title: A Profession Without Limits: The Changing Role of Reference Librarians.
abstract: Reference librarians, specifically those working in academic health sciences environments, have expanded their roles and taken on new and unique responsibilities. While librarians at The George Washington University's Himmelfarb Health Sciences Library continue to provide traditional reference services, they have gone beyond their comfort zone in many cases to become involved in activities that are outside of the librarian's established role. This article describes the current roles of Himmelfarb's reference librarians, as well as the way these librarians prepared for these roles and addressed the associated challenges.
authors.affiliation: a Himmelfarb Health Sciences Library , The George Washington University , Washington , DC , USA.
authors.forename: Elaine
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Sullo
authors.affiliation: a Himmelfarb Health Sciences Library , The George Washington University , Washington , DC , USA.
authors.forename: Alexandra W
authors.initials: AW
authors.lastname: Gomes
mesh_terms: D004219:District of Columbia; D006801:Humans; D016245:Librarians; D007993:Libraries, Medical / Q000592:standards*; D007999:Library Services / Q000592:standards*; D024382:Professional Role; D014495:Universities
keywords: Academic health sciences libraries; reference librarians; roles; technology