Team Librarianship: The Case for the Branch Librarian

Existing literature on team librarianship is surveyed and found to be sparse, fragmented and limited in scope. The argument that team librarianship offers many benefits to the organisation and to the individual is examined in the light of a research study. The supposed benefits of team librarianship are discussed and contrasted with dysfunctional aspects of team organisation in public libraries. A counter‐argument is made, supporting the role of the more traditional branch librarian. It is concluded that a major reason for introducing team librarianship was to reduce expenditure on staffing.