Museum librarianship a cross-discipline and cross-institution model of librarianship. The Historic New Orleans Collection and the case for successful museum librarians on duty.

Abstract

Museum librarianship has existed as long as there have been museums but the research and description of this unique model of librarianship are lacking.  This research seeks to address these deficiencies, and bring more light to this cross-discipline and cross-institutional form of librarianship. Museum libraries unites the structural designations of “library†and “museum†within one collection of materials in various formats.  This paper will discuss and showcase both similarities and differences between a museum library and museum librarians, and other “traditional†libraries and “traditional†librarians. Several key questions defining museum libraries will be discussed, including: Why place a library in the museum itself? What role does the museum librarian play? Librarian, curator, or docent? Where can one learn to be a museum librarian? Is this occupancy for every librarian? What are the challenges of the museum library and museum librarian? Are there any significant advantages or disadvantages to being a librarian in a museum? This paper aims to explore potential answers to these and other questions in addition to describing museum librarianship via published literature, author’s professional experience, and careful examination of operation of The Historic New Orleans Collection (THNOC) library. The THNOC serves as a good example of a museum library by its mission, and procedures. The librarians of The Collection (THNOC), similar to other museum librarians, are much more than book organizers, shifters, and “shushers†(Jesella, 2007); they are vital members of the institution. The work of the librarians at the THNOC and their commitment to the museum’s mission, their agility in serving internal and external users, and their knowledge and professionalism can be seen as an example of holistic librarianship, and it is to them that I would like to dedicate this paper.