Science Librarians' Interest Group

This group provides an opportunity for science librarians to share problems, successes, and ideas and network together. Topics may include science library services and management, science information literacy, outreach and programming, information/resource searching and sharing, and collaboration.

The group held its first meeting in January 2023.

Science librarians available for consultation.

Librarians will be added and removed from this list at their request.

First meeting of the group - January 12th, 2023.

The group discussed many topics, including:

• How many meetings should the group have per year - 2.
• Will there be an email list and LibGuide - yes.
• The cost of databases as well as teaching them to students.
• Teaching basic research skills to students as well as how to access sources.
• Consortial purchasing possibilities for members of the group, i.e. ScienceDirect.
• Publishers and their database/journal pricing.
• PubMed, Google Scholar and Web of Science.
• Timing of next meeting - May 4th 2-4pm in person at CDLC.

Mr. Tosh created a new mailing list for this group, all the participants were included.

The meeting was run hybrid with some attending in person and some by attending by Zoom.

The group plans to meet twice a year. Currently, they are planning winter (January) and Spring (May?) meetings for the future.

Topics discussed (which may become focuses for future meetings):

Budgeting issues - which resources to purchase on limited budgets. How far can free resources like Google Scholar be trusted as replacements? 

Data overload, data librarians, Student data needs, and qualitative data analysis.

Nanotech and AI (including the University at Albany initiatives).

Vendors and vendor outreach, open access, and censorship.

Finally, library outreach.

All the participants agreed to be added to the new contact section of the group's LibGuide, with no obligation to remain on the list. Interested science librarians will be added or removed at their request.

Andrew Krzystyniak presented to the group his research about the philosophy of Floridi on information and its potential contribution to evidence-based science and information literacy.