No Fixed Address: The Evolution of Outreach Library Services on University Campuses |
| |
| Authors: | Phyllis Rudin MLS |
| |
| Institution: | Humanities and Social Sciences Library, McLennan Library Building , McGill University , 3459 McTavish Street, Montreal, Quebec, H3A 1V1, Canada E-mail: phyllis.rudin@mcgill.ca |
| |
| Abstract: | Remote access to library resources has liberated students and faculty from the brick and mortar library, giving rise to an intense “whither the library” debate. A necessary corollary to this discussion of the future of the library building on campus is the future deployment of the reference librarian cadre. University libraries have been increasingly experimenting with outreach and outpost arrangements that situate librarians in alternate venues, often embedding them among their natural clientele. Librarians have repositioned themselves in student unions, residence halls, and faculty departments to promote information literacy among the diaspora. This review of the literature traces the path that culminated in the outreach model and explores the variations that have evolved at different institutions. |
| |
| Keywords: | Outreach library services academic libraries embedded librarians field librarians outpost librarians satellite librarians |
|
|
