Supporting Research in Area Studies: A Guide for Academic Libraries

Supporting Research in Area Studies: A Guide for Academic Libraries focuses on the study of other countries or regions of the world, crossing traditional disciplinary boundaries in the humanities and social sciences. The book provides a comprehensive guide for academic libraries supporting communities of researchers, exploring the specialist requirements of these researchers in information resources, resource discovery tools, information skills, and the challenges of working with materials in multiple languages.

The book makes the case that adapting systems and procedures to meet these needs will help academic libraries be better placed to support their institutions’ international agenda. Early chapters cover the academic landscape, its history, area studies, librarianship, and acquisitions. Subsequent chapters discuss collections management, digital products, and the digital humanities, and their role in academic projects, with final sections exploring information skills and the various disciplinary skills that facilitate the needs of researchers during their careers.

Describes the nature of area studies research and the traditional strengths of area studies librarianship in supporting inter- and trans-disciplinary researchApplies the latest thinking in research support in university libraries to the specific needs of the area studies research community in the United Kingdom and United StatesExplores how internationalizing systems and processes can bring broader benefits to the university as a wholeAnalyzes the particular issues caused by working with content and systems in multiple languages

Area studies: The academic landscape: Its history, its controversies and the nature of contemporary area studies research Research support and area studies librarianship Area studies librarianship as a specialist skill with its own training needs and distinct place in the university library; Its place in supporting the new agenda in research support Acquisitions: The continuing challenges of acquiring material in multiple formats and languages from across the world Collection Management; What collections do area studies scholars use? How are they arranged, managed, defined? The national research collection and the role of collaborative collection management Resource discovery and problems with systems: The challenge of providing access to resources in multiple languages across multiple systems, from specialist databases and library catalogues to Google Digital projects and the digital humanities: New opportunities for specialist librarians in creating and curating content, and adding their skills to academic projects Information skills and user support: User-centred skills and services