The State of the Scholarly Communication Librarian: A Content Analysis of Position Descriptions from Association of Research Libraries Member Institutions

As scholarly communication has emerged as a strategic imperative among universities, there is an increasing need for legal, technical, and leadership expertise in the field. Many academic libraries have taken on these roles, providing expertise, resources, and acting as the hub for partnerships across campus. Libraries have had particular success by creating full-time positions, often called a “scholarly communication librarian,” which would be dedicated to these issues, but the responsibilities associated with these positions remain ill-defined and idiosyncratic. This study examines the current state of the scholarly communication librarian. It presents a content analysis of the position descriptions of current scholarly communication librarians submitted by Association of Research Libraries member institutions, highlighting shared characteristics and points of disagreement between skills and requirements for these positions. It offers conclusions about this nascent position’s title, requirements, and job duties, and it presents projections about the future of similar professional positions