Lost ideas, lost cultures: Librarians in the research libraries in the 21st century

Abstract

Considers how the role of the librarian in the research library has changed during the past century and asks how it needs to develop to meet the demands of the next century. Identifies seven roles performed by research librarians at various stages: the scholar librarian; the librarian-service provider; the librarian-manager; the librarian-project manager; the librarian-researcher; the librarian-publisher and distributor; and the boundary-crossing librarian. Concludes that there is a need to re-conceptualise the role of the librarian and the research library itself.