Provocation on Theme III: Advocacy/Positioning Area Studies Librarians and Collections

Abstract

Changes in academic publishing and research, together with growing interest to promote global competencies in North American universities, have led to reviews of library organizational structures seeking to align area studies collections and services with these trends. In some cases, new area studies departments have emerged as distinct organizational units in research libraries. In other cases, such units have existed for quite some time. There is a growing recognition that area specialists share similar issues and challenges which demand more encompassing approaches. Since this is a recent development, these area studies units are still trying to find a common voice and strive to position themselves within their institutions, as well as at the national and international levels.