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.…

The music subject headings used in the New York Public Library and the Library of Congress are compared. (PF)

The purposes of these standards are: (1) to suggest the steps necessary for the establishment of special libraries; (2) for those recently established, to suggest the steps necessary to achieve satisfactory performance levels in all areas, and finally, (3) for well established libraries, to suggest the steps necessary to achieve excellence. These…

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)

In most profit-making organizations, if a lack of funds forces a choice between a library and an information center, it would be the library which would go. (Author/MF)

Some of the results of a recent systematic investigation of the rationale underlying the current interest in such essentially problem-oriented instructional modes as the case method and simulation teaching in librarianship are summarized. (Author/PF)

Teachers in courses in special librarianship at accredited library schools were asked to write resumes and evaluations of their methods. The majority of the respondents considered their courses to be a type of library'' course which was comparable to the courses in public libraries and academic libraries. (Author/NH)