Your Name and Title: Dr. Judit. H Ward, Director of Information Services

Library, School, or Organization Name: Center of Alcohol Studies, Rutgers University

Co-Presenter Name(s): N/A

Area of the World from Which You Will Present: USA

Language in Which You Will Present: English

Target Audience(s): Academic Librarians, Librarians working solo

Short Session Description (one line): A small research library refocuses its services in the online environment by going back to the roots of librarianship.

Full Session Description (as long as you would like):

The Information Services Division at the Center of Alcohol Studies (CAS, Rutgers University, USA) was lucky to have moment of opportunity to refocus its services and transform the Library into a research assistance-centered, brick-and-mortar and online facility for the benefit of its core users, i.e., teaching and research faculty at CAS.

The presentation will demonstrate how the library has gained a more participatory role for any new initiative and ongoing research at the Center by identifying emerging user needs and setting up priorities defined by the actual and anticipated needs. Carefully selected technology applications were utilized to break down communication barriers and eliminate technology anxiety in the multicultural research environment as well as to create new tools and programs. Consequently, now every division at CAS relies heavily on the Library as a partner and resource with their short- or long-term information needs, research methods and practices, or technology.

Going back to the roots of librarianship by reinterpreting the responsibilities of the academic librarian and developing skills to meet research needs in a special library setting resulted in a sustainable collaboration and rewarding experience for users and library staff.

Websites / URLs Associated with Your Session:

http://alcoholstudies.rutgers.edu/library/index.html

http://libguides.rutgers.edu/alcohol

http://libguides.rutgers.edu/content.php?pid=242582&sid=2003149

http://alcoholstudies.rutgers.edu/index.html