• Journal of Korean Library and Information Science Society
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• v.39 no.4
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• pp.97-123
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• 2008

Subject specialized services are introduced in library environment in order to meet users' needs, which become more specialized, characterized, and personalized. This concept dates back to the 1960 in Korean scholarly research, and previous studies revealed that many libraries in Korea have provided this kind of subject specialized services to library users. This study aimed to consider appropriate directions of subject specialization in Korea. This study examined seven library cases the structure of which is organized by subject specialization. It tried to give a good grasp of background of building up the subject specialization system, current state of the service and its effects, problems and challenges of operating the system, recruitment and training issues of subject specialist librarians, their duties and tasks, and so on. Also Announcements of academic subject specialist positions in Korea are compared to in other countries such as United States, UK, and Canada in order to analyze the demand for subject specialist librarians.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Library and Information Science
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• v.49 no.4
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• pp.335-354
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• 2015

This study attempts to explore the internal organizational factors to subject specialized services in university libraries from a viewpoint of libraries as organizations. For this goal, a set of deep interviews were conducted with several librarians in a university library who are in charge of the subject specialized services, then analyzed the interview contents on individual, team, and organizational levels. The subject specialized services were explained with the perception of the job importance, support and cooperation on team level, motivation, team efficacy, and internal communication from the organizational viewpoint. As a result, the study identified several internal and organizational factors to the services, which should be considered for the sevice activation, with which organizational goals in libraries are supported.

• Journal of Korean Library and Information Science Society
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• v.42 no.4
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• pp.137-158
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• 2011

Recently, subject specialized service has been suggested as a solution to overcome a difficulty of library management and to meet the quickly changing needs of library users. Introduction of subject specialized service is raised to be introduced to special libraries and efficient management system is required. However, systematic study on the subject specialized service is very rare. This study investigates and analyzes how subject specialized service is operated in korean special libraries and how subject specialist librarians recognize them. In order to analyzes and investigate, 8 special libraries was selected to survey general management of subject specialized service, recruitment and training issues of subject specialist librarian, their duties and overall evaluation and problem of subject specialized service. Finally the study attempts to suggest development strategies in order to improve subject specialized service in special libraries.

• Journal of the Korean BIBLIA Society for library and Information Science
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.91-111
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• 2018

This study was carried out on specialized library librarians to investigate the status and overall satisfaction of specialized services and to compare the degree of importance and satisfaction of specialized subject data, specialized service places, specialization programs, specialized subject area facilities and environment based on ISA technique in order to derive problems and improvement measures for the operation of specialized libraries. As results, first, it was found that a specialized library subject should be selected based on the characteristics, history, and resources of the library location as well as based on the demand survey of the local residents and users. Second, based on the appropriate program type of specialized subject and the results from users' demand surveys, specialized libraries should develop different types of experience-type, lecture-type, view-type and the likes. Third, specialized library space types can be divided into integrated type, independent-in-integration type, and independent type. Even though it is most ideal to provide independently specialized space, the space must be constructed considering the circumstances and subject of specialization of each library. Fourth, specialized libraries should have at least one dedicated specialist in the corresponding subject. Dedicated specialists should provide lending and reference services related to the specialization such as tidying, browsing, reading and operating specialized programs. And a dedicated specialist must be an expert in the specialized subject and also a librarian who is responsible of the general library operation.

• Journal of Korean Library and Information Science Society
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• v.40 no.3
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• pp.119-136
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• 2009

The Academic library services are based on specialized subject resources in academic fields in order to maximize the desirable direction of its services. Accordingly, there are some academic libraries introduced and applied subject specialist librarians. However, they can not objectively analyze the strengths and weaknesses as well as future directions to subject specialized service. The purpose of this study examined three library cases which the structure of organized subject specialist librarian. It tried to give a set of effective guidelines for academic libraries to introduce subject specialist librarian. Analysis showed that the initial problems of subject specialist librarians in its early stages are appeared: carrying out the role, appraisal-results in human resource decision making such as rewards and promotion. In order to successful introduction of subject specialist librarian in academic library, there are solutions that solving the problems which happen in early stage, active guidance and public relations strategy for faculty, approaching to activate integration within its library and cooperating among academic libraries should be back up for improving effectiveness in the long term.

