Ilana Stonebraker. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Column description.TheFuture Voices in Public Servicescolumn is a forum for students in graduate library and information science programs to discuss key issues they see in academic library public services, to envision what they feel librarians in public service have to offer to academia, to tell us of their visions for the profession, or to tell us of research that is going on in library schools. Interested students can contact Nancy Dewald. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses ways to increase outreach for academic libraries and developing information literacy skills among graduate students. It mentions coursework related outreach programs for creating librarianship opportunities. It also mentions the importance of communication in building relationship between faculty and libraries.

Librarians at Central Oregon Community College's Barber Library explored how to best serve the needs of three satellite campuses across a large geographic region. While initially intending to start an embedded librarianship program, a pair of surveys showed the relationships and awareness necessary for the foundation of such a program were lacking. Using the information gathered in the surveys, the authors attempted to identify and implement methods for building better relationships and greater library awareness across all campuses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article offers information regarding outreach program on a university campus for libraries to make people feel free to utilize resources and services of the library. Topics discussed include three ways to outreach, grants to Library Science at Purdue University, West Lafayette, to teach sophomore students big data and issues related to the field of librarianship and subdisciplines of stem and academic librarianship.

The article discusses the importance of technology and designed products technology essential for libraries. Topics discussed include user research and user-centered design in librarianship, methodology for integrating user research within the context of a library and various studies and literature on coexistence of design and engineering.

The library science job market is competitive, and library and information science (LIS) students and new graduates often have questions and concerns about how to engage in a successful job hunt. Based on research with employers and interactions with students and alumni, the author offers advice for job-seekers looking for public services positions. The article includes an overview of the general skills and qualities sought by employers for public services candidates, as well as advice on resumes and cover letters, and preparing for the interview. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

The article explores the roles of data management in libraries. Topics discussed include the addition of data services in the job descriptions of business librarians, assessment of the need and implementation of data services in libraries, several areas where libraries could provide data-related services, Milne Library's encouragement of data sharing and progress of libraries in the development of data services.

Special Libraries, Special Challenges is a column dedicated to exploring the unique public services challenges that arise in libraries that specialize in a particular subject, such as law, medicine, business, and so forth. In each column, the author will discuss public service dilemmas and solutions that arise specifically in given subject libraries, while drawing links to how such issues affect librarianship in general. Special or subject-matter librarians interested in authoring a piece for this column are invited to contact Melissa K. Aho at aho@umn.edu. Amanda Rybin is the Associate Director of the Visual Resources Center in the Department of Art History at the University of Chicago. She holds a BA in Art History and Creative Writing and an MLIS from the University of Denver. Her email is: arybin@uchicago.edu. The University of Chicago VRC may be found at: http://arthistory.uchicago.edu/vrc. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Special Libraries, Special Challenges is a column dedicated to exploring the unique public services challenges that arise in libraries that specialize in a particular subject, such as law, medicine, business, and so forth. In each column, the author will discuss public service dilemmas and solutions that arise specifically in given subject libraries while drawing links to how such issues affect librarianship in general. Special or subject-matter librarians interested in authoring a piece for this column are invited to contact Melissa K. Aho at aho@umn.edu. Sarah Carter is Instruction and Research Services Librarian at Verman Kimbrough Memorial Library at Ringling College of Art +Design (www.ringling.edu). She holds dual master's degrees in Art History and Library Science from Indiana University. She can be reached at scarter2@ringling.edu or Verman Kimbrough Memorial Library, Ringling College of Art and Design, 2700 N Tamiami Trail, Sarasota, FL 34234. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

The article discusses focus group panels as one method that can be used by libraries to gather information on whether an emerging technology might be worth implementing for public services. It cites the time between when we at the library start hearing about it as an intriguing possibility and the time when it becomes well-documented as one of the biggest problems with an emerging technology. According to the author, focus group panels can help in deciding whether and when a technology is ready to be implemented in a particular context. Tips when organizing a focus group panel are presented.

