Academic Librarians and Student Affairs Professionals: An Ethical Collaboration for Higher Education

Abstract

Librarians’ ethical directives point toward a collaborative effort in providing support for students outside the classroom. Academic librarians often focus on collaborative relationships with teaching faculty at institutions of higher education, but they should also form partnerships with other higher education professionals. Currently, few such partnerships have been reported in the literature. Staff who work in student affairs, including academic advising, career counseling, and other academic support offices would benefit greatly from librarians’ expertise. Specific suggestions for building such collaborations are given, and proposals about future research and possible collaborations are offered.