| This research study identifies an active population of librarians and information management (IM) professionals and describes library and IM programs in architectural design firm offices in the United States. The levels of education, job titles, and duties of the professionals managing and assisting with the libraries and IM programs are clarified. Designated spaces, budgets, resources, systems, services, evaluation, and communication methods for the libraries and IM programs, are determined. The information needs of management and employees in the architecture firms are specified. The support materials the librarians and IM professionals utilize to administer their library and IM program's resources and services are ascertained. Librarians and IM professionals discuss whether they feel the existing professional literature, training materials, and other sources support their architectural IM work.Recent downturns in the economy have adversely affected the presence of employed librarians and existence of libraries in architectural design firm offices. Nonetheless, surges in design firm revenue in the past combined with the development of new technologies and a lack of current research and data on this special library population make this study timely and significant. Being exploratory in nature, however, the findings should be considered as setting the stage for further research in this special sphere of library work. |
