Abstract
There is a growing body of literature focusing on the changing roles of librarians within an academic setting. Re-conceptualizing the ways in which librarians add value to institutional research entails new ways of assessing their contributions, supporting them in the process of change, and providing them with ongoing professional development and training opportunities. In this paper, we reflect on the experiences of University of Miami (UM) librarians as experimental members of research teams funded through the University's Laboratory for Integrative Knowledge (U-LINK), a strategic initiative to advance interdisciplinary research that addresses societal problems. Over the last three years, U-LINK librarians have tailored their roles and activities to the needs of their interdisciplinary research teams. Their significant contributions have ranged from systematic reviews and preservation of research output to project management and advising on communication strategies. From their unique vantage points, librarians have acted as both facilitators and contributors, connecting team members to resources, services, and spaces offered in the UM Libraries and elsewhere at the University, while also adding expertise and knowledge, especially related to information science and scholarly communication. Interestingly, none of the U-LINK librarians has contributed to their team in exactly the same manner, but we have detected some consistent themes and needs that anticipate the future evolution of librarian roles. Through assessment activities, we have sought to identify potential areas in which librarians' contributions to interdisciplinary teams have been most valued, and we have targeted specific growth areas, such as communication strategies and community engagement, where additional training for librarians may be beneficial for the teams. The paper will identify these areas and propose a possible professional development plan for librarians. Background: Previous Studies on Librarians on Interdisciplinary Research Teams