Hoodless, C. and Pinfield, S. orcid.org/0000-0003-4696-764X (2018) Subject v. functional: Should subject librarians be replaced by functional specialists in academic libraries? Journal of Librarianship and Information Science , 50 (4). pp. 345-360. ISSN 0961-0006
Abstract
This paper focuses on the move by some academic libraries to replace subject-based organisational structures with new functional structures, introducing functional specialists instead of subject librarians. It reports 11 in-depth semi-structured interviews with senior managers in UK libraries discussing their attitudes to this change. Key drivers for change included the desire to align the library more closely with institutional strategy and provide enhanced research support. However, there were also major concerns, particularly the loss of close relationships with academic departments. Little consensus emerged apart from agreement that this is a major current debate impacting significantly on the future positioning of libraries in their institutions.
Metadata
Item Type: | Article |
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Authors/Creators: |
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Copyright, Publisher and Additional Information: | © The Author(s) 2016. This article is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 License (http://www.creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/) which permits any use, reproduction and distribution of the work without further permission provided the original work is attributed as specified on the SAGE and Open Access page (http://www.uk.sagepub.com/aboutus/openaccess.htm). |
Keywords: | Academic libraries; higher education libraries; subject librarians; research support; organisational structures; restructuring |
Dates: |
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Institution: | The University of Sheffield |
Academic Units: | The University of Sheffield > Faculty of Social Sciences (Sheffield) > Information School (Sheffield) |
Depositing User: | Symplectic Sheffield |
Date Deposited: | 04 May 2016 11:01 |
Last Modified: | 29 Jun 2023 14:50 |
Status: | Published |
Publisher: | SAGE Publications |
Refereed: | Yes |
Identification Number: | 10.1177/0961000616653647 |
Open Archives Initiative ID (OAI ID): | oai:eprints.whiterose.ac.uk:98839 |
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