In Bed with the Library: A Critical Exploration of Embedded Librarianship at the City University of New York

Introduction

Embedded librarianship can be many things, but always includes some kind of ongoing relationship between the librarian and a class, either electronically or in person. I think it requires the librarian entering class spaces rather than the class entering library spaces.

Embedded librarianship involves establishing a relationship with students to assist them.

Embedded librarianship can mean virtually inserting library services in an online learning environment (usually a CMS).

Embedded librarianship entails assisting faculty and students with additional research after classroom instruction.

Embedded librarianship refers to strategies and methods academic librarians implement to collaborate with subject faculty in team-teaching initiatives.

Embedded librarianship refers to instruction or other library services which are integrated into curriculum and/or take place outside of the geographic boundaries of the library.

The definitions of embedded librarianship highlighted above were supplied by academic librarians at the City University of New York (CUNY). These quotes were selected from more than 50 responses to the anonymous, open-ended survey question: "How would you define embedded librarianship?" They illustrate the variety of ways that embedment can be defined within the context of a single university system. Some librarians privilege direct interaction between librarians, faculty, and students while others emphasize library service integration. Some respondents conceptualize embedded librarianship as closely tied to online education or situated in the context of a specific course. Others conceive of embedded librarianship more broadly as a flexible model for collaborative interaction. Most respondents consider the role of the librarian outside of the geographic boundaries of the...