Perceptions and perplexities of the faculty‐librarian partnership: an Australian perspective

Many Australian universities have identified information literacy as a required graduate quality. As the scope of resources on which student learning is based expands, the definition of educator is broadening and requires the involvement of a range of non‐academic professional staff in the educational process. Information literacy‐related activities largely define the educative role of the librarian and forge faculty‐librarian partnerships. The paper is based on the premise that collaboration between librarians and other educators is the key to the integration of information literacy within the total educational process. The author draws on both personal experience and that of Australian colleagues to examine the faculty‐librarian relationship, explore the contentious territories of professional credibility and identity, and analyze changes in Australian higher education that impact on the educative role of librarians.