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

• Published in: Journal of librarianship and information science Vol. 50; no. 4; pp. 345 - 360
• Main Authors: Hoodless, Catherine, Pinfield, Stephen
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London, England SAGE Publications 01.12.2018; Sage Publications Ltd
• Subjects: Academic libraries; Librarians; Organizational structure; Subject specialists; United Kingdom > UK; organisational structures; restructuring; Academic libraries; higher education libraries; research support; subject librarians
• ISSN: 0961-0006; 1741-6477
• DOI: 10.1177/0961000616653647

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.