• Journal of the Korean BIBLIA Society for library and Information Science
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• v.29 no.3
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• pp.245-270
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• 2018

The purpose of this study is to investigate and analyze actual cases of specialized libraries which are increasing in number due to the influence of the local government policy and the specialization-oriented social atmosphere and to explore the development direction of specialized libraries in the future. In order to do that, the distributions, collections, facilities, professional manpower, programs, and services of the libraries providing specialized services were investigated and analyzed. A total of 55 libraries were analyzed and the implications and proposed policy directions based on the analysis are as follows. First, when selecting a specialized subject, the library should consider the local resources, local identity, local brands and demand of local residents. Second, specialized collections should be related to the specialized topic, and the number of specialized collections should be more than 10,000, but the proportion of specialized collections compared to the total collections should also be considered. Third, the design of space should consider the specialized subject, taking into account that required spaces and types are different depending on the type of specialized subject. Fourth, Specialized libraries should have specialists from the specialized area and the role of universities and librarian education institutes seem to be critical for cultivating specialized personnel. Fifth, the program type implemented by specialized libraries should be appropriately selected and operated from the program types of view-type, event-type, lecture-tepe, experience-type and contest-type, based on the specialized subject.

• International Journal of Knowledge Content Development & Technology
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.57-75
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• 2022

Currently, it is not easy for most domestic public libraries to collect and provide reliable health information services on their own. Health information is distributed or professional, making it inconvenient for users to use. Based on the implications derived from the case study, the Library Health Information Integration Service Model was proposed as a specialized information service. The model consists of a composition shared by librarians, health and medical experts, and users, focusing on library websites that provide integrated health information integration services, and has the following features. First, it provides health and medical information on a specialized subject. Second, it provides integrated health and medical information services provided in various ways. Third, librarians and health and medical experts work together to provide information services. Fourth, users can freely use health information integration services online and offline. The model presented in this study means that libraries can play a leading role in health information integration services to increase the utilization rate of public libraries and further contribute to librarians serving as experts in health information services.

• International Journal of Knowledge Content Development & Technology
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.81-108
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• 2019

This research has investigated the perceptions of subject specialization services and the opinions of students majoring in library and information science preparing for librarianship, librarians operating in the field, and library directors on the status and ways of nurturing subject specialization for librarians, among others. To this end, based on the results of previous research and the survey questionnaire analysis, we have presented a policy to train subject librarians. First, we have proposed a plan for systematizing the current educational system within the department of library and information science. We have also suggested ways to secure subject expertise based on curriculum management, minor programs, multi-major programs, and interdisciplinary major programs based on the standard curriculum model. Second, we have presented a subject specialization educational system for field librarians, and further suggested details for the development of an educational program that can help build subject expertise and the operation of educational methods as well as the personnel in charge of implementing the educational programs. Third, we have proposed institutionalization of the qualifications of the subject librarian where the qualification requirements have been organized considering academic background, major program, library career, and career experience in the subject specialization service, further suggesting the implementation and maintenance of the system.

• Journal of Korean Library and Information Science Society
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• v.49 no.2
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• pp.151-178
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• 2018

The purpose of this study is to discuss the developmental direction of public library specialization by investigating the library specialization and the perception and opinions on the theme specialized librarians. A total of 69 directors have responded to the survey, and the main result was that while there are difficulties in terms of manpower and budget in providing the specialization services, they have been fully aware of the need and value of the libraries' specialized services and were willing to maintain and develop the services in the future. In addition, more than half of the respondents said that the provision of specialized services and the placement of theme specialized librarians at the public libraries are essential. The qualification for the theme specialized librarians was said to be higher than a master's degree and 4 to 7 years or longer of relevant work experience and must be managed as a national qualification system. Based on these results, suggestions were made that the discussions of the specialization service comprised of the training system for specialized librarians, the establishment and operation of the theme specialized librarian qualification system, and the cooperation with the theme related organizations for the qualitative improvement of the specialization service, among others.

• Journal of the Korean BIBLIA Society for library and Information Science
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.77-99
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• 2019

In this study, development directions for smooth introduction of transferring non-specialized libraries to specialized libraries are suggested based on the analysis conducted on non-specialized library librarians and users to investigate and analyze the comparative requirements for specializing libraries, specialization topics, demand for spaces and programs for specialization and view of important factors of each area when operating specialized libraries in future. As a result, first, when introducing a specialized library, it is necessary to derive a specialized topic that can identify and provide the characteristics of the region and the status of existing library. And a demand analysis. Based on this, the subject should be selected through the demand survey of the local residents. Second, from the stand point of targeted subjects of specialized service, it is necessary to provide tailored services by understanding the service range for each age group based on local population distribution and library user analysis. Third, experience-type, lecture-type and view-type can be suggested for specialized programs, considering the characteristics of the specialized subject field. It is ideal to operate combination of the three based on the subject filed details. Also, the characteristics of the subject and the types of program should be considered for specialized spaces. Finally, in order to systematically operate and promote specialized libraries, allocating dedicated personnel, linking with other institutions and strategies of promotion and marketing should be considered.