Librarianship is constantly confronted with unexpected and quickly evolving sociotechnical challenges, yet the documents that define the core professional competencies for librarians are infrequently updated. Based upon survey responses collected from 383 working librarians located in the United States, we describe a set of gaps between current…

Background: The recruitment of Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) has been an ongoing effort for specialized libraries and library programs, especially as they try to fill technical roles while combatting internalized biases and candidates' potential self-deselection by not applying or otherwise removing themselves from the recruitment…

Evidence-based library and information practice (EBLIP) was adapted from evidence-based medicine (EBM). In doing so, problems of EBM might affect EBLIP. One issue already known in medicine which may eventually reach the field of library and information sciences (LIS) is the phenomenon of "evidence reversal". An evidence reversal (ER)…

This paper surveys the (patchy and uneven) advances in LIS impact evaluation over the past ten years and notes the surge forward in public library impact evaluation, before looking more broadly at the international and educational impact evaluation scene and noting the advance of programme-theory driven approaches. The authors then identify…

What might motivate someone with a natural science degree to forgo the lab and pursue a non-traditional career in librarianship? Are there differences between LIS graduates with and without a science degree that might impact recruitment strategies? An analysis of data from a longitudinal career study, "Workforce Issues in Library and…

The job of the contemporary reference librarian has a virtual component unimaginable a generation ago. Today's library professional can obtain an MLS (or equivalent) online with a minimal residency requirement. Not only the degree, but also library sources, and indeed patrons, have become virtual. Both books and periodicals can be consulted by…

Many scholars and professionals have noted in recent years that the United States is experiencing a transformation to an economy based upon knowledge. However, researchers have only begun to explore how the essence of such an economy, the creation of wealth by organizations through their use of information, works empirically. This study provides…

Introduction: Reports the conduct of a national survey in Sweden to establish the desired research priorities for libraries. The research sought to establish what evidence-base is needed for evidence-based practice. Method: The Delphi method was employed to solicit opinions on the kinds of research needed by libraries of all kinds in Sweden.…

Traces the development of a specialty within the profession of librarianship, highlighting the origins of art libraries (particularly in museums), growth of the literature of art, the formation of professional associations, and the development of specialized education in library schools. Forty-five references are cited. (EJS)

Replicating to a high degree the results of the Olsgaard profile of authorship characteristics in academic library journals, this study analyzed five journals of interest to special librarians to determine gender, geographic location, and occupation of author contributors. Results indicate that women are consistently underrepresented in the…

This essay on education for special librarianship discusses need for dialog between library educators and special librarians, recruitment for library field and library education, library school faculty recruitment and curriculum design, and the education of special librarians. Ten references are included. (EJS)

This article provides an overview of the development of tribal libraries, the events that have affected them, and their status today. Issues of recruiting and retaining Native American/Alaska Natives within the profession are discussed with suggestions for successful strategies. (Contains 31 references.) (Author)

Examines education and training of library personnel for health-related libraries in Latin America. Highlights include history of librarianship education in general, levels of education, network formation, ways in which health sciences librarians cope with problems of their specialization, recommendations of UNESCO meeting sponsored by directors…

Discusses the development and present status of special librarianship in Yugoslavia and uses the Central Technical Library at the University of Ljubljana to exemplify a central technical university library because of its historical perspective, present status, and its current role in the exchange of scientific and technical information in…

What library/information science education offerings are relevant to preparing graduates for careers in the special library sector? The strengths and weaknesses of education for special librarianship; the match between SLA's competencies statement and what is being taught in LIS master's degree programs; and the role of SLA in continuing education…