Reflections on an Embedded Librarianship Approach: The Challenge of Developing Disciplinary Expertise in a New Subject Area. Issue 1 (2nd January 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Luca, Edward Joseph
• Is Part Of: Journal of the Australian Library & Information Association. Volume 68:Issue 1(2019)
• Page Start: 78
• Page End: 85
• Publication Date: 2019-01-02
• Subjects: Embedded librarianship -- academic libraries -- information literacy -- situated information literacy -- information practices -- experiential learning; Information science -- Periodicals; Information science -- Australia -- Periodicals; Information science -- Pacific Area -- Periodicals; Library science -- Periodicals; Library science -- Australia -- Periodicals; Library science -- Pacific Area -- Periodicals; Information science; Library science; Australia; Pacific Area; Periodicals; 020.5
• DOI: 10.1080/24750158.2019.1573631
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2475-0158

Abstract

ABSTRACT: Embedded librarianship has emerged as a user-centred approach to academic library services, requiring an in-depth understanding of the education and research priorities of students and staff. User-centred approaches require the development of disciplinary expertise and engagement with the research culture of a particular subject area. This paper details the author's experiences in situating his practice within the discipline of pharmacy and discusses some of the challenges around the scale and sustainability of such specialised support. Regardless of the extent to which a librarian is 'embedded', they must see themselves as learners, too, as they develop their understanding of the disciplines they support through an ongoing process of experiencing, reflecting, conceptualising and testing in their practice.