Experience, Challenges, and Opportunities of Being Fully Embedded in a User Group

ABSTRACT

Embedded librarian models can assume different forms and levels, depending on patron needs and a library’s choice of delivery services. An academic health sciences library decided to enhance its service delivery model by integrating a librarian into the College of Pharmacy, approximately 250 miles away from the main library. This article describes the embedded librarian’s first-year experience, challenges, and opportunities working as a library faculty in the college. The comparison of one-year recorded statistics on preembedded and postembedded activities demonstrated the effectiveness and impact of such an embedded librarian model.

KEYWORDS:

• Collaboration
• embedded librarians health sciences libraries
• faculty-librarian interaction
• integrated librarians
• liaison librarians
• onsite librarians

Acknowledgment

The authors thank Dr. David Armbruster, author’s editor, for editorial assistance.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Lin Wu

Lin Wu, MLIS, AHIP ([email protected]) is Associate Professor/Assistant Director, Research & Learning Services, Health Sciences Library, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN 38163. At the time this article was written, she was Associate Professor/South Texas Health Science Center Campus Librarian, Medical Sciences Library, Texas A&M University Libraries, Kingsville, TX 78363.

Joel Thornton

Joel Thornton, CPA, CGMA ([email protected]) is Head of Instruction & Liaison Services, University of Arkansas Libraries, 365 North Mcllroy Avenue, Fayetteville, AR 72701. Prior to the University of Arkansas, Thornton served as the Client Services & Strategic Initiatives Coordinator for the Medical Sciences Library at Texas A&M University.