Know Your Librarian: An In-depth Look at Librarians Working in AACP Institutions

Intent:  To discover and compare the roles and responsibilities, along with the background and qualifications, of librarians working with Colleges of Pharmacy throughout North America and items to consider for the future.

Process:  A survey was conducted with 125 institutions that are members of AACP located in North America (Canada and the United States) with ten questions pertaining to the librarians that are directly working with the Pharmacy programs.  A total of 148 emails were sent since some institutions may have had more than one contact person working with their pharmacy program.  The survey was first sent out the second week of June, 2010, asking for results to be back in one week with a total of 52 responses.  A second reminder email was then sent out the third week of June with 18 more responses making a total of 70 surveys that were submitted. 

Results:  The data was analyzed and divided into two main areas. The first area was the educational background and job titles of the librarians.  The second area looked at was the role and responsibilities of the librarian. 

Implication:  To apply the information gathered to allow librarians, faculty and administrators to understand the possibility of diverse backgrounds and qualifications among librarians working in the field of academic pharmacy and to foster programs and training that will enhance the librarian’s role along with recognizing the various responsibilities and roles that many librarians identify with every day.