Biz of Digital - Exploring Digital Librarianship and Defining Library Digital Services

Library digital services and digital librarian are amorphous terms that may seem to represent a jumbled set of disconnected activities.The lack of a clear understanding of them muddies communication because the terms are understood in different ways by different people.Meshing research, general information, and specific information from practicing librarians, library digital services and digital librarians are defined, allowing for shared meaning when communicating about them.The transitional column wrapping up “Biz of Acq” and beginning the “Biz of Digital” mentioned some of the digital services that libraries offer and provided a broad definition of library digital services. This issue’s column goes to the literature and to practicing digital librarians to find out what digital librarians do and the characteristics and skill set that a digital librarian needs. Based on the information discovered, the definition of library digital services provided in the previous column is broadened to be inclusive of all the different types of work that digital librarians do.