Dinosaur or dynamo? The future for the subject specialist reference librarian

Whether a reference librarian needs a good subject background to provide a quality service, or can rely upon generic professional skills, is an old debate. However it is sharpened once again by the emerging changes in reference services in the digital environment, in particular sophisticated end‐user access to information resources. Already in recent years subject expertise, which is not the same as subject knowledge, has been somewhat overshadowed in the recruitment and training of librarians by requirements for advanced technological and other, for example training, skills. However amongst the wide range of skills and knowledge required by current practice in reference, and especially for the future roles envisaged for librarians, are an understanding of specific client needs and information sources, which constitute the traditional strengths of subject specialists.