Special Libraries, Special Challenges is a column dedicated to exploring the unique public services challenges that arise in libraries that specialize in a particular subject, such as law, medicine, business, and so forth. In each column, the author will discuss public service dilemmas and solutions that arise specifically in given subject libraries, while drawing links to how such issues affect librarianship in general. Special or subject-matter librarians interested in authoring a piece for this column are invited to contact Melissa K. Aho at aho@umn.edu Ryan Mattke is head of the John R. Borchert Map Library at the University of Minnesota where he has worked since 2007. When he is not poring over maps he can be found reading, writing, paddling, hiking, gardening or building canoes. He holds a B.A. in English (Creative Writing) from the University of Minnesota and can be reached at matt0089@umn.edu. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Special Libraries, Special Challenges is a column dedicated to exploring the unique public services challenges that arise in libraries that specialize in a particular subject, such as law, medicine, business, and so forth. In each column, the author will discuss public service dilemmas and solutions that arise specifically in given subject libraries, while drawing links to how such issues affect librarianship in general. Special or subject-matter librarians interested in authoring a piece for this column are invited to contact Melissa K. Aho at aho@umn.edu Tim Bottorff, MLIS, is Head Librarian at the Universal Orlando Foundation Library at the Rosen College of Hospitality Management, a branch campus of the University of Central Florida in Orlando, Florida, USA. (http://library.ucf.edu/rosen) [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Future Voices in Public Services column is a forum for students in graduate library and information science programs to discuss key issues they see in academic library public services, to envision what they feel librarians in public service have to offer to academia, to tell us of their visions for the profession, or to tell us of research that is going on in library schools. We hope to provide fresh perspectives from those entering our field, in both the United States and other countries. Interested faculty of graduate library and information science programs, who would like their students' ideas represented in these pages, are invited to contact Nancy H. Dewald at nxd7@psu.edu. Jo Henry is a student in the Library and Information Studies Program at the University of North Carolina Greensboro. Here she reports on the wide variety of marketing options academic libraries in North America are using to revive reference services. The University of North Carolina Greensboro's Library and Information Studies program (http://lis.uscg.edu) was organized as a formal department in 1928. The first Master of Library Science degree was conferred in 1978. This ALA accredited MLIS program prepares students to work in areas of specialization in public, academic, special, or school librarianship and is offered on both the main campus of The University of North Carolina at Greensboro as well as at the campus of The University of North Carolina at Charlotte. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Declining reference statistics, diminishing human resources, and the desire to be more proactive and embedded in academic departments, prompted the University of South Florida Library to create a taskforce for re-envisioning reference services. The taskforce was charged with examining the staffing patterns at the desk and developing recommendations to give librarians greater flexibility and to better respond to the information-seeking needs of users. These recommendations were based on statistics of desk usage, collected with the newly adapted online tool Desk Tracker, and structured interviews with library administrators. The taskforce was interested in how these stakeholders use quantitative data in decision making. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Future Voices in Public Services column is a forum for students in graduate library and information science programs to discuss key issues they see in academic library public services, to envision what they feel librarians in public service have to offer to academia, to tell us of their visions for the profession, or to tell us of research that is going on in library schools. We hope to provide fresh perspectives from those entering our field, in both the United States and other countries. Interested faculty of graduate library and information science programs who would like their students' ideas represented in these pages are invited to contact Nancy H. Dewald at nxd7@psu.edu. Sara E. Grozanick is a student in the School of Information and Library Science (SILS) at the Pratt Institute, New York. Recognizing the significance of the Open Access movement to the advancement of scholarship, here she writes a bibliographic essay on research into the citation impact of open access journal articles. The School of Information and Library Science (SILS) at the Pratt Institute located in Manhattan and offering LIS education since 1890, features a curriculum based on Cultural Informatics and World Information, Society & Environments (WISE). The program reflects the arts orientation of Pratt and its alliance with cultural institutions in the city such as the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York Public Library, and the Brooklyn Museum. The nearly 400 students who attend Pratt-SILS onsite have the opportunity to select a master's program resulting in a MS in Library and Information Science or a MSLIS with Library Media Specialist Certification, archives certificate, or dual degree programs resulting in a MSLIS/MS History of Art, a MSLIS/MFA Digital Arts, or a MSLIS/JD with Brooklyn Law School. ***** [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Today's academic library provides resources that users can access both physically in the library and virtually from academic offices. This increasing availability of online access means that information resources are no longer confined within library walls and librarians need to rethink how their constituents' information needs are being met. Embedding librarians in academic departments and programs is one way to expand library services within this new information landscape. This article describes the background and process for embedding librarians and provides case studies from three librarians who successfully embedded themselves in academic departments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

How does an academic librarian become embedded in a department or college that is reluctant to accept reference, research or instruction services from the library? In such cases, the would-be embedded librarian may have to settle for “partial” embedding, offering some services where possible and tactfully abstaining from offering others that were not well-received. Definitions of successful embedding will depend on the level of service accepted, and the librarian may become, if not fully embedded, sufficiently embedded. This article recounts the experience of a would-be embedded librarian at Saint Cloud State University's James W. Miller Library and her attempts to embed herself in the G. R. Herberger College of Business (HCOB). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Embedded librarianship has emerged as one approach to meeting the ever-evolving information needs of our clients. The University of Arizona Health Sciences Library has endeavored to become more proactive by embedding librarians within each of the four colleges it serves. Although the process of establishing visibility, recognition, and developing needed services has been a constant challenge, efforts have led to collaborations with faculty in both research and instruction. This article describes the successes and challenges of the library liaison in the College of Pharmacy, and how being embedded provided opportunities to build successful partnerships. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Embedded librarianship is a relatively new term but is a fairly well-established stance in academic librarianship. While the terminology has certainly spawned new activities and vigorous new channels of communication, few are talking about the strategies for expanding and enhancing the position of the librarian and libraries organizationally once embedded in a course, department, or college. A brief literature review of embedded librarianship provides context for this case study, which focuses on strategic hooks for both establishing and enhancing embedded positions in a major university's College of Education. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Embedded librarians, connected with students and faculty inside the classroom, lab and studio, have new opportunities for preparing students for research and for collaborating with faculty on course-integrated information literacy, research assignment design, teaching, assignment interpretation, and timely student assistance. What makes embedded librarianship a good fit for an institution? How different is this from the traditional librarian support of student and faculty research based in the library? The answers may be found by looking at the evolution of partnerships and embedded librarians in an online nursing course and an on-campus biology learning community at one institution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The librarians at Northern Kentucky University's W. Frank Steely Library have successfully added a new embedded librarianship program to their established reference and instruction services, without the support of increased staffing. In fact, this program was established and has matured during a period of staff reductions. The decisions made in planning and implementing this new service, which allowed for a significant expansion of programming, are detailed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article examines the role online communication and tools play in embedded librarianship at American University. Two embedded models of user engagement, traditional and hybrid, are discussed. The librarians operating in each mode share their experiences providing tailored support to the departments of music/performing arts and business. The administrator's perspective on supporting embedded librarians is also discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses various reports published within the issue, including one on academic embedded librarianship and another on the evolution from subject specialist to embedded librarian.

