Business librarians: their education and training

摘要

The ability to provide high-quality information services depends on many factors. Researchers and practitioners have maintained that subject expertise is one of those factors, particularly in specialized fields such as science, engineering, and business librarianship. The purpose of this investigation was to explore the educational background and professional experience of business librarians. In particular, the authors' focus was on business librarians' formal training in the subject of business. The authors wished to ascertain levels of subject expertise that would prepare business librarians to provide high-quality information service. Jean-Pierre V.M. Herubel maintained that "Subject expertise can only enhance a librarian's ability to interpret the collections to students and scholars. Public services can make a rich contribution to the educative process when they are performed by librarians who have a solid grounding in a subject disciplines."(FN1) Crit Stuart and Miriam A. Drake argued that "Some of our colleagues make the argument that non-scientists can be trained to perform as effectively as librarians with science or engineering degrees. However, without a knowledge of mathematical concepts, basic scientific principles, engineering applications and the communication channels used by scientists and engineers to acquire scientific and technical information, the non-science or engineering person begins with a disadvantage that is difficult to overcome."(FN2) They further argued that "The science or engineering degreed librarian with a grounding in subject materials, practice in scientific and research methods, and a presumed enthusiasm for the subject discipline is more likely to establish valuable relationships with clients and be able to provide effective information services.