Science Librarians in Science Librarians in the 21the 21stst Century: A Century: A

Cautionary TaleCautionary Tale

oror

New Crossroads? New Crossroads? That’s No Crossroads That’s No Crossroads

I See.I See.

Mel DeSartMel DeSart

University of WashingtonUniversity of Washington

ALA Annual 2005ALA Annual 2005

56 ALA-accredited 56 ALA-accredited programs, 3 conditionally programs, 3 conditionally accreditedaccredited

1, in Montreal, was excluded 1, in Montreal, was excluded because all the text was because all the text was FrenchFrench

Of the remaining 55, 41 Of the remaining 55, 41 (74.5%) list a sci-tech (74.5%) list a sci-tech course in their catalogscourse in their catalogs

Only 15 programs offered Only 15 programs offered that sci-tech course in the that sci-tech course in the one year examined.one year examined.

37% of the programs that 37% of the programs that had a sci-tech course in had a sci-tech course in their course catalogs.their course catalogs.

27% of the 55 total 27% of the 55 total programs programs

How do we help users that likely How do we help users that likely need our help, don’t know that need our help, don’t know that they need it, and no longer come they need it, and no longer come in to our libraries?in to our libraries?

How do we retain our relevancy to How do we retain our relevancy to our users, our library our users, our library administration and our university administration and our university administration?administration?

How do we keep more qualified How do we keep more qualified people coming into the profession people coming into the profession to do both of the above?to do both of the above?

Our Users. Since they’re not Our Users. Since they’re not coming to us, what do we do?coming to us, what do we do?

Find a way to bring users to us that Find a way to bring users to us that offers us a teaching opportunity or offers us a teaching opportunity or we find a way to get to them with we find a way to get to them with that same teaching opportunity.that same teaching opportunity.

Web pages are NOT the answer. Not Web pages are NOT the answer. Not a Field of Dreams case of “if you a Field of Dreams case of “if you build it they will come”.build it they will come”.

Get into more classes.Get into more classes.

Develop online tutorials.Develop online tutorials.

Student rep on library committee.Student rep on library committee.

Go to where the student are.Go to where the student are.

Free cup of coffee.Free cup of coffee.

Recruit people to “test” databases.Recruit people to “test” databases.

Sci-tech trivia contest.Sci-tech trivia contest.

Our relevance. How to prove Our relevance. How to prove our worth to those whom we our worth to those whom we need to.need to.

Measure everything (except journal Measure everything (except journal use) you’re involved with.use) you’re involved with.

Testimonials from students or faculty.Testimonials from students or faculty.

Create a unique niche for yourself Create a unique niche for yourself within your organization.within your organization.

The Profession – Our FutureThe Profession – Our Future

Demand vs. Supply – Are they meeting Demand vs. Supply – Are they meeting at a workable point?at a workable point?

Sci-tech courses not being taught in Sci-tech courses not being taught in your LIS program? Offer to teach it your LIS program? Offer to teach it yourself.yourself.

Talk to / recruit the quality students Talk to / recruit the quality students who work in your libraries.who work in your libraries.