Mastering Subject Specialties: Practical Advice from the Field

(Paperback)

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Covering the most common subject specialties and departmental liaison roles found in colleges and universities, this guide is for early- and mid-career librarians looking to move up in their chosen specialty as well as for established academic librarians interested in changing fields or for librarians taking on liaison roles in areas outside their expertise. Becoming a subject specialist is a rewarding career path for academic librarians: it allows you to pursue intellectual passions as well as move up in the organization. In this practical guide, experienced academic and research librarians describe how to succeed in various subject fields, presenting expert perspectives on the coursework, work experience, and core knowledge necessary for librarians interested in joining their specialty areas. For each specialty, an expert identifies useful or necessary coursework, provides insights on work and internship experiences, and pinpoints core knowledge areas necessary for success. The chapters offer valuable advice for early- and mid-career librarians on how to advance their career goals through building relevant skills, professional development, networking, and participating in professional associations. This book is crucial reading for library and information science studentsand those who teach and advise themas well as new librarians preparing for their careers and mid-career-changers.

Reviews

A fast-reading guide for aspiring academic librarians and undecided subject specialists. Recommended especially for LIS students and recent graduates. * Library Journal *
Primarily aimed at potential and current library school students, current professionals considering pursuing a career change within or into academia will find this a useful guide as well. As a reference book that readers will refer to for specific information based on the reader's interest area(s), it is an essential resource for library school libraries, especially if the library school does not have the benefit of local expertise on the full-range of specialties offered in this book. * VOYA *
By sharing their experiences and the details of their roles as subject specialists, the contributors to Mastering Subject Specialties: Practical Advice from the Field have written a helpful guide for those in library school or those looking for a new personal direction within the profession. . . . Current library students, as well as those contemplating a move into the library profession, are the target audience for this volume, and Mastering Subject Specialties would be a natural purchase for libraries supporting MLIS students. It may also prove a useful resource for mid-career librarians who are interested in a new professional trajectory, or who have a supervisory role over subject specialists in various disciplines. * Technical Services Quarterly *

Author Bio

Karen Sobel, MLS, is associate professor and research and instruction librarian for art, architecture, music, and urban planning at the University of Colorado Denver.