Cultivating a holistic view on identities of STEM librarians, as researchers, scholars, and librarians

Abstract

While academic STEM librarians help users with their research, they also often conduct research of their own. Cultivating one’s research identity is important in guiding a research journey, communicating one’s research and improving one’s understanding of self. Researcher identities can be particularly complicated for STEM librarians, as it’s not uncommon for them to hold degrees, have career experience, or research experience in STEM fields – all of which interplay with their identity as a librarian and as a researcher. This focus on the individual is set against the backdrop of a broader identity crisis in the field of academic librarianship, that’s been stewing since at least the 1980’s. We’ll discuss the literature chronicling this on-going crisis, including how others view the profession, how we see ourselves as a profession, and how we see ourselves as individuals. This talk will encourage listeners to look holistically at their different identities, as professionals, librarians, researchers (in STEM and or librarianship) and their non-professional identities. Reflection is an important component to this process, and it takes time. Further advice on establishing or discovering one’s research identity will be shared, including storytelling, journaling, and talking to others. The talk aims to celebrate everyone’s story as unique and valuable.