Science consultant |
The science librarian can serve as a bridge between the technically-minded scientist and other departments or the general public. Science librarians can read over publications for understandability, advise on what would be of interest to the general public and help fund raisers when trying to sell to science-focused donors. |
As one of the few groups on campus who work in both of C.P. Snow’s two cultures, we’re well placed to help translate between them. |
Facilitating multidisciplinary research |
Science librarians can help faculty in disparate departments work together by finding literature at the appropriate technical level to help researchers understand each other’s research and the social norms of their disciplines. |
Subject librarians responsible for multiple departments, we are some of the most genuinely multidisciplinary people on campus. |
Coauthor studies analyzing the scientific literature |
We have degrees in information science; We can do serious research if we want to. We can also aid scientists writing review articles by ensuring they can find and have access to everything published recently in a subject area. |
Who knows the literature better than we do? |
Teaching for-credit classes on the scientific literature |
It’s useful for a freshly minted scientist to learn how the literature works and how to make it work for them. Most get anecdotal advice from their mentors, but a more sophisticated approach would serve them well. |
For scientists, the literature is a means to an end, but for us, it’s our field of study. |
Re-accreditation |
Library support is an important part of the accreditation process; well, it’s a part of the accreditation process anyway. |
only the science librarian can supply the information necessary. |
Implementing Electronic Laboratory Notebooks |
The traditional coffee-stained hand-written notebook is being replaced with something more secure, safe, organized and, most importantly, legible. They do need some tech support and training for implementation, though. |
Science librarians have the technical expertise to understand how ELNs work, the understanding of organizing information to advise how best to use them and the skills to train for and support their implementation in science departments. |
Social technology incubator |
New forms of electronically-mediated social networking emerge every year. Some will become important in the academic setting, but it’s hard to tell at first glace what’s useful and what’s more trouble than worth. |
Science librarians’ adaptability and affinity for new communication modalities makes us a natural R&D lab for the university as a whole, testing those new technologies to see what works in the academic environment. |
Science Commons |
The stand-alone science library is one of the few true multi-disciplinary spaces on campus. By offering meeting rooms and workspace, layman-level science lectures by faculty, film and book discussion series and popular science books, (etc), the science library creates opportunities for cross-discipline collaboration and outreach to other parts of the university and community. |
It’s our library. Are we going to let someone else handle this stuff? |
Institutional Repository |
Surely I don’t have to explain this one. |
Managing an institutional repository requires expertise in interpreting citations, extensive knowledge of scientific publishing and strong liaison links to science departments to encourage participation. Science librarians, if not in charge of the project (and who has the time?), should be consulted frequently. Science librarians can also manage a subject repository bringing in materials from outside the university community. |
Data Services Librarianship |
With NIH and NSF grants requiring making data accessible, scientists need librarian help in adding metadata and formatting the data in a useful way. We might as well take on hosting duties while we’re at it. |
With our expertise in metadata, scientific processes and the conservation of materials both physical and electronic, we’re the most qualified people on campus to take charge of data services. |