The Big Picture

Sarah Fihe

A Larger ContextA special library must continually prove its usefulness and stay on

top of changes in user trends.

The missions of these libraries are directly linked to the company, institution or organization of which it is a part.

The library must grow and change as its parent company changes.

Never stagnant, special libraries are at the forefront of innovations in the library and information science profession and as Abrams stated “we are tasked with a great responsibility for education, learning, research, invention, technology, commerce and trade” (2009).

Relating BackThe Zoological Society of San Diego’s Library is a living entity,

developing, growing and changing. It is also a continuing record of the history of the society.

Showcases where society has come from, the people, their ideas, their interests and the contributions they have made to research and progress (Robinson, 1988).

Highlights how a special library serves the specific needs of the community it is in. These are not just libraries for books sake, they are pillars of the information world.

Discussion Question #1:

Check out the special libraries listed below: Georgetown Law Library

http://www.ll.georgetown.edu/

University of Pittsburgh: Health and Sciences Library System http://www.hsls.pitt.edu/

San Diego Zoo Library http://library.sandiegozoo.org/

Jean Gray Hargrove Music Library at the University of California, Berkeley http://www.lib.berkeley.edu/MUSI/

Please choose one of the special libraries listed above. and discuss the mission and users. Consider what the user’s interests are, how those interests are

served and how this library serves the needs of that community as a whole.