The Social Library Network

This week I am out and about in the Lund University Libraries network. Today I met the Academic Liaison Librarians working at the Social Sciences Faculty Library (this consists of the Library of Social & Behavioural Sciences and the Political Sciences Library - these libraries are currently in separate buildings).



Library of Social & Behavioural Sciences

I had a very interesting discussion with the ALLs about what they offer here compared to the University of Westminster. Our discussion focussed particularly on services to international students, as many of the students in this Faculty come from outside of Sweden. Lund has been a popular choice for international students because, up until this year, it has been free to study in Sweden. At Westminster, I support tourism and events management, and these courses attract many overseas students. Through my contact with these students, I have started to consider the services we offer them, as they sometimes find it hard to understand British university libraries.

One of the librarians recommended an article to read in preparation for the meeting. I found it very helpful!

Hughes, Hilary E. (2010) International students' experiences of university libraries and librarians. Australian Academic and Research Libraries, 41(2), pp. 77-89

At Lund, they do offer separate information skills sessions for international students in most subjects (apart from those with mostly Swedish students). However, this is a question of language more than anything else, as they have to offer sessions in both Swedish and English.

They were very interested in the way my library service is organised, especially the fact that the ALLs don't do any frontline work anymore. The information desk at the Social Sciences Library in Lund is considered to be very important in making the librarians visible to students. One librarian commented that this service is especially important for international students. 

After lunch, I found out about a new optional course being offered to new researchers from this October: Information Management and Publication Process for Social Scientists. This is a five day course in total, spread out over several weeks. It looks very interesting.

I also heard about Lund's Global Research Gateway, developed by the Social Sciences Library, to be used as a pedagogical tool. It also has a wiki element where Lund users can comment on the site. This has led to interesting discussions, for example that information sources are too biased towards the English language(relates back to international students discussion).

Lund University Libraries are starting to introduce Dewey to replace their existing Swedish classification system. This is to make resources more visible on a international level and to save time when classifying.

After work, drinks had been arranged by the librarians from the Libraries Head Office (where I was last week). We went to a British pub called the Bishop's Arms. They very kindly gave me a traditional cake from this region Skåne called spettekaka, as well as a tea towel with some traditonal Swedish food recipes on it. I am doing quite well on the gift front as the librarian from the University Library gave me a Swedish cookery book. I will have to host a Swedish party when I get back to London!

spettekaka