Document Type
Article
Publication Date
2020
Department
Libraries
Abstract
This qualitative study explores how online learning is defined at academic libraries in the U.S. and examines the current roles and challenges of online learning librarians. Findings from in-depth interviews reveal that approaches to online learning in academic libraries vary in terms of audience and instructional strategies, and that online learning librarians perform several roles within the institution and often face challenges related to those roles. These findings suggest that while academic libraries have defined their approaches to online learning, the functional role of the online learning librarian should be clearly delineated and leveraged to support sustainable online learning initiatives at the institution. Based on these findings, the authors make recommendations for librarians and library administrators to support this evolving area of librarianship.
Original Publication Information
Withorn, T., & Willenborg, A. (2020). A Foot in Both Worlds: Current Roles and Challenges of Academic Online Learning Librarians. Journal of Library & Information Services in Distance Learning 14(2), 110-126.
ThinkIR Citation
Willenborg, Amber and Withorn, Tessa, "A Foot in Both Worlds: Current Roles and Challenges of Academic Online Learning Librarians" (2020). Faculty Scholarship. 532.
https://ir.library.louisville.edu/faculty/532
DOI
10.1080/1533290X.2020.1828220
ORCID
0000-0002-2898-3198
Comments
This article has been accepted for publication in Journal of Library & Information Services in Distance Learning, published by Taylor & Francis, available at https://doi.org/10.1080/1533290X.2020.1828220