THE CHANGING ROLES OF LIBRARIANS IN THE 21ST CENTURY: A LOOK AT EMBEDDED LIBRARIAN

Abstract

The advent of 21st century which is characterized by constant and consistent adoption and use of internet and ICTs have greatly changed the roles of Librarians from being book’s guards or traditional reference librarians to digital information service providers. Hence, this paper discussed who an embedded librarian is; as one who collaborates with users through incorporating information literacy into class, partnering to provide specialized research assistance to students over a semester, helping a faculty member find resources, provide needs-based services, offer convenient and user-friendly services outside the library settings. Similarly, the paper explored the constituents of embedded librarian which include: ability to take library service outside the library, ability to be a team player, ability to build a trusted relationship etc. The paper also highlighted the nature of services provided by embedded librarian that entails narrowing topics and brainstorming idea for research, helps students locate credible information sources and peer reviewed articles among others. Also differences between traditional and embedded librarianship services were captured. The paper further discussed technology in embedded librarianship which involves online, hybrid and inverted classroom embedding. Subsequently, the paper discussed the future of embedded librarian. In addition, challenges of embedded librarian were also discussed which encompasses, lack of technical know-how for new technologies, lack of human relations among others. Consequently, solutions to the challenges facing embedded librarian were also expounded which has to do with provision of in-house training, acquisition of technical skills among others.