Subject vs. functional: Should subject librarians be replaced by functional specialists in academic libraries?

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 discus...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inBibliosfera : zhurnal po bibliotekovedenii͡u︡, bibliografovedenii͡u︡, knigovedenii͡u︡ i informatike no. 4; pp. 21 - 39
Main Authors Hoodless, Catherine, Pinfield, Stephen
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Russian
Published Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Science, State Public Scientific Technological Library 18.02.2021
Subjects
academic libraries
higher education libraries
organisational structures
research support
restructuring
subject librarians
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ISSN1815-3186
2712-7931
DOI10.20913/1815-3186-2020-4-21-39

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Summary: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.
ISSN:1815-3186
2712-7931
DOI:10.20913/1815-3186-2020-4-21-39