Provocation on Theme II: Recruitment, Training, Mentoring

Abstract

Area and international studies librarians have a diverse combination of qualifications: they need to combine deep subject background with knowledge of library processes/workflows, an awareness of the ongoing changes in research libraries, and, increasingly, they need to be tech-savvy. They must be competent collection managers with strong language abilities and subject expertise in their disciplines. For some areas, libraries find it increasingly difficult to recruit librarians with the right combination of desired skills and backgrounds. And yet, as the need for "global competencies" and internationalization on our campuses increases, area studies librarians will continue to play a major role in developing and shaping collections, and in being partners in the research and teaching mission of our institutions.