Librarians are often cast as bibliographers—individuals who develop, build, and manage collections in their subject areas, create reading lists of various kinds for the disciplines and communities they support, and generally help users find what they're looking for. This is a significant part of my work as a subject and liaison librarian, and a role that is dear to my heart as someone who cares deeply for our collections. This is not all I do, however. I see my position as one that recognizes the centrality of creating, providing access to, and maintaining resources of all kinds to share with students and scholars while also being committed to offering services that ensure student learning and our university community's overall well-being. This is to say that, fundamentally, the work I do is oriented towards supporting scholars (students, faculty, and beyond) in their learning, research, and scholarship, and I enjoy adapting to and finding creative ways to meet the needs of my communities.
It's also important to note that while my role in the university ecosystem is very much a supportive one (at least in part; I am also a faculty member and scholar), my primary purpose—and the point of my work—is not to simply complete tasks for others; rather, I see my approach as one that is connective and ensures scholars and community members have access to the information, resources, and services they need to thrive during their time with the university and beyond.
There are a number of ways I fulfill this commitment, such as
This means that, as a student, instructor, or scholar, you can
To learn more about each of these services, please visit the links provided for more information. Be sure, as well, to take a look at the Resources & Services for Scholars section of this guide for more possibilities and guidance for your research and scholarship.
My hope is that this will help you understand what I can offer you in my supportive role as a subject and liaison librarian to your discipline. For more context about my work as a librarian, you can take a look at the Arts & Humanities department page, of which I am a member, and read more about IU Libraries and our mission, vision, strategic goals, and core values. You can also learn more about me and my research, scholarship, and service commitments on my Libraries profile page
There are a number of resources and services we offer at IU Libraries, beyond the specific ways I can work with you as liaison to your discipline. Please see below for some helpful links that will connect you with key library services:
We are committed to proactively ensuring accessibility for our library guides and other resources. We continually apply and update accessibility standards to improve the experience for all users. Some of the steps we have taken to make our guides accessible include:
We always appreciate feedback on the resources we create. If you come across aspects of this or other guides that aren't accessible, or if you have suggestions for improvement, don't hesitate to reach out to us. We will do our best to make adjustments as needed and based on feedback from our users.
Indiana University’s Assistive Technologies and Accessibility Centers (ATAC) offer a diverse range of services, resources, and support including alternative media formats for textbooks, assistive technology hardware and software support, consulting for course accessibility, and training on accessibility best practices. If you need assistance with library resources, assistive technology options, or have any questions about access, please email your subject librarian. You can also reach out to them if you need accessible copies of e-books; just be sure to include the title of your book, assistive technology (if known), and format (.pdf, .epub) in your message.
In addition to assistive technologies, the IU Libraries is committed to making resources both at the libraries and on the internet available to disabled patrons. The Herman B Wells Library offers collections retrieval services and hosts accessible scanners and computer workstations, along with other library services.
For more information about campus-wide accessibility policies and measures, explore the Accessibility @ IU website and the directory of accessibility resources at IU through the UITS Knowledge Base. Accessible Educational Services (AES), formally known as the Office of Disability Services, is dedicated to ensuring that students with disabilities have the tools, support services, and resources that allow equal access at IU. Reach out to them at iubdss@indiana.edu for more information.
Over the years, a number of student library assistants have contributed to our work and shaped this guide by offering care, creating content, and working closely with patrons. We acknowledge their contributions here.