Rate My Professor Shiobhan Smith

Shiobhan Smith serves as Associate University Librarian for Customer Experience at the University of Otago Library, leading the Customer Experience Department that encompasses library engagement, bindery, and facility services. Holding qualifications of BA (Hons), BTchg, and MLIS, she brings over 19 years of experience in libraries and museums to her role. Prior appointments include Research Support Manager, to which she was named in 2016, and Research Services Librarian within the University Library. Her career has focused on enhancing researcher support, professional development for library staff, and evolving library services to meet academic needs in digital environments.

Smith's research specializations center on research librarianship, postgraduate student library support, information-seeking behaviors, and librarian capability frameworks. She spearheaded the University of Otago Library Capability Framework to delineate essential skills for librarians supporting researchers. Notable publications include the peer-reviewed article 'Listening and learning: myths and misperceptions about postgraduate students and library support' (Reference Services Review, 2019), arising from a library program review; 'Inside-Out? Discussions in Research Librarianship' (New Zealand Library & Information Management Journal, 2020); and 'An introduction to the University of Otago Library Capability Framework and what its data reveals about the capabilities required by researcher-facing librarians' (2021). Additional contributions feature 'Impacts of Research' (University of Otago, 2020), explorations of data management planning (eResearch NZ, 2016), and her earlier works such as the BA (Hons) thesis 'Dancing at the Auld Cale: A History of Highland Dancing in Dunedin Between 1863 & 1900' (1998) and research on information needs of bottle-feeding mothers (2010). Smith has presented at conferences including IATUL, eResearch NZ, and LIANZA, addressing topics like AI in libraries, neurodiversity support, and library evolution. She contributes to the eResearch Advisory Group at Otago and initiatives promoting engagement with Māori and Pacific communities.