How is the Role of Academic Library Workers Perceived by both Faculty Members and Library Workers?

Abstract

AbstractThis study examined, qualitatively and quantitatively, how academic faculty members perceive the role of academic library workers (ALWs) and how these workers perceive their own roles in the library. Interviews were conducted with 20 faculty members and with 15 ALWs in three academic institutes in Israel, after which 191 faculty members and 50 ALWs from the same institutes completed a close-ended questionnaire. The interviews indicated that, in both study groups, a clear and unequivocal role definition for ALWs is currently lacking, while in both groups the definition “information scientist” has not yet been established, as some faculty members mentioned role definitions other than “librarian” or “information scientist”. The quantitative findings demonstrated that both study groups believe the role definition is mainly according to the library in which the ALWs work and that the main distinction between “librarian” and “information scientist” is being proficient in the field of information technologies.