The concept of the embedded librarian takes subject specialization to another plane. The article that follows discusses the embedded librarian as an evolutionary product and speculates on the reasons driving the change from the library to the department or center for the delivery of information services. Four drivers for change are explored with examples from a major research library, and several questions are posed related to the future of this new service model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Special Libraries, Special Challenges is a column dedicated to exploring the unique public services challenges that arise in libraries that specialize in a particular subject, such as law, medicine, business, and so forth. In each column, the author will discuss public service dilemmas and solutions that arise specifically in given subject libraries, while drawing links to how such issues affect librarianship in general. Special or subject-matter librarians interested in authoring a piece for this column are invited to contact Melissa K. Aho at ahox0017@umn.edu. ***** [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Special Libraries, Special Challenges is a column dedicated to exploring the unique public services challenges that arise in libraries that specialize in a particular subject, such as law, medicine, business, etc. In each column, the author will discuss public service dilemmas and solutions that arise specifically in given subject libraries, while drawing links to how such issues affect librarianship in general. Special or subject-matter librarians interested in authoring a piece for this column are invited to contact Tammy R. Pettinato at trp1978@yahoo.com ***** [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Future Voices in Public Services column is a forum for students in graduate library and information science programs to discuss key issues they see in academic library public services, to envision what they feel librarians in public service have to offer to academia, to tell us of their visions for the profession, or to tell us of research that is going on in library schools. We hope to provide fresh perspectives from those entering our field, in both the United States and other countries. Interested faculty of graduate library and information science programs, who would like their students' ideas represented in these pages, are invited to contact Nancy H. Dewald at nxd7@psu.edu Samantha Sinanan is an MLIS candidate in the School of Library, Archival and Information Studies at the University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada. Here she proposes that librarians should seek to understand the Net Generation searcher's perspective in order to teach information literacy most effectively. Accredited by the American Library Association with the Canadian Library Association, SLAIS is an internationally recognized graduate school at The University of British Columbia, in beautiful Vancouver. At SLAIS we are in the business of preparing professionals to exercise leadership in planning, implementing, and promoting the preservation, organization, and effective use of society's recorded information and ideas. We offer the master's degree in Library and Information Studies (MLIS) and the master's degree in Archival Studies (MAS). In addition, we sponsor a multidisciplinary Master of Arts in Children's Literature (MACL) with five other departments. Opportunities are also available for post-master's study, including a Ph.D. program in library, archival & information studies. For more information, visit www.slais.ubc.ca [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article aims to uncover the practicalities that lie behind the use of 2.0 technologies by libraries. It warns about the utilization of attractive technologies by libraries. It suggests to consider criteria for selecting a library technology. It reminds about the impact of fundamental uniqueness of user, library and institutional cultures on the selection process. It also notes the emergence of uncertainty due the presence of too many choices. In addition, the article offers ideas for using a culture of meta to streamline the messier aspects of managing multiple identities associated with experimentation.

Special Libraries, Special Challenges is a column dedicated to exploring the unique public services challenges that arise in libraries that specialize in a particular subject, such as law, medicine, and business. In each column, the author will discuss public service dilemmas and solutions that arise specifically in given subject libraries, while drawing links to how such issues affect librarianship in general. Special or subject-matter librarians interested in authoring a piece for this column are invited to contact Tammy R. Pettinato at pettinato@law.ucla.edu. ***** [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This section provides an overview of various articles related to technological solutions and concerns, information delivery using a different medium and other issues concerning virtual reference in libraries. They include "Mission IM-possible: Starting an instant message reference service using Trillian," by R. Ciacco and A. Huff in the January 2007 issue of Computers in Libraries," "Ask now instant messaging: Innovation in virtual reference," by K. Davis in the May 2007 issue of "The Australian Library Journal," and "Chat reference competencies: Identification from a literature review and librarian interviews," by L. Lou in the 2007 issue of "Reference Services Review."

The author reflects on her experience with the Second Life Library Project, overseen by the Alliance Library System in Peoria, Illinois. As a volunteer reference librarian, the author spent two hours a week answering reference questions and sharing musings about libraries and librarianship with other volunteer librarians. Her continued involvement with Second Life libraries has led her to question the implications of creating library spaces in three-dimensional, immersive, digital environments.